As September’s Happy Cat Month approaches, a cattery insurance specialist is warning cattery owners to stop claiming for veterinary fees for their customers’ cats if they have not been negligent.

Lynne Fisher, Associate Director at leading animal business insurer Cliverton, explained: “Historically, many cattery owners have claimed on their own policies if something happened to a visiting cat, even when it wasn’t their fault,”

Owners need to reassess their approach to making non-fault veterinary fee claims in light of rising costs and increasing insurance premiums.

“In many cases, these claims should have been handled under the cat owner's own insurance policy, rather than being filed against the cattery's insurance,” said Fisher.

“Not only does this misalign responsibility if the business wasn’t negligent, but it has also led to inflated insurance premiums, especially now vet bills are getting more expensive.”

To mitigate these rising costs, Fisher is reminding cattery owners to take proactive steps to protect their business and ensure clarity in their operations.

“While many claims have been made as a gesture of goodwill, this practice is no longer sustainable,” Fisher said.

“Cattery owners should ensure their customers have adequate pet insurance that covers their cats while in the cattery’s care.

“They should also clearly communicate to pet owners that the organisation’s insurance is not intended to cover vet fees in cases where no negligence has occurred.

“Terms and conditions should also explicitly state that the business is not liable for any fees resulting from incidents where there has been no negligence on the part of the cattery.

“By implementing these measures, cattery owners can better manage their insurance costs, protect their business, and maintain clear and fair relationships with their clients.”

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