Pet insurance for older cats

Finding pet insurance for an older cat can be tricky. That's because as they get older, they're prone to different health conditions (just like us).

But it's not impossible to get insurance for your OAC (old aged cat). In this guide, we'll look at why it's important to insure your older cat, and the different types of pet insurance available.

Why insuring senior cats matters

It's important to insure your senior cat so you don't have to pay the full cost of unexpected vet bill.

And, while it's great having a senior feline, they're more prone to health problems like:

• Arthritis
• Kidney disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Dental problems

According to the London Cat Clinic, it can cost around £3500 to treat acute kidney failure - then £1500 per year for ongoing treatment.

Pet insurance can cover some or all of the costs - depending on the insurance you buy.

What age is considered 'senior' for cat insurance?

Generally cats aged 7 and over are considered 'senior'. But every pet insurer has a different idea of what makes a cat vintage.

Pet insurance for older cats isn't as common as it is for young cats - it's also more expensive.

That's because your cat is more likely to develop health conditions as they age. So, the insurer is more likely to pay out.

But there are certain pet insurers that have tailored policies for older cats that cover specific age-related conditions.

What types of pet insurance are suitable for older cats?

You can choose between 4 different types of pet insurance for your older cat:

Lifetime

Lifetime pet insurance covers all new medical conditions until the 'pot of money' the insurer has set aside for your cat has run out.

If this money pot runs out, your cover stops. But, when you renew your lifetime policy, the cover starts again with the same or similar amount.

If you're switching pet insurers or insuring your pet for the first time, pre-existing conditions (like diabetes, for example) aren't covered by your lifetime pet insurance.

If your cat develops this condition during the insurance term, they should be covered for care and treatment. That lasts for the rest of your cat's life.

There's also no upper age limit on this type of policy. So if you insure your cat at a young age it should cover them for the rest of their life.

Maximum benefit pet insurance for older cats

Sometimes known as 'until the cover runs out'. For maximum benefit insurance, your cat gets a pot of money per condition. So they'd have a pot for diabetes, another for injuries etc.

The insurer sets the amount for the pot, this could be between £2,000 or £4,000. You can then claim for each separate condition, and the pot of money pays for it.

If your cat has an ongoing condition, you can claim for it year after year as long as the money pot hasn't run out.

But once the pot has run out for a condition, the insurer won't pay anything else towards the treatment. That applies for the rest of your cat's life.

If your pet needs treatment for a separate condition, this starts up another pot of money.

Here's an example. In this scenario, your maximum benefit policy offers £3,000 per condition:

• If your cat gets arthritis, you claim £2,000 in year 1 and £1,000 in year 2.
• That uses up the full £3,000 arthritis allowance, so you'd have to pay for any future arthritis treatment.
• If the cat then gets a urinary infection, that’s a fresh condition with a brand new £3,000 limit.

Time-limited pet insurance

This is also known as 'up to 12 months'. This type of pet insurance steps in for a problem but only for a set period. And only up to a set amount. After that, you'd have to pay for treatment yourself.

As with maximum benefit, there's a pot of money you use for claims. This is a fixed amount per condition.

You're also only covered for 12 months after that condition starts. So, either your pot of money runs out or the 12 months period ends - but after that, the insurer won't pay for any more treatment.

Here's how it works. In this example, your cat has injured their leg:

• Your policy allows £2,000 per condition for up to 12 months.
• You spend £1,200 in month 1, £800 in month 5. You've used up the full £2,000, so your pet insurer stops paying even though it’s only been 5 months.
• Or, if you’d only spent £1,000 over 12 months, cover still ends because the time limit’s up.

Accident only pet insurance

This covers accidents your older cat might have, for example, if they hurt their paw jumping down from a wall.

Illnesses aren't covered though. So, for an older cat that could develop health conditions, it might not be the best option. Unless you're happy to cover this cost yourself.

Using the 'money pot' (cover amount) analogy - there's usually a money pot allocated per accident.

