Best Cat Insurance Plans of 2024

What is the best pet insurance for cats?

Lemonade is our choice for the best cheap cat insurance because accident-only plans start at just $10 a month, and the average price of an accident and illness plan is just $28. 

Metlife is the best pet insurance for multi-cat households because their family plan allows you to have 3 pets on a single plan. You only pay one monthly premium, and once you pay the annual deductible for one cat, you won’t have to pay it again no matter which cat receives treatment. You can even have cats and dogs on the same policy.

Spot stands out because of their comprehensive coverage. They cover things many other providers don’t, like exam fees, dental disease, and microchipping. They even cover prescription food. This is particularly important to owners of male cats because they commonly contract UTIs and blockages as they age, which are often treated by putting them on a prescription diet.

Cat insurance advice from a vet

Are there specific health concerns that should be considered when selecting a cat insurance plan?

We asked Dr. Stephanie Liff, a vet with over 15 years of experience.

“In cats, the most common things that arise are hyperthyroidism, renal insufficiency, periodontal disease, and urinary obstruction in male cats. However, I think that with insurance you don’t want to focus on specifics but rather on having coverage for anything illness or accident-related that can occur.” - Dr. Liff, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Doctor Liff recommends opting for a comprehensive accident and illness plan with wide-reaching coverage. These plans can cover things like vet visits, treatments, and surgeries for accidents and illnesses over your cat’s lifetime.

Have a look below at our full list of the top cat insurance providers.

What is cat insurance?

Cat insurance is a specialized policy designed to cover the medical expenses of your feline companion, ensuring they receive the best care without you having to worry about costly vet bills.

The best cat insurance plans offer comprehensive coverage, including accidents, illnesses, surgeries, and even routine care, giving you peace of mind knowing that your pet’s health is protected. Whether you have a playful kitten or a senior cat, finding the best cat insurance is crucial for safeguarding their well-being and your financial security.

Here are some examples of common claims covered by cat insurance policies:

• Kidney disease treatment: As cats age, they’re more susceptible to kidney disease. Pet insurance covers diagnostic tests and treatments for this condition.
• Broken bones: If your feline friend falls and breaks a bone, your pet insurance policy should cover the cost of X-rays, casting and other necessary expenses.
• Diabetes: Just like humans, cats can develop diabetes, causing high blood sugar levels. If your cat receives a diabetes diagnosis after your pet insurance policy goes into effect, the plan should cover the cost of oral medications, insulin or other treatments.
• Cancer: Some cats develop lymphoma, bone cancer, mast cell tumors and other forms of cancer. If you have pet insurance in place, your plan may cover the cost of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer therapies.

Let’s take a closer look at the cost of pet insurance for you cat.

The average cost of an accident and illness policy for cats ranges between $20 and $50 per month. Accident-only coverage may cost as little as $10 per month, and wellness plans have an average monthly cost of $22.

Premiums may be higher for older cats or breeds prone to certain health conditions. When comparing the best cat insurance options, it’s important to balance the monthly premium with the potential out-of-pocket expenses and the level of coverage provided to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

These are the main factors that impact how much you’ll pay for a cat insurance policy:

• Age: As cats age, they’re more likely to develop health problems. Therefore, insurance companies typically charge more for older pets. Some policies even have an upper age limit.
• Breed: Certain cat breeds have a higher risk of developing serious health problems. If you own one of these breeds, cat health insurance is likely to be more expensive. Therefore, kitten insurance is cheaper than coverage for adult cats.
• Location: Due to differences in the cost of living, insurance companies have to charge higher rates in some locations than others.
• Reimbursement rate: Some plans have a 70% or 80% reimbursement rate, while others cover a much higher percentage of your cat’s vet expenses. The higher your reimbursement rate, the more expensive your policy is likely to be.
• Out-of-pocket costs: If you choose a low deductible, be prepared to pay a higher premium. Insurers charge more for low-deductible plans since they have to cover more of each cat’s vet expenses. Conversely, a plan with a high deductible should be cheaper than a plan with a low deductible.
• Coverage limits: If your plan has low coverage limits, it should cost less than a plan with better coverage.

Which cat breeds are the most expensive to insure?

These five cat breeds are the most expensive to insure due to the high risk of developing serious health problems:

• Siberian Forest Cat: This type of cat has a heightened risk of developing kidney disease, heart disease, gum disease and hereditary cancers, making it more expensive to insure.
• Bengal: The Bengal cat is prone to allergies, irritable bowel disease, urinary disorders and luxating patellas, leaving their pet parents with high vet expenses.
• Persian: Persian cats have flat faces and long coats, putting them at risk for skin disorders and breathing problems. These health issues are expensive to treat, so insurance companies charge more to insure this cat breed.
• Ragdoll: If you have a ragdoll, be on the lookout for urinary disorders, polycystic kidney disease and heart disease. These conditions are more common in ragdolls than in other types of cats, making this breed one of the most expensive to insure.
• Abyssinian: Abyssinians have a heightened risk of feline asthma, kidney disease and disorders of the digestive tract. Your pet insurance cost may increase accordingly.

Which cat breeds are the cheapest to insure?

It’s cheaper to insure cat breeds with a lower risk of developing health problems that are expensive to treat.

These cat breeds are the least expensive to insure:

• Tonkinese
• American shorthair
• Ragamuffin
• Bombay
• Burmese

How does pet insurance for cats work?

Pet insurance for cats works similarly to health insurance for humans by covering a portion of your vet bills when you cat needs medical care.

