Compare the best-rated cat insurance in Australia

What is cat insurance?

Cat insurance is a form of pet insurance designed specifically for cats. It can provide coverage for injuries and illnesses your cat may suffer from, as well as routine care procedures such as vaccinations, flea and tick control, and dental care.

How pet insurance for cats works

Like health insurance, you pay the premium listed on your cat’s pet insurance policy. This is typically charged monthly, with some providers offering weekly or fortnightly options. 

In exchange, your policy will reimburse you for eligible vet bills up to an agreed amount annually — this is called an ‘annual limit’, typically ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on your policy. 

Certain medical procedures or conditions may also have sub-limits in place, restricting the amount your insurer will subsidise, even if your policy’s annual limit is higher. 

If your submitted claim is successful, you will be reimbursed up to the agreed percentage amount (also known as a benefit percentage), but you’ll have to pay the remaining costs. 

An excess may also be due when making a claim — a fixed amount you must pay to receive those benefits on a claim-by-claim basis. Generally speaking, the lower the excess, the higher your premiums and vice versa. 

All of this information can be found on each policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

What does cat insurance cover?

Generally, there are three types of pet insurance for cats: accident-only, accident and illness and comprehensive policies.

Accident-only pet insurance

This is the most basic form of pet insurance, providing cover for accidents and emergencies only. For example, if your cat is injured or is bitten by a snake, accident-only cover may help to subsidise some or all of the costs associated with emergency surgery.

Accident and illness pet insurance

This type of policy provides coverage for accidents, as well as for the treatment costs associated with certain illnesses and diseases your cat might suffer from. Depending on the policy, this could mean coverage for illnesses and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, outer and inner ear infections and arthritis.

Comprehensive pet insurance

This type of policy offers the most ‘complete’ coverage for the above situations—often with larger claimable limits. It is also typically the most expensive type of pet insurance. 

Some comprehensive policies also include routine care procedures such as worming treatments, vaccinations, dental care, flea and tick control and even desexing and microchipping. 

Routine care may be available as either a standard inclusion or as an optional extra. 

What does cat insurance not cover?

Depending on the type of policy you have and its level of coverage, there may be several conditions that could be excluded from your cat insurance. These include:

• Pre-existing conditions (including conditions that your pet has already been treated for or is showing symptoms of)
• Non-emergency at-home vet visits or transportation to the vet
• Non-emergency boarding
• Pregnancy and birth-related procedures
• Elective treatments and surgery to improve your pet’s quality of life
• Harm that has been caused to your cat deliberately or by negligence
• Preventative care such as vaccinations, teeth-cleaning and desexing ( routine care procedures may be covered under comprehensive policies or as an optional extra).

Before taking out a policy, your insurer will likely assess your cat’s health for pre-existing conditions by requesting your pet’s full medical history or vet notes backdated by a few months.

To avoid pre-existing conditions from emerging, experts encourage taking out pet insurance for your kitten early to avoid these exclusions in the future. 

It’s also important to read the relevant policy documentation, such as the PPDS and Target Market Determination (TMD), for any policy you are considering. 

This can help to give you a clear idea of what is and isn’t covered, as well as whether the policy is suitable for you and your cat’s needs.

How much does pet insurance for cats cost? 

According to recent Canstar Research, the average annual cost for accident and illness cat insurance is as follows:

• Younger than 1 year: $560
• 2–3 years: $644
• 4–5 years: $745
• 6–7 years: $894.

The cost of pet insurance (your policy’s premiums) for your feline friend is largely influenced by: 

• Your cat’s breed: Different cat breeds (especially purebreds) are predisposed to hereditary illnesses or birth defects. Sometimes, insurers account for that risk by increasing your policy’s premiums. However, the impact is less significant compared to pet insurance for dogs, 
• Your cat’s age and health: As your cat ages, the risk of chronic or life-threatening illnesses rises — so do your premiums (as shown by the figures above). 
• Your policy: Your policy’s level of cover, its annual limit (and sub-limits) and your chosen excess will affect the cost of your premiums. 
• Advances in veterinary care: New and more expensive, cutting-edge treatments can drive claims and premiums up.

Is cat insurance worth the cost?

This will ultimately depend on you and your cat’s needs, as well as your overall budget. 

While having pet insurance can provide peace of mind that you’ll be reimbursed (up to a certain %) for unexpected injury or illness costs, some pet owners instead choose to create an emergency fund.

It’s worth weighing up which of these approaches better suits you, either paying consistent pet insurance premiums (which may help with budgeting) or putting away savings in an emergency fund (such as in a high interest savings account). 

It can also be worth thinking about your cat’s needs, lifestyle and medical history, as these may suggest whether your cat is more or less likely to incur vet expenses.

If you’re interested in pet insurance, compare cat insurance by using the above comparison table. The table allows you to filter by Star Rating, provider, accident and illness inclusions and policy features.