Older Cat Insurance

  • Free access to video consultations through FirstVet, 24/7
  • No upper limit on your pet’s age
  • No compulsory bill share or excess, regardless of age†
  • Vet fees up to £15,000
  • Pre-existing conditions can only be considered if declared and accepted*†

Senior cat insurance you can trust

At Petgevity, we believe no cat’s too old to benefit from flexible, comprehensive cat insurance and free 24/7 access to vet support via video call. Our cover has a Defaqto 5-star rating when you choose vet fees over £4k with all optional extras included. We’re proud to offer reassuring protection for senior cats, plus the owners who love them.

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Older cat cover at a glance

Vet fees up to £15,000

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Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 a year to suit your older cat’s needs. The limit resets every year you renew.

Design your own cat insurance

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Policies as unique as your cat. Set your own limits, excess and choose optional extras, for cover that fits like a collar.

Switch with unbroken cover

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If you switch to us from a like-for-like policy, there’ll be no gap in cover, with protection starting straight away**.

Why get pet insurance for older cats?

Having the right insurance policy in place shields you financially from unexpected vet bills, regardless of your pet’s age. This is why it’s always worth considering having older cat insurance.

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that, as senior cats age, they become weaker, and more susceptible to infections and illnesses. Just like their humans.

If you’re on the fence, find out more about what benefits cover offers in our guide to whether pet insurance is worth it.

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What are the most common conditions in older cats?

According to Petgevity data from 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024, these are the conditions with the most pet insurance claims in cats over 10 years old:

Condition % of claims

Heart murmur

8.7

Hyperthyroidism

4.7

Heart murmur (feline) – continued

4.5

Kidney disease

2.9

Asthma

2.5

Cystitis

2.4

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

1.9

Gingivitis

1.7

Heart disease

1.6

Diabetes

1.5

 

When getting a quote for Lifetime Plus cat insurance, make sure you declare these or any other conditions to see if we can cover you*.

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How much does pet insurance for older cats cost?

With all types of insurance there are several factors which affect the price. By and large, older cat insurance tends to be a little bit more costly than when they’re young scamps – but that’s to be expected.

In addition to their age, the cost of insurance will be influenced by things like:

  • Your cat’s breed. Certain breeds may be more prone to hereditary conditions than others, which will affect the cost. For instance, pedigree cats might cost more to insure than moggies for this reason.
  • If they have any pre-existing conditions. Similarly, the cost of insurance tends to increase if your pet is already living with any medical conditions. You should still tell us if your cat has any conditions, because – if you need to claim – it’s vital to have the right level of cover in place. With Petgevity Lifetime Plus policies, we might be able to cover existing conditions, subject to acceptance*.
  • Your location. Where you live will have an influence on what you pay as well. For example, if you live in a big city, insurance might be more expensive. If more claims are made in an area, for a greater value, this generally makes insurance more expensive. And if you move home, you could see your insurance price go up or down accordingly.
  • Your chosen vet fee limit, excess, bill share, plus any optional extras

When choosing the exact level of cover for your furry old pal, do some homework to find out:

  • The cost of emergency treatment at your local vet
  • Any genetic issues that may be common in your cat breed, and how much treatment usually costs
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What’s the best pet insurance for an older cat?

It depends. Ultimately, the right insurance policy for your senior cat is one that suits their exact needs, while also working for your budget. 

To find out everything you need to consider, here’s how to choose the best pet insurance.

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Trusted by other pet owners

Award-winning pet insurance provider

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Defaqto 5 star rating when you choose vet fees over £4,000 with all optional add-ons included.

Basic cover alone has 3 star rating

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Three-time winner of the National Insurance Awards Pet Insurance Award 2022, 2023 & 2024

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Awarded Best Pet Insurance Provider at The Times Money Mentor Awards 2024

What does older cat insurance cover?

Essentially, all pet insurance exists to help financially with unexpected vet bills. This means if your senior cat gets hurt or falls ill, that’s when your policy acts as a safety net.

With Petgevity cat insurance, you’re covered for:

  • Vet fees
    • Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy
    • Dental accidents and emergencies
    • MRI/CT scans (up to £2k)
    • Cruciate ligaments (up to £2k)
    • Euthanasia
  • Emergency care

If you think your older cat needs more protection, for a small fee, it’s possible to add optional extras to your policy. These add-ons include cover for dental illness, or travel and holiday cover. Think about your senior cat’s exact needs so you can tailor a policy to be a perfect fit.

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What doesn’t older cat insurance cover?

Pet insurance isn’t there to cover routine and preventative treatments. As such, we don’t cover things like:

It’s common for vets to offer healthcare plans covering routine treatments, allowing you to spread the cost with monthly payments. Check with your local vet to see if you can join a plan which covers health checks, annual boosters, preventative care and so on.

What Causes What Causes
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Unlimited video calls with expert UK vets

If you need advice for your senior cat, expert help is on hand with FirstVet. You can call UK-registered vets 24/7, which don’t count as a claim. Get unlimited, dedicated support for your older cat.

Check out FirstVet

How you're covered

When you choose Petgevity, your vintage feline gets more protection than just vet fee cover. Here’s what our lifetime pet insurance includes.

Dental accident

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Covers your pet up to the chosen vet fee limit if they have a dental accident or injury. Always be sure to take your pet for annual dental check-ups, and follow your vet’s advice.