When you purchase a cat insurance policy, you choose a plan with specific coverage options, deductibles, and reimbursement levels. After a visit to the vet, you submit a claim to your insurance provider, who will then review the expenses and reimburse you based on your plan’s terms. The best cat insurance plans typically cover a wide range of services, from emergency treatments to ongoing care for chronic conditions, making it easier to manage your cat’s health costs.

Most plans require you to pay vet expenses upfront, submit a claim and wait for the insurer to reimburse you. Others pay your vet directly, eliminating the need to file your own claims and wait for reimbursement. Most policies have waiting periods, exclusions and other restrictions, so it’s important to read your plan documents carefully.

Here are some of the most important cat insurance terms to know:

• Waiting period: If your plan has a waiting period, coverage doesn’t begin until the waiting period ends. For example, if your policy has a 14-day waiting period, it won’t cover any expenses incurred until at least 14 days after you sign up, unless you choose a pet insurance option with a short waiting period up to 48h.
• Per-condition limit: Some companies limit the amount of money they’ll reimburse for specific health conditions. If you reach the limit, you’ll have to pay any additional expenses out of pocket.
• Per-incident limit: Some pet insurance policies limit the amount of money paid out for claims arising from a single incident. For example, if your cat is involved in an auto accident, your insurer may not cover the full cost of treatment.
• Payout limit: Your plan may have a payout limit, which represents the total amount of money your insurer is willing to pay over the life of the policy. If you reach that limit, your plan won’t cover any more of your cat’s vet bills.
• Exclusion: An exclusion is a condition or service that isn’t covered by your plan.
• Vet restriction: Your insurance company may require you to see a specific veterinarian in your community rather than choosing a vet clinic on your own. Additionally, some vets don’t accept direct-pay pet insurance, so you may have to choose a new provider if you want to use insurance to cover your cat’s vet bills.

How to pick the best pet insurance for your cat

In addition to reading our guide to choosing pet insurance, follow these steps to find the best insurance for your cat:

What does pet insurance for cats cover?

As with dog insurance, the amount of coverage available depends on whether you purchase an accident-only plan or a comprehensive accident-and-illness policy. Some pet insurance companies also offer wellness insurance or optional add-ons.

We’ll take a quick look at the types of coverage below. For more in-depth information, check out our guide on what pet insurance covers.

Accident-only coverage

Accident-only coverage is just what it sounds like: pet insurance that only covers expenses associated with accidental injuries. For example, if your cat accidentally gets out of the house and has a harrowing encounter with a stray dog, pet insurance will cover the cost of treatment.

Accident and illness coverage

Accident-and-illness plans provide coverage for a much broader range of veterinary services. It covers veterinary expenses associated with covered illnesses, accidents, and sometimes even dental coverage. Because this type of pet insurance is so comprehensive, it’s often called “nose-to-tail” coverage. If your cat came down with an upper respiratory infection, treatment would be covered under an accident and illness plan.

Wellness insurance

Several pet insurance companies offer wellness plans, which are designed to cover preventive care and other routine expenses. If you purchase one of these pet insurance plans, it may cover exam fees, dental cleanings, cat vaccination costs and spaying or neutering.

What isn’t included?

Pet insurance companies typically exclude these services from their policies:

• Routine care: Unless you purchase a wellness plan, your insurance company is unlikely to pay for your cats annual exams, dental cleanings, vaccinations and other routine expenses.
• Pregnancy/breeding: Many pet insurance companies refuse to pay for veterinary expenses associated with pregnancy and breeding. If you plan to breed your cat, you may be able to purchase an add-on that covers additional services.
• Death: Although a few pet insurance companies offer death benefits, most plans don’t cover cat burial expenses. However, pet health insurance may cover the cost of euthanasia or other end-of-life services.
• Pre-existing conditions: Pre-existing conditions are health problems discovered before your pet insurance coverage begins. For example, your cat has a pre-existing condition if it was diagnosed with diabetes before you purchased a pet insurance policy.
• Boarding: If your cat has to stay at a kennel while you’re out of town, your pet insurance plan probably won’t cover the cost. Fetch pet insurance is one of the only providers that does include this.
• Food: Some pet insurance companies cover prescription food, but they don’t cover the cost of regular cat food.
• Grooming: Even if your cat requires regular grooming due to its long coat, you can’t use pet insurance to cover the costs.
• Elective procedures: Most pet insurance plans exclude elective services. These services may improve your cat’s appearance or its quality of life, but they’re not medically necessary. For example, pet insurance companies typically don’t cover ear cropping since there’s no medical reason to perform it.
• Non-veterinary expenses: This type of insurance only covers services provided by a veterinarian. It doesn’t cover taxes, finance charges and other non-veterinary expenses.

Is cat health insurance worth it?

Cat coverage is worth it if you break even over the life of the policy. Considering how long cats live, that is fully possible.

Breaking even means that you spent the same amount on insurance premiums as you would have spent on vet expenses. It’s even more worth it if you pay less for insurance than you would have paid in vet bills.

Here’s an example of why you should purchase insurance for your cat:

You pay $27 per month for a comprehensive policy. Three years in, your cat develops a serious illness requiring emergency treatment. Your vet charges you $3,500 for lab tests, X-rays, medications and surgery. In this scenario, you would have paid just $972 for your cat’s health insurance. If you subtract that from $3,500, having insurance would have saved you $2,528.

That’s well worth the cost of maintaining coverage.