Some pet insurers have a time limit per accident. So if it's not solved within 12 months, you'll have to pay for the treatment yourself.

What does pet insurance for older cats cover?

Pet insurance for older cats should cover any new condition they develop while the policy is active. For example, diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease to name a few.

It covers the vet fees to treat these conditions, and most will cover injuries that your cat could get.

This depends on the policy though. For example, accident-only pet insurance wouldn't cover illnesses or their treatment.

The main exclusion to be aware of with any pet insurance policy is pre-existing conditions. This is any condition your older cat has before the policy starts. Pet insurance doesn't usually cover these conditions, so you have to pay for the treatment yourself.

Dental work isn't usually included as standard either, though you can sometimes add dental cover separately. Speak to your pet insurer about adding this when you get a quote.

The other things to look out for are excesses and co-payments. Excesses are an amount you have to pay towards a claim yourself. This can range from £75 to £250 depending on the insurer.

You might have to pay co-payments too. This is another excess that you pay towards the vet bill. It's usually about 10-20% of the overall cost of the bill.

Is it more expensive to insure an older cat?

Generally yes, that's because they're more likely to develop health conditions as they get older.

It costs around £8.44/month to insure a 10-year old cat*.

Your cat's breed can also affect the price of your insurance. For example, it might cost more to insure a pure breed Maine Coon that it would a moggy.

A good way to manage the costs is to take your cat to the vet for regular check-ups. That way you can sort any health issues before they develop into something more serious that's expensive to treat.

*Prices based on Confused.com data (August 2025). Costs shown are based on the average monthly price paid for £1,000 annual cover for one 10-year-old cat with no pre-existing medical conditions. "Accident and illness cover" across cats of all breeds and in all locations.

Is it worth insuring an old cat?

It depends. Sometimes vet bills can reach into the thousands. That's a lot to pay yourself if you don't have pet insurance.

Here's a list of certain treatments and costs from the London Cat Clinic:

Your pet insurance could help to cover at least some of the medical costs.

Your monthly pet insurance fee could work out less than this over all. It's also a more manageable fee to pay each month.

Plus, pet insurance doesn't just cover the cost of vet treatments. If your cat goes missing, pet insurance can cover the cost of printing 'missing' posters or a monetary reward to someone who locates and returns your cat.

Also, if you're ill and there's no one to look after your cat, your pet insurance can pay for your cat to go to a cattery while you recover.

How to compare pet insurance for older cats

You can compare pet insurance quotes with us. We just need a few details, like:

• Your pet's age
• Your pet's breed
• What sort of cover you'd like and the amount
• Details about you

Once we have these, we'll show you pet insurers that can cover your OAC.

Once we've got your quotes ready, click 'more info' to see what exactly is covered.

You can also visit the insurers page before you buy for a more in depth view of cover levels (the money pots) and exclusions.

One thing to be wary of: If you have a cat with a pre-existing condition, be careful if you're looking to switch insurers. Any new policy you buy won't cover your cat's pre-existing condition.

Tips for choosing the right policy for your senior cat

If it's available, it's worth choosing lifetime cover for your senior cat. Unfortunately though, most pet insurers don't start new lifetime policies for cats over the age of 8.

If you do find a lifetime policy that covers your cat, you might find it's more expensive too, and your co-payment might be higher. But, it covers all conditions (except for any pre-existing ones) until the end of your cat's life.

Maximum benefit is another good option if your cat is generally in good health. You've got that pot of money to use per condition until it runs out. It creates a new pot for any new condition that could develop during the pet insurance term too.

The only downside is that once that pot has money has run out for that condition, you're on your own.

Remember to always check the small print of your pet insurance policy. It'll tell you what is and isn't covered.

It's worth chatting to your vet about pet insurance for your older cat. They might offer you some tailored recommendations.

If you're struggling to pay your vet bills, speak to animal welfare charities like Blue Cross, PDSA, RSPCA or Cat's Protection. They could help you out with payment plans, or offer more affordable vet treatment.