Pet insurance UK - is it really necessary? How a chance decision saved one person HUNDREDS

Caring for a pet can be one of life’s great enjoyments for many people. That said, looking after animals can be a costly hobby. Some people will try and reduce the risk of huge outgoings by taking out pet insurance - covering themselves for high vets bills and other related expenses. However, some people may opt against insuring their pet, with a number of pet owners instead setting aside money in case something happens to their lovable creature in the future.

One cat owner has revealed that a chance decision, for which they cannot explain the reason, led them to insure one of their three cats.

And, it proved to be very beneficial indeed, after the furry friend was later diagnosed with epilepsy.

Treatment for the feline came in at more than £100 per month - a far cry from the monthly premiums which the owner was paying to the insurer.

Writing on a Mumsnet thread regarding pet insurance back in October 2018, “overagain” wrote: “We don't have it for two of our cats.

“For some reason I decided to get it for cat three, no idea why, but boy am I glad I did!

“Turns out he had epilepsy and the medications were £113 per month.”

While the pet owner had to pay £70 in excess each year, the monthly insurance premiums were just shy of £100 less than the cost of their cat’s treatment each month.

“The insurance was £14 per month, life time guarantee plus £70 excess per year.”

Crunching the numbers, the cat owner revealed that their outgoings for the feline’s pet insurance was £1,118 lower than they would have had to spend in order to provide the required medical treatment for their cat’s epilepsy.

“So he cost us £238 per year rather than £1356,” they said. “Which, we wouldn't have been able to afford.”

Unfortunately, the cat’s health deteriorated, and passed away four years later.

They explained: “He sadly had to be put down four years later as it become unmanageable even on three medications he was having three or four seizures a day which we witnessed (so God knows how may [many] more whilst we were at work or asleep), wetting himself, biting his tongue and then taking ages to come round/ being drowsy most of the time. Very sad.”

Despite having saved money in the long run, the cat owner has opted against taking out an insurance policy for each of their other two cats.

“The other two still aren't insured,” they penned. “They've only been to the vets once each due to injury so touch wood we've made the saving.”

Some people may wonder whether pet insurance will cover teeth cleaning.

An insurer can cover some forms of dental care.

And while it can vary from policy to policy, the website Money.co.uk says that pet insurance providers don’t usually pay for routine care such as teeth cleaning.