If pet owners were better educated about their animals there would be an increased uptake of pet insurance, according to the RSPCA.
The animal cruelty prevention charity has urged people with pets to consider taking out pet insurance as part of being a responsible owner, claiming many people do not realise how ill their animals can get and do not plan ahead financially.
Rebecca Ralph, press officer for the RSPCA, said: "We would urge people to take out pet insurance as part of being a responsible pet owner to make sure they are prepared for unforeseen veterinary bills that may come up from time to time.
"A lot of people - when they're taking on a pet - don't actually consider how expensive it can be to own an animal."
She explained that many people are unaware that their pets live for many years - the average age of a cat is 16 years - which can mean some hefty veterinary bills over time.
"Things can go wrong and there will be occasions when you need to go to the vet," said Ms Ralph.
"Really we encourage people to take vet insurance as part of being responsible."
Find out more about pet insurance
© Adfero Ltd