Compare cat insurance

Cat and kitten insurance: A guide to finding the best cover for your cat

Like us, our feline friends sometimes get sick and must be looked after. The difference is humans have a national healthcare system to help us pay medical bills, whereas animals do not. 

When cats fall ill, the Australian government won’t help with their vet bills, which sure can add up. Luckily, pet insurance is available for cats; if you have it, it can help minimise the costs of going to the vet.

If you consider taking out cat insurance, you’ll probably want to research how it works first. This is where our handy guide comes in, as we’ve attempted to answer all your questions on cat insurance.

What is cat insurance?

Cat insurance is health insurance for cats. It’s pet insurance tailored to meet the needs of our purring pals should they get sick or injured.

As with all forms of insurance, the idea is to provide some financial support in case something goes wrong. Cat insurance is specifically designed to help lower expensive vet bills by reimbursing eligible costs you've already paid. 

So instead of an accident or illness making a permanent dent in your savings, cat insurance puts eligible claims back into your pocket. 

What does cat insurance cover?

Exactly what cat insurance covers will depend on a few factors. These include the insurance company you opt for and the level of cover you pay for, for your cat - plus any terms, conditions, exclusions and sub-limits that may apply. Different insurance companies will have different cover options and perks available.

Generally speaking, though, cat owners will often have around three different levels of cover to choose from:

• Basic

• Essential

• Comprehensive. 

Cover offered will often be for accidents and illnesses, emergency boarding, prescription medicine, testing, etc.

Routine care for teeth cleaning, vaccinations and check-ups can sometimes be available with a comprehensive policy or as an optional extra.

What types of cat insurance are there in Australia?

How cat insurance is sold and packaged by insurance providers can vary widely. While some pet insurance providers will offer one policy plus optional extras, others may have three different cat insurance levels. Some insurance companies even offer indoor cat insurance for cats who don’t wander outside.

Broadly speaking, these are the types of cat insurance you will find offered most often:

Accidental injury cover

Accident injury cover is often the most basic type of cat insurance providers will offer. As the name suggests, this type of insurance provides cover for injuries caused as a result of an accident. Accidents often include motor vehicle incidents, burns or electrocution and insect bites. 

Accidents covered and the definition of accidents may vary from policy to policy. With this in mind, we would recommend reading the PDS thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.

Accidental injury and illness cover

As well as covering accidents, this type of cat insurance protects specific illnesses. Covered illnesses can be cancer, skin conditions, eye or ear conditions, tick paralysis, etc. 

Exactly what illnesses are covered will depend on the individual policy. It is also worth noting that with most policies, around a 30-day waiting period may apply for illnesses. This means you must have had the policy for at least 30 days to claim for an illness.

Another thing to keep in mind is that pre-existing conditions are often not covered. So if your kitty has a health condition predating the policy, you most likely won’t be able to claim for any associated treatment. Other illnesses may be excluded, so again, read the PDS properly before making a decision.

Comprehensive cover

As mentioned above, pet insurance providers most often offer some form of higher-end, comprehensive cover. 

This isn’t always called comprehensive cover per se. Sometimes it is called premium, superior or even ultimate cover. The idea is the same, though, that is a policy that usually offers the most amount of coverage possible with that particular insurance provider. 

The main differences with a comprehensive policy are most often the annual benefit limit and percentage of eligible vet bills covered. Sub-limits for specific cover may also be higher with a comprehensive cat insurance policy. Some providers may even include routine care cover, although generally, this can only be accessed as an optional extra.

What is indoor cat insurance?

As so many people have indoor cats, many insurance providers offer indoor cat insurance. Indoor cat insurance is specifically designed to cover cats that do not roam outside. 

It is generally more cost-effective than regular cat insurance, as it takes into account that indoor cats are less likely to be involved in accidents outdoors, such as road incidents.

Some providers that offer indoor cat insurance include Bow Wow Meow and petinsurance.com.au.

What is the best cat insurance for kittens?

Most insurance providers will not offer cat insurance for very young kittens. Generally, cats must be at least eight weeks old to be eligible for insurance. 

For younger cats specifically, accidental injury cover might be worth considering. Young kittens can be more prone to getting into scrapes than their elders, especially if they are getting used to a new home. 

Really when it comes to it, there are a fair few factors to consider when choosing a pet insurance policy. Ultimately what works best for your pet will come down to what matters most to you and your financial situation.

How are cat insurance premiums calculated?

When an insurance provider works out the cost of an insurance premium, they are trying to determine how likely that person is to make a claim. If the likelihood of making a claim is high, the insurance premium will be high and vice versa.

For cat insurance specifically, the insurance provider will try to find out how likely the kitty will wind up at the vet. Some factors the insurance providers usually take into account include:

• Age: Just like people, the older a cat gets, the more susceptible they will be to developing certain medical conditions. For this reason, as your cat’s age goes up - so might their insurance premium.

• Breed or pedigree: Some cat breeds may be more likely to develop certain conditions, so insurance providers may consider the breed and pedigree.

• Where you live: If you live in a busy, built-up area, there may be a higher risk of your cat being involved in an accident.

• Desexed status: Your cat’s desexed status may affect how much their insurance premium costs.

• Medical history: An insurance provider may ask to review your cat’s medical history to see if they are prone to certain illnesses.

As well as these factors, your chosen policy will also affect your premium. For example, an accidental injury-only policy will likely come with a lower premium price than an accidental injury and illness cover plan.

What are the key factors to compare with cat insurance?

Here’s a quick rundown of some essential factors to consider when comparing cat insurance plans.

• Price: Although getting the right type of cover is essential, it is also understandable to be restricted by a budget. Your budget will probably determine whether you opt for comprehensive cover or are more strategic and take out accidental injury-only insurance instead. 

• Waiting periods: A waiting period will apply with most cat insurance policies. This is a certain amount of time you must wait, from signing up for the insurance plan to making a claim. Waiting periods can vary depending on the insurance provider and type of cover, ranging from 1 to 30 days or longer.

• Benefit percentage: You will come across this term when comparing cat insurance policies - the percentage of an eligible vet bill covered by the insurance plan. Most often, pet insurance providers will offer an 80% benefit percentage, although some may give the option to choose from 70% to 90%.

• Annual benefit limits: The annual benefit limit is the maximum amount the insurance provider will pay out in one insurance period. The annual benefit limit can vary significantly depending on the policy. It should also be noted that individual cover events may also be subject to sub-limits.

• Sub-limits: As well as the overall annual benefit limit mentioned above, most cat insurance policies will have sub-limits that apply to certain conditions and cover events. For instance, cat insurance providers may put a cap on cover for things like treatment for cruciate ligament conditions, skin conditions and emergency boarding.

• Excess: If you have any other type of insurance, you will know that the excess is the amount you must pay towards a bill before the insurance kicks in. The good news with cat insurance is that many providers only offer a $0 excess. This means eligible claims will automatically be covered, no matter how small.

• Exclusions: What is not covered with a policy is just as important as what is covered. Regarding cat insurance, several standard exclusions and possibly even some unexpected exclusions may apply. Make sure you know what the exclusions are before signing up.