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Do I need cat insurance?
Cat insurance isn’t a legal requirement but you could be facing a hefty vet bill if your cat develops an on-going condition or suffers from an accident and you’re left footing the bill. It’s traumatic enough to watch your cat go through such an ordeal but cat insurance can alleviate some of the stress and give you peace of mind that the cost of treatment will be covered.
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Our comparison table is ordered by review score. The review score is the average weighted score based on product quality and user reviews from the last 12 months. Find out more about how our review score is calculated.
Most cat insurance quotes are provided via Quotezone, who are FCA regulated.
Please note that some of the providers included within our table are not currently offering new policies.
In this Guide
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What types of cat insurance can I get?
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What does cat insurance cover?
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What's not covered?
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How much does cat insurance cost?
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What types of cat insurance can I get?
Accident only
Accident only policies cover the cost of treatment if your cat is involved in an accident. Typically, this is the cheapest type of cat insurance you can get as it offers the least extensive cover. Some providers offer accident and illness policies that cover your cat if they become ill as the result of an accident, but most exclude illnesses entirely.
Time Limited
Time limited cat insurance covers the cost of vet fees over a 12-month period from the date you first noticed the illness or injury. When the 12-month period ends, your cat will no longer be covered for the particular injury you claimed for, even if you renew your policy.
Maximum Benefit
Maximum benefit policies allow you to claim for illnesses and injuries up to a pre-set limit. This is typically seen as the mid-range option. With a maximum benefit policy, you can claim for the same condition more than once, unlike time limited policies. However, once you’ve reached the maximum amount, you’ll have to pay for further treatment yourself.
Lifetime
Lifetime cat insurance covers accidents, illnesses and conditions throughout the lifetime of the policy. The limit is renewed each year. As lifetime policies offer the most comprehensive level of cover, they tend to be the most expensive. If your pet develops an ongoing condition that you want to cover for life, you’ll need to renew your lifetime policy yearly or find a new policy that covers pre-existing conditions.
What does cat insurance cover?
This will vary depending on the type of policy you take out but most pet insurance for cats provides cover for the following:
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Vet fees: If your cat needs veterinary treatment, you’ll be able to claim back the cost of vet fees.
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Theft or straying: If your cat goes missing or is stolen, you can claim back the cost of paying for a reward and advertising.
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Death: You can claim back the amount that you paid for your cat is they pass away because of an accident or illness.
- Boarding fees: If you have to go to hospital and can’t look after your cat, cat insurance can cover the cost of putting your cat in a cattery.
What's not covered?
Before you take out a policy, make sure you read the terms and conditions thoroughly to check exactly what your cat is and isn’t covered for. Common exclusions include:
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Pre-existing medical conditions: Most pet insurers won’t cover your cat for pre-existing conditions. Although ManyPets have created a specific pre-existing pet insurance policy to ensure your pet can get some form of cover, despite having an existing condition.
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Routine treatments: Treatments such as grooming, flea treatment, worm treatment, nail clipping, spaying and castration are typically excluded.
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Dental treatment: The majority of cat insurance policies won’t cover your cat for dental treatment, although more comprehensive policies might offer some cover.
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Breeding and pregnancy: Complications associated with breeding and pregnancy are often not covered.
- Euthanasia and burial: Most insurers don’t cover euthanasia and burial costs.
How much does cat insurance cost?
You can get a lifetime cat insurance policy for as little as £8.11 per month according to Compare by Review data in November 2020.*
*This figure is based on lifetime pet insurance for accidents and illnesses for a three-year-old Bengal who has been spayed and chipped, cost £600 and lives at a CM postcode.
The amount you pay for kitten insurance will depend on a range of factors, mainly the type of policy you choose. The more comprehensive the policy, the more expensive your premium will be, for example, accident only cat insurance is far cheaper than lifetime cat insurance. Your postcode will also impact the amount you pay because the cost of vet treatment is higher in some parts of the UK. If you live in an area where treatment is known to cost more, it’s likely that you’ll have to pay a higher premium. Pet insurance for older cats generally costs more too as older cats are at higher risk of developing health problems or illnesses. And finally, if you have a pedigree cat, you can expect to pay more to insure your cat.
Compare cat insurance
Our comparison table ranks cat insurance exclusively on customer experience and product quality, rather than price. We encourage you to read cat insurance reviews when deciding who to take out a policy with to get an idea of how different insurers treat their customers and handle claims. You want to ensure that you’re in safe hands if the worst were to happen to your cuddly companion.
Cat Insurance Guides
Check out our insurance guides for more information