Is pet insurance worth it for a puppy or kitten?

Puppies and kittens love exploring and, unfortunately, seem to love accidents even more! It’s good fun as a new pet parent, but it can get a bit stressful, too. As a new pet parent, you’ll hear a lot about pet insurance. Pet insurance can help with that early stress, but how do you know if it’s right for you as a new puppy or kitten parent? Find out below. What’s the average cost of a pet insurance claim? When people talk about value, cost inevitably follows. The average pet insurance claim was £685 in 2024, and more complex treatments regularly cost more than £4,000, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) . That said, insurance plans don’t suit every pet parent. If your finances mean you could manage a hefty vet bill without insurance, then there’s no pressure to get a policy. Why the first year matters more than any other Waiting to insure your new puppy or kitten doesn't just risk a bigger bill, but it can also make it more difficult to decide to take out insurance later. If a vet notes, treats or diagnoses a condition before your plan starts, or during the standard 14-day waiting period, it’ll likely be recorded as pre-existing and excluded from cover for the rest of your pet's life. Plus, a puppy or kitten can need treatment well before a self-funded savings pot has had time to grow, which is why it’s worth looking into insurance early. Your pet will thank you for preparing in advance, and that goes for more than just insurance! What do vet bills actually cost in the UK? Your vet bill will vary depending on your pet, where you live and the type of treatment your vet chooses. Sometimes, treatment can be small, like for a broken nail. At other times, it can get more expensive, like for a broken bone, a swallowed toy or an ongoing condition like diabetes. These can quickly reach several thousand pounds once you factor in everything, not just treatment: diagnostic scans, surgery and aftercare all cost money. The ABI recorded 1.8 million pet insurance claims in 2024 , paying out £1.23 billion in total, which gives you an idea of how much pet care costs annually. You can find recent average costs in our articles here: Monthly payments vs a real vet bill: how do they match up? To give you an idea of how the numbers between vet bills and a premium could compare, we’ve broken down an example of a typical vet bill in the UK. Our average annual plans cost around £289.85 for our Essential Care and Standard Care £7k plans , with exact costs depending on your pet’s breed, age and your location. On the other hand, an unexpected trip to the vets for an accident, like surgery to remove a swallowed toy, can easily cost into the thousands. For example, in January 2026 we found the average cost in the UK of a vet consultation stands at £61.99 – up 6% from a year ago. This would include smaller, routine visits. Here’s a breakdown of how this may work for bigger costs: Of course, by contrast, you could end up in a situation where you never need to claim; insurance is all about preparing for the unexpected and, trust us, there aren’t many certainties in pet parent life! In the end, it depends on you and your circumstances. But insurance can be there when you need to prepare for the unexpected. Is saving instead of insuring a good alternative? It depends on your circumstances. Self-funding is where you set aside money each month to prepare for treatment. It’s the old-fashioned “save for a rainy day” method. But it can be risky; treatment can cost thousands and be ongoing. Pet insurance vs self-funding Pet insurance, meanwhile, could be the right option for you if: It sounds contradictory, but you need to ask yourself: “Can I afford to not have insurance?” What changes as your pet gets older? The monthly cost for pet insurance, known as a “premium”, generally rises as your pet gets older , as older pets are more likely to get ill. Insuring early doesn't lock in a lower price for life. But it does mean more of your pet's life could be covered before any condition has the chance to become pre-existing . Also, like most other insurers, at the first renewal after your pet turns seven, you’ll need to pay a 20% co-payment on claims. But our one excess per policy year, not per condition, will remain in place for your pet’s life. Our co-payment and excess explainer can help here if you’re confused. It’s worth getting your head around things like co-payment and excess early on; it’ll help you plan your finances and compare like-for-like plans. So, is pet insurance worth it? We’d recommend asking yourself these questions: The value in lifetime pet insurance like ours is that your pet can get cover for their whole life, which means peace of mind from day one to many years in the future as long as you continue to renew your plan with no break in cover. There are no right or wrong answers here. Pet insurance value FAQs How to decide whether insurance is worth it for your pet? If you’re thinking about taking out an insurance plan, we think it’s best to weigh up: What are the benefits of lifetime pet insurance? At ManyPets, we only do lifetime plans. By insuring your new furry friend from day one, you can make sure they’re protected as early as possible, and potentially before any conditions become classed as pre-existing. If your pet does need treatment for ongoing conditions as they grow, a lifetime policy will keep paying out each year up to your agreed vet fee limit as long as you renew. What age can you insure puppies and kittens? At ManyPets, we insure puppies and kittens from four weeks old. We also have no upper age limits on our plans, so we welcome golden oldies, too!

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