Looking after a pet (in our case, Mina the cat) can be an expensive business.  I've never worked out how much we've spent over the years on our cats.  It must be many thousands of pounds over 40 years.  We did that gladly, since we view the cats as family members that we have a deep responsibility to look after to the highest possible standard.  They have depended on us for their wellbeing and have given countless hours of joy, comfort, laughs and tears.

Vets know that.  Pet insurance companies know that.  They know that emotionally, people will pay anything to make sure their pets get the treatment they need.  The emotional component of pet ownership is what they depend on.  Bottom line is that they aren't charities, they're businesses, sometimes multi-national, extremely rich businesses.  The Guardian has run an article about charges and the setting up of a comparison website (i).  If an animal needs a scan, the prices can be eye-watering.  Again, the Guardian has run an article about this (ii).  People are at times really desperate, even to the extent of launching petitions like the one here (iii).

Our vet practice is an excellent one.  I would recommend them to anyone if they want their pet to receive first-class care. However, like most vets, they are expensive.  It's very easy to spend hundreds of pounds at the vets.  So perhaps pet insurance is the answer?

Mina is insured.  We've just received a letter telling us that her premium is almost doubling next year.  There maybe reasons for that - she's a year older for instance.  But doubling?  We can afford it, but I suspect that a lot of owners will not be able to afford pet insurance and therefore decide not to have it, or worse, get rid of the pet.  There are abandoned pets all over the country.  I don't know how many, but it wouldn't surprise me if the figure is in the millions.  That's a disaster for the animals.

Until there's more transparency of charges, openness and good quality information about vets and insurances, the owners cannot be expected to know about the full options open to them.  Only one thing isn't optional - the care of the pet.  And they know that.

22 April 2026: The BBC News website is carrying an article about the prices and cover of pet insurance (iv).  It speaks to rising prices, companies not paying up and people choosing not to insure their animal and putting money aside to help cover the costs of any treatment.  I suspect that we will consider doing that.  There can be little doubt that some companies are making extreme amounts of money from owners.  Boycott these companies.  Don't use them.  There's other companies that you can use and get a better deal in terms of cover and price.  We must have good quality information on which to base our decisions.  

21 July 2026:  I've had a letter from the pet insurance company telling me that the charge for the policy has been 'recalculated' and that they have taken the premium back to last's year's amount.  Why their error occurred in the first place annoys me.  My advice: check your insurance premiums and if you have a doubt about them, give the company a call.

22 September 2026:  The BBC News website has published an article saying that vet prescription fees are to be capped under rule changes (v), set out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) (vi).  This is welcome, but not enough.  Vets have a year to bring all the changes in, as this document from the CMA shows (download).  How effective will enforcement be?  Will vets seek to increase other charges to off-set these changes?  Pet owners need to know the answers to these questions.

(ii) The Guardian 17 April 2026:  Why do vets charge more to scan an animal than a private hospital would to scan a human?

(iii) change.org:  Stop Vets Charging Extortionate Fees

(iv) BBC News Website 22 April 2026:  I was left with an £8,000 vet bill when my insurer cancelled my pet policy

(v) BBC News Website 22 September 2026:  Vet prescription fees capped under rule changes

(vi) Competition and Markets Authority