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How could cat insurance help me?

You’d do anything to make sure your cat is properly cared for. But what if their vet bills run into the thousands of pounds?

Cat insurance is there to help you cover the cost of treatment if your cat falls sick or is injured.

In just a few minutes, we can help you compare quotes to find a pet insurance policy that covers exactly what you need it to, at a price that works for you.

What types of cat insurance are there?

There are four main types of cat insurance to choose from:

Accident only

Time limited

Maximum benefit

Lifetime

Accident only offers a fixed sum for each accidental injury you cat suffers. It's the least comprehensive type of pet insurance and only covers accidents, not illnesses. Some policies also have a time limit on how long after an injury you can claim for treatment.

Time limited gives you a fixed sum of money for each separate illness or injury your pet suffers, but will only cover treatment for a specific period of time. This is typically up to 12 months from the start of the illness or injury. Any treatment your pet needs after this may not be covered.

Maximum benefit gives you a set amount of money to cover each illness or injury you cat may suffer. Once the full amount has been paid out for treatment for that injury, you won't be able to claim for the cost of any further treatment for that specific condition.

Lifetime pet insurance is the most comprehensive cat insurance you can get. It should cover any new illnesses or injuries up to a set limit each year. If the policy is renewed annually, you'll be able to claim for conditions or injuries you've already claimed for, which isn't the case on other policies. This can make it ideal for managing long-term conditions like diabetes.

How much is cat insurance?

There are a few things that can affect the cost of your cat insurance, so the prices you're quoted will be tailored to you and your pet.

Things that can affect the cost include:

The type of policy you choose, as more advanced ones will cost more
The amount of cover you want, as more cover can mean a pricier policy
Your pet’s age and breed, as these can affect its likelihood of developing some illnesses
Whether your cat is vaccinated or neutered, as these can protect your pet from certain conditions
The excess you opt for, as the more you can afford, the cheaper your policy might be

As an example of how much it can cost, here’s the average cat owner's monthly insurance price based on the age of their cat:

Cat's age	Average monthly cost
0-4	£7.91
5-9	£8.71
10-14	£14.01
15-19	£21.83
20+	£20.52

Prices based on Confused.com data taken between 22/01/2022 – 22/06/2022. Costs shown are based on the average price paid for cover across all cover types, breeds, and in all locations.

How can I get cheaper cat insurance?

Looking to cut the cost of your cat insurance? Here are a few things that might help to bring your premiums down:

Make sure your cat is fully vaccinated, as pet vaccinations reduce the chances of them contracting certain illnesses. The lower the risk your cat has of falling sick, the lower your premiums might be.

Neuter or spay your cat, as they’ll be less likely to develop conditions like testicular or ovarian cancer, which could lead to lower premiums.

Keep your cat generally healthy, and at a healthy weight, as a healthy cat is less of a risk to insure.

Set the right excess, as the more you're willing to pay towards the cost of a claim, the cheaper your premiums could be.

Get a multi-pet insurance policy if you have more than one cat, as these can often work out cheaper than several individual policies.

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What conditions will my cat insurance cover?

All policies will cover treatment for accidental injury, though some will allow you to claim for more than others.

Exactly what you’re covered for varies depends on your policy and provider, though. So you should always read your policy wording carefully.

Depending on what policy you go for, you might also get cover for:

Treatment for illness if your pet hasn't suffered from that illness previously
Holiday cancellation costs if you need to cancel due to your pet falling sick
Cattery fees if you're hospitalised for more than four days in a row and your cat needs to be taken care of
Liability costs if your cat causes accidental damage to a third party and they take action against you
Advertising and reward costs if your cat goes missing or is stolen

Most policies will exclude certain procedures too. You typically won't find cover for:

Preventive treatments like neutering and vaccinations
Dental treatment
Pre-existing conditions
Routine check-ups
Behavioural problems

What if my cat has a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury your cat is diagnosed with before your policy begins, or renews. Not many insurers will cover these. But you still have a few options.

Ask insurers if they can help, as some may offer to at least partially cover any future treatment your cat needs for its pre-existing condition. Give them a call to check.

Try pet insurance for pre-existing conditions, which is specifically designed for pets who need ongoing treatment. It can be tricky to find though, and here at Confused.com, we don't currently compare quotes for such policies.

Cover that condition yourself if it crops up again, and take out a cat insurance policy for any other injuries or illnesses your cat develops. This will at least ensure treatment is covered for any future conditions your cat might develop.

If you already have lifetime pet insurance, all you need to do is keep renewing. As long as your pet’s condition developed during your cover period, you insurer should continue to cover it.

Types of pet insurance

Pet insurance

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Lifetime pet insurance

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Multi-pet insurance

Protect both your pets and your pocket from any nasty shocks.

What our pet insurance expert says

Before you get a quote, think about what you want your cat insurance to cover. Just accidental injuries? Or do you want illnesses covered too? What about long term chronic conditions? Getting the right cover from the off can ensure you aren’t paying too much. And, more importantly, that your cat is covered if the worst happens.

Jac Morris

Pet Insurance Product Executive

Need more help?

Does cat insurance cover neutering and spaying?

Usually no. Most policies won't pay out for any preventative procedures like spaying, neutering or vaccination.

There's benefit in paying for these procedures yourself, though, as they'll often bring the cost of your policy down. So the upfront cost can be worth it in the long run.

Is it worth insuring an older cat?

Cat insurance can be more expensive for older cats, as insurers see them as being at an increased risk of illness. But insuring them can still be worth it.

Even though your premiums are likely to be higher than those for a younger cat, a policy could still be worth it if you're saddled with a big vet bill.

Plus, the peace of mind in knowing that your cat is covered can often justify the cost anyway.

Is cat insurance more expensive for pedigrees?

If you have a pedigree cat like a maine coon, Persian or sphynx, it can be a little more expensive to insure than your standard moggie.

This is because some pedigree breeds are predisposed to certain conditions, which can make them seem riskier to insure to your insurer.

Moggies are usually seen as lower risk for hereditary, or genetic conditions, so can be cheaper to insure.

But this isn't always the case, so compare quotes to see what's available.

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How could cat insurance help me?

What types of cat insurance are there?

How much is cat insurance?