Behavioural treatment

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Get expert help with your pet’s mental and emotional wellbeing, as advised by your vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee amount or the cost of up to 12 sessions, whichever is lower (Lifetime Plus); or up to £1,000 (Lifetime).

Complementary therapy

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As advised by your vet, this covers alternative treatments like acupuncture or hydrotherapy. Cover up to your chosen vet fee amount (Lifetime Plus); or up to chosen vet fee amount or £1,500, whichever is lower (Lifetime).

Emergency care

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If you can’t look after your pet due to an emergency, such as an unplanned hospital visit, this covers you for up to £1,500 (Lifetime Plus) in minding costs.

Prescribed diet food

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Get up to £250 (Lifetime Plus) or £100 (Lifetime) towards your cat’s prescribed food if they have a medical condition which needs to be controlled with a certain diet.

Choice of optional extras

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Need extra protection? Choose from several optional extras to cover your pet’s needs, including dental illness, or cover if your pet is stolen or lost.

Compare our pet cover for older cats†

petgevity-logo-white p-only-petgevitylogo ManyPets Petplan Agria
Maximum vet fees £15,000 per year £15,000 per year £12,000 per year £20,000 per year
Cover for pre-existing conditions?
No compulsory excess?
No compulsory co-payments for older pets? 20% (from age 9) 20% (from age 7) Min. 10% (from any age)
Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy?
Dental treatment for accidents?
Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy?

†For Lifetime Plus policies only – details correct as of 10 September 2024 via competitor websites. Competitor products are subject to their own T&Cs and can have different limits and requirements for cats versus dogs at different ages. For full details, please check the relevant policy wording.
For full details of Petgevity pet insurance, please read our policy wording.

No pet’s too old

Regardless of age, your pet deserves the best. That’s why we offer cats of all ages lifetime pet insurance, which is the most comprehensive type of cover.

Cat insurance

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  • Vet fee limit of up to £15,000
  • No compulsory bill share or excess†
  • Optional extras to fit your cat like a cardboard box

Pre-existing conditions insurance

Pre-existing conditions insurance image
  • Cover for most pre-existing conditions with Lifetime Plus*
  • No compulsory bill share or excess†
  • 24/7 access to unlimited video calls with FirstVet

Multi-pet insurance

Multi-pet insurance image
  • Vet fee limit of up to £15,000
  • One policy can cover up to eight pets
  • Set cover limits, excess and optional extras for each pet

Cat insurance

Cat insurance image
  • Vet fee limit of up to £15,000
  • No compulsory bill share or excess†
  • Optional extras to fit your cat like a cardboard box

Pre-existing conditions insurance

Pre-existing conditions insurance image
  • Cover for most pre-existing conditions with Lifetime Plus*
  • No compulsory bill share or excess†
  • 24/7 access to unlimited video calls with FirstVet

Multi-pet insurance

Multi-pet insurance image
  • Vet fee limit of up to £15,000
  • One policy can cover up to eight pets
  • Set cover limits, excess and optional extras for each pet
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Unlimited 24/7 video calls with UK vets

Members of the Petgevity family get unlimited calls to experienced, UK-registered vets. Get 24/7 advice to keep your pets healthy and happy.

Check out FirstVet

Frequently asked questions

  • Is pet insurance worth it for my older cat?

    While not compulsory, having the right insurance in place protects you financially from unexpected vet bills, regardless of age. For this reason, it’s always worth considering having insurance for your older cat.

    It’s also worth noting that (whisper it…) cats can lose some of their street smarts as they get older. And ageing also tends to bring a higher likelihood of getting infections or chronic illnesses. So having them insured protects you financially should anything go wrong.

    Find out more about whether pet insurance is worth it.

  • Does it cost more to insure an older cat?

    Generally speaking, yes. As cats get older, they become increasingly likely to need veterinary treatment. And the cost of cat insurance tends to go up accordingly.

  • Can I get Farewell cover for my older cat?

    Yes, we offer Farewell cover for end-of-life support for your cat. Because there’s enough to process at a difficult time without having to worry about the cost.

    You can choose this as an add-on to your Petgevity policy. This could help financially in the event of death from illness or accidental injury, and also assistance with cremation or burial costs.

  • Do you offer bereavement support for pet loss?

    Losing an older cat can be an incredibly difficult experience, and it’s important to know you need not face it alone. For bereavement support, we recommend visiting the Blue Cross pet loss support page.

    You can also call them on 0800 096 6606 to speak with trained volunteers from 8.30am to 8.30pm, 365 days a year.

  • Is dental cover included in my older cat insurance?

    Our lifetime cat insurance – whether Lifetime Plus or a standard policy – does include treatment up to your chosen vet fee limit for dental accidents.

    For dental illness, you have an option to extend your cover up to a maximum of £5,000, or your vet fee limit – whichever is lower.

    It’s worth noting that not all providers offer cover for dental illness, or might not provide policies for older cats when they reach a certain age. Always be sure to check policy details thoroughly before you commit, to make sure your cat’s getting the protection you want for them.

Guides and advice for older cats

Our expert vets and behaviourists have great pointers to help keep your senior cat happy and healthy.

†Lifetime Plus policies only

*Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.

**Illnesses and symptoms won’t be covered in the first 14 days and accidents won’t be covered in the first 2 days of the policy. This is unless you are switching from another lifetime pet insurance product with no break in cover and the claim you want to make would have been covered by your previous policy. Other exclusions may apply to other sections.