Get pet cover for your kitty today
When it comes to protecting your furry friend, it’s important for pet owners to shop around for the right cover that suits what you both need. We work with over 30 leading pet insurance companies, to bring you our best deals.
1Accurate as of September 2023
Your cat may have quick reflexes, but accidents happen and so do illnesses. Cats can be quite inquisitive which makes them very prone to accidents that end up being quite pricey at the vet. While you are not legally required to get cat insurance in the UK, small monthly payments can save pet owners hundreds (sometimes thousands) after one unfortunate event.
When it comes to cat insurance there are several levels of cover you can choose from. What you decide to go for depends entirely on your circumstances and what works for you and your pet. We’ve listed the different types of cover below:
A time-limited pet insurance policy covers your cat for a specific time, usually 12 months. Ideal if you want to cover a condition for a year, and pay the rest yourself.
Accident only vet bills (for things like MRI scans and operations.) This won’t cover your pet for veterinary treatment due to illness or disease
Per condition cover, also known as maximum benefit pet cover, allocates a fixed sum of money to treat each illness or injury
A lifetime policy is more expensive than others and can cover any chronic or recurring condition throughout your cat's life
Treating a cat can be expensive and while your insurance can cover a lot of those expenses, it's important to know what is covered with your pet insurance and what exclusions are applied to your policy:
Vet fees - If your cat has had an accident or needs a diagnostic appointment for an illness, your insurance policy should cover those costs
Advertising and recovery costs - If your pet gets lost or stolen, your insurance policy will usually cover the costs of recovering your pet
Cattery and kennel fees - In certain emergencies mentioned in your policy, your policy can cover kennel fees up to a specified amount
Third-party liability - If your pet injures someone or damages someone else’s property your policy can cover any compensation you may be liable to pay
Routine check-ups - Routine check-ups including dental care are often not covered in a standard policy
Preventative treatments - This includes neutering, flea treatments, worming and vaccinations
Behavioural problems - Any issues that arise due to existing behavioural problems (e.g. aggression) can result in a claim being invalidated
Pregnancies - Pregnancies and breeding complications are not covered under a standard policy
The average premium for a cat insurance policy through MoneySuperMarket is £5.84 per month2. However, there are a few factors that will affect the price for you including:
Your location
The age of your cat
The breed of your cat
Your cat's medical history
The type of policy you choose
Breed | Average Monthly premium |
|---|---|
Ragdoll | £6.01 |
British shorthair | £6.74 |
Bengal | £7.80 |
Maine coon | £8.09 |
Siamese | £7.15 |
It's great to get your insurance in place as early as possible to give you peace of mind and protect yourself and your cat further down the line. Even if you have an old cat, the vet can still send you hefty bills when they get sick or injured – that’s when your insurance saves you.
It is important to insure your kitten while they are young before they develop any medical issues. This means your insurance will usually be cheaper than insuring an older cat and if your cat does develop any issues, they will be covered from the start.
You are still able to insure your old cat. Having an older cat can often mean higher vet bills and often more health issues, which is when your insurance will cover you. However, your premiums are likely to be slightly higher because of the greater likelihood of health issues,
With a huge panel of providers at our disposal, we can match the needs of you and your cat to great value deals.
All we need is some basic information about you and your pet, and with just a few clicks you can buy a policy for the price you see it.
Join the thousands of people using MoneySuperMarket to find great value deals on pet insurance and more.1
1Source: MoneySuperMarket 1,412,692 Pet Insurance comparisons 1st October 2021 – 30th September 2022
There are a few considerations before applying for your cat insurance policy. These include:
Choose from accident only, time limited, per condition, or lifetime cover to find the best cover type to suit your needs and budget
If you have any other pets you want to insure at the same time, a multi-pet policy might be better
This is the amount of money you pay before the insurance covers the rest. Some providers charge a flat fee while others may work on a percentage of costs
Options can vary from paying for marketing and rewards should your cat go missing, to covering the cost of dental treatments
"Cats always seem to be among the more self-sufficient of our pets, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security.
As with any pet insurance, bringing a new creature into your home is the time to weigh up the potential costs of treatment – which can be surprisingly high – versus the cost of your premiums and making a proactive decision about insuring your kitty. Most people don’t realise that like other kinds of cover, your circumstances will affect the cost, so shopping around is as important as ever.
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We all love saving money, but the cheapest insurance isn’t always the best for you or your cat and may end up being more costly for you in the long run. Want to find a great value policy specifically tailored to you? Here’s what to consider:
You need to pick the right policy that specifically meet your cat's needs. If you have an old cat or one with pre-existing conditions, then a comprehensive policy may not be worth the cost.
If you agree to pay a certain amount of your vet bills, you can reduce the cost of your policy.
As soon as you give us your information, we will generate the best deals we have with policies tailored to suit you.
Most providers will allow you to choose optional add-ons to your policy including dental cover.
It is often cheaper for you if you pay for your pet insurance annually rather than monthly.
Even when you have a great policy in place, over time you may be able to switch to a better deal with a different provider, which is why it is always wroth comparing different deals with a range of leading UK pet insurance providers with MoneySuperMarket.
Getting a valid cat insurance quote with MoneySuperMarket is simple. You need to provide us with some information about you and your pet so we can generate the right policy for you at our most competitive prices. The information we need includes:
Your cat's age and breed
All vaccinations you're up to date with
Whether your cat has been neutered or microchipped
What type of cover you would prefer
Your address and contact details
Our comparison tools are quick and easy to use. In just a few steps you can get accurate quotes for policies tailored to you and your pet.
Give us a few details about your pet and the type of cover you’re looking for
We’ll put together a list of providers with appropriate cover for your specific needs
Pick the policy that is perfect for you and your pet
Where you live can affect the cost your cat insurance, as your premium is calculated by how much vet fees cost in your area.
If you live in the South East of England, your pet insurance may be pricier than if you lived further North. This is because veterinary costs can be more expensive depending on where you live.
You can get specialist pet insurance for your cat if they have a pre-existing medical condition. This type of policy is designed for those whose pets already have a medical condition before they take out an insurance policy.
While you'll be able to take our standard pet insurance if your cat has a pre-existing injury or condition, it's unlikely that your insurer will cover veterinary treatment for that particular condition - as there's a risk that the condition may flare up again.
With this in mind, if you want to cover veterinary treatment for your cat's health condition, you'll need to get specialist pet insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.
To work out how much cat insurance you need, you'll need to weigh up factors like how old your pet is and if they live with any pre-existing medical conditions, as this may affect how likely it is that you'll need to make a claim.
From there, you'll need to decide what type of policy you need for your cat. A lifetime policy covers vet fees up to a certain amount every year, as long as you renew your policy. This is the most expensive type of cat insurance but does give you peace of mind that no matter how many claims you make, you'll receive the same amount of cover each year.
Alternatively, if you only want to cover bigger vet bills caused by accidents, accident-only cover can be a more affordable option. But do keep in mind accident accident-only policies won't cover treatment for illnesses.
Cat insurance won't cover vaccinations - in fact, it's often a condition of most cat insurance policies that you keep them up-to-date with all their vaccinations.
You can get multi-cat insurance, and it can be an easier way to manage your insurance. If you have more than one cat and choose a multi-pet insurance plan, you only have to correspond with one insurer and will only have one renewal date and one set of documents. Often, insurers offer discounts if you cover more than one pet on your policy. Multi-pet discounts can vary between 5% and 10%, while others give you £12 off your policy a year, for each extra pet you choose to cover.
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
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You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.
