Cat Insurance

What is cat insurance?  

For many households across Australia, it isn’t a home until there’s a cat in it. However, cats are more than just a cute furry ornament. They’re living and feeling creatures who can get injured or sick. So, cat insurance, like our own health insurance, is designed to help cover the costs when what the cat’s dragged in is a big vet bill. 

Why may pet insurance for cats be important? 

Cats are often seen as an easy-to-care-for companion. After all, they keep themselves clean, sleep up to 16 hours a day and can even be trained to use the toilet (although getting them to flush is a whole other situation).  

But did you know that in 2022, 69% of Australian cats visited the vet at least once.¹Animal Medicines Australia – Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people, p4 On average, in 2022, Australian cat owners were spending $936 on vet services annually.²As above, p40 At a time when many are giving up their pets as the cost of living continues to rise, could you afford to pay this amount or more with little notice? 

That’s where pet insurance may come in handy. While some pet owners may think pet insurance isn’t necessary because their pet is young and healthy, accidents happen. Whether your cat is an inside or outside pet, there are a lot of dangers around. From car accidents to fights with other cats or animals, right through to nibbling on the wrong houseplant or getting dehydrated after sitting a little too close to the heater all day, your cat could need to see a vet very suddenly. 

Ultimately, having cat insurance can be part of being a responsible cat owner.  

What does cat insurance cover? 

Pet insurance policies for cats tend to come in three types with each progressively providing more cover. 

Accident only  

An accident only policy covers, well, eligible accidents. This can be things like getting hit by a car, a burn or electrocution or even being bitten by a snake or spider. 

Accident and illness 

Accident and illness policies include cover for eligible accidents as well as eligible illnesses your cat may contract during their life. This could include gut problems from eating a toy, tick paralysis, skin conditions through to cancer treatment. 

Comprehensive  

Comprehensive policies provide extra cover for your cat and your pocket. It generally includes cover for eligible accidents and illnesses, usually including a higher benefit limit, meaning you have even more cover for certain treatments. 

Like health insurance for people, some insurers provide the option for added extras to your cat’s policy, often known as ‘routine care’. This could help cover costs for things like preventative healthcare treatments, including teeth cleaning, flea/tick/work control, microchipping as well as vaccinations or health checks.   

‘While my one year-old cats, Yowie and Min Min, might not need to worry about age-related health issues just yet, being young means they’re quite active and curious. Having accident only cover gives me peace of mind that if they get in a little too much trouble, I can handle certain unexpected vet fees.’

Madeline Pettet
Digital Writer, iSelect

What should I look for when comparing pet insurance for my cat? 

As every pet insurance policy is different, it would be worthwhile having a checklist to work through as you review each option. This will help you navigate through the different policies available and ultimately assist you with choosing the right cover for you and your feline friend.  

A great place to start is checking the policy booklet to see what’s included and what’s not included in each cover type. The type of policy will generally dictate this, but you may find a bit of variety between insurers and cover options. 

Similarly, you may want to double check if there are any limits on how much your insurer will cover. These can be an overall annual limit or sub-limits for certain conditions or care. 

You should also compare benefit percentages and check to see if there are any excesses. The excess will be what you need to pay on the bill before your insurance kicks in. The benefit percentage is how much of your bill your insurer will cover. This could be all of it or only a portion, for example 85%. 

Finally, pet insurance for your cat can come with waiting periods. As a result, you may need to hold the policy for a certain length of time before you can start claiming on certain benefits. This might be a good time to consider keeping your cat inside and reduce the risks they could encounter.  

How much is pet insurance for a cat?

In 2022, Australian cat owners annually paid, on average, $795 to insure their cat.³Animal Medicines Australia – Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people, p47 

Your pet insurance premiums all depend on certain risk factors around your cat, in particular your cat’s breed and age, as well as the level of cover you choose, and whether or not you’d like to add an optional routine care benefit to the policy.  

Helpful Tip from Choosi’s Team of Choosers:

While there’s some things you can’t change — like your pet’s breed or age — you can be choosi about the type of policy you take out, to help cut down your premium. Increasing your excess or lowering your benefit percentage could mean you can keep your cat covered and stick to your budget.

What restrictions apply to cat insurance? 

Like many other insurance products, pet insurance generally includes exclusions or restrictions on the cover offered. Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded from most pet insurance policies, which means it can be a good idea to take out cover when your cat is younger and healthier.  Restrictions or exclusions could even include certain treatments or services, like certain dental or routine care treatments, non-essential hospitalisation fees or even training therapies.  

As mentioned earlier, it can be important to take out cover for your cat when they’re younger as there can also be age restrictions. This means you may need to purchase cat insurance before your cat reaches a certain age, but generally if you continue to hold the policy and pay premiums, they are covered for life. Regardless of the restrictions, it’s always best to familiarise yourself with the policy booklet to ensure the policy you choose is right for you and your furry family member. To give you some perspective on this, cats can be deemed ‘senior’ when they’re only eight years old, despite being able to live for 20 years if they’re purely an inside pet. 

Where can I find and compare insurance for my cat? 

Just like cats, there’s a variety of options when it comes to pet insurance for your cat. But if you want to save yourself a headache — and have plenty of time to spend snuggling with your feline friend — iSelect has partnered with Choosi to help you out. We’re here to make it simple for you to compare a range of pet insurance options from certain insurers online quickly.