How pedigree cat insurance works in the UK

Time to read: 7 mins

Pedigree cats can cost you a lost of money to buy initially and then to look after particularly as they’re more susceptible to illness than your typical moggie, so pet insurance could be a worthwhile option to protect you against vet bills.

What is a pedigree cat?

A cat can be called a pedigree if its mother and father come from the same specific breed. Pedigree cats are pretty rare with just 1 in 10 UK felines being a pedigree cat, the majority being moggies. There are in excess of 67 recognised pedigrees, to prove a pedigree they will come with documentation, certification and proof of their family tree from one of the following organisations:

Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)
The International Cat Association (TICA)
Fédération Internationale Féline (FiFE)

Some of the most popular pedigree cat breeds in the UK are:

British Shorthair
Bengal
Siamese
Maine Coon
Persian
Ragdoll
Russian Blue
Scottish Fold
Savannah
Sphynx

You might read a couple of different terms, purebred and pedigree, some (like us) use those terms interchangeably for the purposes of insurance but in some cases you may see a difference in meaning. Purebred is used when the parents are of the same breed, whereas pedigree means parents of the same breed where the family history has been recorded and verified.

Are pedigree cats more expensive? (to buy, to feed, to insure etc)

Pedigree cats will generally be more expensive to own that your classic moggie in several regards:

Buying pedigree cats

Non-pedigree cats can cost as little as nothing up to around £200, they’re relatively inexpensive to buy or adopt mainly because there are a lot of moggies around. If you are specifically looking for a pedigree breed then you can expect to pay anywhere up to £2,000 for rare breeds with full family and breeding history. Check our advice for finding a good breeder.

Food and nutrition

While you can feed typical well-known cat food brands to your pedigree cat, some may require a more specific dietary needs. Many pedigree cat owners recommend specialist food from providers like James Wellbeloved and Arden Grange but it could be worth checking with your breeder when you buy your cat to see what they recommend based on what they have been feeding them to date. You might also find our pet food review useful too.

Medical treatment and vet costs

This is the key difference between moggies and pedigree cats. Because pedigrees are from the same breed they will be more likely to suffer from hereditary illnesses, diseases and injuries than those cats which have been crossbred.

What conditions are pedigree cats likely to suffer from?

Hereditary conditions are common in pedigree cats, depending upon the breed they are more likely to be susceptible to some conditions than others.

British Shorthair cats have shown an increase in conditions such as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The same condition is prevalent in Bengal cats along with retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia. Siamese cats tend to be affected by conditions like asthma and diabetes, while Persians suffer from breathing difficulties, dental issues and skin conditions.

It’s worth checking the conditions that your breed is more likely to suffer from before you purchase the breed in the first place, and ensure that if you are looking for insurance ensure that you find cover that provides you with protection against those conditions.