Insurance claims by cat owners rises to a record high of £148m

THE TOTAL value of pet insurance claims for cats increased by 10 per cent annually to an all-time high of £148m in 2020, according to industry figures.

The Association of British Insurers said 1.06m cat owners had pet insurance last year, also the highest figure it has recorded.

Insurers processed claims for all types of pet worth £799m last year – the equivalent of £2.2m every day – mainly to cover the costs of veterinary treatment, the association said.

The annual pet claims total for 2020 was the second highest figure since the association started collecting the data in 2007 and is 80 per cent higher than the amount recorded 10 years ago.

The highest annual total on its records since 2007 was in 2019, when claims worth £809m were handled on pet policies.

The association said 978,000 pet claims were recorded last year. These included 212,000 involving cats and 734,000 for dogs, worth £148m and £598m respectively.

Claims were also made for other pets such as rabbits, indoor birds and hamsters.

The average claim value across all pet policies was £817, up by two per cent on 2019. Payouts have included £7,000 to treat a French bulldog with a fractured leg; £5,000 to reattach two toes to a cat; £3,800 to treat a dog’s dislocated kneecap and £3,600 to repair cruciate ligament damage in a Jack Russell terrier.

Association spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: “During the pandemic pets have given added comfort to their owners.

“But pet owners have also faced challenges, often worried about being able to access the full range of veterinary services during lockdowns.”