Up to £15,000 vet fees
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Up to £15,000 vet fees
More info
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
More info
Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
More info
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Gingivitis is a common condition that causes your cat’s gums to become inflamed. The main symptoms include inflamed or bleeding gums, difficulty eating and bad breath.
It is usually caused by a build-up of plaque and bacteria on your cat’s teeth, causing inflammation and infection along the gumline.
A few things can cause gingivitis. Plaque and tartar buildup are the main culprits. Overcrowding of the teeth can also be a cause. This is a problem common in flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like Persians. If you don’t brush your cats’ teeth, the plaque and tartar build up over time, causing oral pain and tooth decay. The longer that gingivitis is left untreated, the worse the condition gets.
If your cat has underlying conditions like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus, cat flu (feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus), or diabetes, their immune system will be weaker, making them more prone to gingivitis.
There are several signs of gingivitis in cats to watch out for, but some can be tricky to spot. The main symptoms are:
Sometimes cats might not show any symptoms. But you can help by keeping their teeth clean and getting them checked by a vet once a year.
Veterinarian Dr Corinne says, “As a vet, I see many cats suffering from gingivitis and tooth decay. Cats don’t always let us know they are in pain. Having a vet check their teeth at least once a year can help spot the early signs of dental disease. The sooner the disease is spotted, the easier it is to reverse or treat.”
Routine teeth brushing with pet safe toothpaste to remove plaque build-up is the best prevention for gingivitis. If your cat has more advanced gingivitis, then the following treatment options might be recommended by your vet.
When gingivitis is acutely inflamed, anti-inflammatories or antibiotics can help ease the inflammation and infection in your cat’s mouth. This option is usually given before scheduling a dental cleaning.
Decay and plaque build-up can push down into your cat’s gums, so x-rays can help your vet find any disease below the gumline.
For severe cases, your vet may suggest removal of some or all teeth. This is in case your cat’s gum recedes, which can loosen your cat’s teeth and make them prone to infections. Removing the teeth stops the infection spreading to other areas of their mouth, and your cat will be able to eat and play without ongoing pain.
In some severe cases, your vet may recommend a gingivectomy, which is a partial removal of your cat’s gums. This will help to stop the infection spreading around their mouth.
Yes, gingivitis can be effectively managed with appropriate treatment. Treatment is usually lifelong, and at–home oral care, such as toothbrushing, is key to success.
Treatment for gingivitis can be costly when it comes to tooth extraction. If you’re taking out cat insurance, then you can add dental cover as an optional extra in case your cat develops gingivitis.
Has your cat had gingivitis before you take out your insurance policy? Make sure you add dental cover as an optional extra to your policy and tell us about any medication or symptoms they’ve had in the last 2 years. Find out more about pre-existing medical condition insurance.
Choosing Petgevity to protect your pets gives you more than just vet fee cover. Here's what you get from our policy.
Dental accident
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
Emergency care
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Dental accident
More info
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
More info
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
More info
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).
Emergency care
More info
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
More info
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
More info
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
|
ManyPets | Petplan | Agria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year | £12k per year | £20k 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? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
ManyPets | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Petplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Agria | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 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 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.
You can treat your cat’s gingivitis in a few ways:
Your vet will be able to suggest a personalised plan.
Gingivitis is not contagious to other people or pets. But if you are bitten by a cat accidentally, always visit the doctor as the bacteria can cause serious infections in people.
The best toothpaste is flavoured pet safe toothpaste. Always check the ingredients to make sure there is no Xylitol, which is toxic to cats.
*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.