'I had to pay £14k after my cat was run over'

piers walker from bristol had to pay £14,000 after her cat maneessa was run over. without pet insurance, she put down £5,000 upfront for emergency treatment and has been paying about £500 a month since. the cat's jaw was broken in two places and skull crushed — maneessa survived but lost one eye.

40% of dog and cat owners in the uk don't have pet insurance, according to tesco insurance. the british veterinary union says price increases are largely beyond local practices' control and are unlikely to fall. about 60% of vet practices are now owned by six corporate groups, up from 10% a decade ago.

rosie matthews from somerset was relieved she'd taken out higher-level insurance just weeks before her cat scratch needed an £8,000 hip replacement. shelley perkins has spent more than £20,000 on cancer treatment for her cocker spaniel in two years — insurance covers most but she pays about 25% of the bill and her premium has hit £100 a month. the bvu advises pet owners to research costs, consider insurance and keep an emergency fund. reforms expected later this year aim to improve transparency but are not expected to bring prices down.

source: bbc_business
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