Best Pet Insurance for Cats (2023)

Cats are the second-most common pet in the country, with one or more living in 28.2 million U.S. households.^[1] The ASPCA estimates that cat owners pay $160 for routine medical costs and $140 for preventative medication each year.^[2] The cost of caring for your cat can add up, and you might not have the funds to cover an emergency vet visit without pet insurance.

The good news is that pet insurance can help ease the financial burden of unexpected medical care for your cat. Pet insurance for cats can help pay for your cat’s accidents and illnesses. Some policies might also cover routine care if you want to pay for extra coverage. Pet insurance policies have specific deductibles, monthly premiums, and reimbursement rates.^[3]

Here’s what you need to know about pet insurance for cats and how to find the best coverage.

Best pet insurance for cats

You have several quality pet insurance options to choose from when buying the best coverage for your cat. Learn more about some of the best pet insurance companies below.

Figo: Best for reimbursement

Average monthly quote: $17

Figo offers an affordable cat insurance plan with coverage that includes holistic and alternative care, like acupuncture and chiropractic care. Cat parents can either design a custom plan or choose between three comprehensive plans that vary in annual and maximum lifetime benefits. Figo also provides optional vet exam fees and wellness coverages.

Reimbursement rates range between 70% and 90%, and you’ll only have to wait one day for coverage to kick in for injuries caused by an accident.

Embrace: Best for multiple pets

Average monthly quote: $25

Embrace’s accident & illness plan includes coverage for cancer and congenital and genetic conditions. The cat health insurance plan covers prescriptions, dental diseases, diagnostic testing, and more. Embrace also lets pet owners add a wellness plan for routine care, like spaying or neutering, annual checkups, and routine blood tests.

The insurer offers a 10% discount for policyholders with multiple pets. You can buy coverage for kittens as young as 6 weeks old. The accident and illness plan can cover cats until they turn 15, while the accident plan covers cats 15 and older.

Trupanion: Best for no payout limits

Average monthly quote: $32

Trupanion offers a pet insurance policy with a $0 deductible option, but you can select a deductible of up to $1,000. The payout limit is uncapped.

Trupanion’s coverage includes hereditary and congenital conditions, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, advanced dentistry, and unexpected injuries. But you won’t find coverage for pre-existing conditions, exam visits, or wellness care.

Pets Best: Best for range of deductibles

Average monthly quote: $30

All the plans from Pets Best offer accident and illness coverage, which includes explicit coverage for congenital, hereditary, and chronic conditions. Pets Best also includes coverage for prescriptions and dental diseases, which other companies may not. The more expensive plans add coverage for nonroutine exam fees and alternative therapies.

Spot: Best for a budget

Average monthly quote: $13

Spot offers a wide range of options for different deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates, including unlimited coverage for your cat’s insurance plan. Pet parents can make adjustments to these features to lock in a plan that suits their monthly budget. Coverage options include accident-only and accident and illness plans.

How cat insurance works

Pet health insurance for your cat is similar to human medical insurance: You pay a set monthly fee for financial protection in the event of unexpected or emergency care.

Learning more about the following few key pet insurance terms will help you understand how cat insurance works:

• 

  Deductible

  Your policy deductible is the amount you must pay for veterinary care before the policy reimburses you for any costs.

• 

  Premium

  This refers to the amount you’ll pay each month for coverage. Premium costs will vary based on your pet’s age, breed, and more.

• 

  Reimbursement

  Most pet insurance policies follow a reimbursement system. You’ll pay for treatment out of pocket, and the insurance company will reimburse you after you file a claim. You can choose the amount of reimbursement. For example, if you choose an 80% reimbursement, you’d still have to pay for 20% of the costs.^[4]

• 

  Payout limit

  Many pet insurance policies have a maximum annual or per-incident payout. You’ll have to pay for covered vet bills beyond this limit.

Why do you need cat insurance?

Though many cats have independent streaks, felines aren’t immune to emergency care needs and vet visits. If your cat ends up at the vet for an emergency, care can get expensive quickly. The average emergency vet visit ranges from $800 to $1,500, according to a MetLife survey of pet parents. But costs can sometimes climb to as much as $5,000 or more.^[5]

If you have cat insurance, the financial implications of an emergency room visit are less daunting. You can focus on getting your pet the best care, knowing that you have a pet insurance policy to help you cover costs.

How to buy pet insurance

Pet insurance is an option worth pursuing for many cat owners. If you want to buy coverage, you can often do this easily online. Here are the steps you need to follow to buy pet insurance.

1. Compare pet insurance quotes

When choosing an insurance policy of any kind, it’s a good idea to compare quotes. Each insurance company has a slightly different method of determining rates, which means you might find different insurance prices available by looking into multiple insurance companies.

You can find different quotes for your pet through different pet insurers. As you explore insurer options, make sure you compare costs for policies with the same amount of coverage.

2. Find the best coverage for you

Not all pet insurance policies offer the same types of coverage. Before you sign up for a policy, it’s important to know what the coverage does and doesn’t cover. Some policies include coverage for accidents and illnesses, while others only cover accidents. Other policies give you the option to cover routine care for an additional cost.

For example, if you want a plan that covers diabetes or another chronic illness, you should do some research into what companies offer that coverage. You want to make sure the insurance policy you choose covers the health problems you worry about for your cat. Also, spend time thinking about what deductible amount you feel comfortable with.

3. Purchase the policy

When you decide on the best pet insurance policy for your needs, it’s time to finalize the purchase. In general, you can make the purchase directly on the insurance company’s website. You can likely use a credit card or debit card to pay for the premiums.

What pet insurance for cats covers

Pet insurance plan options for cats usually include three different coverage options: accident and illness, accident only, and wellness coverage.

Coverage typically includes the following conditions and circumstances:

• Injuries from accidents

• Illnesses, including ear infections, allergies, diabetes, and cancer

• Diagnostic tests

• Surgeries

• Prescription medication

• Hospitalizations

What pet insurance doesn’t cover

Pet insurance doesn’t cover everything, though specifics vary by insurer and chosen coverage. Before signing up for any pet insurance policy, make sure to understand all the exclusions.

Here are some common pet insurance exclusions:

• Pre-existing conditions

• Grooming

• Hereditary conditions

• Wellness and preventative care

• Any care not outlined in your plan

Common cat insurance claims

Any time you file a claim for eligible vet bills, your insurer will assess whether your policy covers the care. Insurers will provide reimbursement for covered claims. These were the top insurance claims filed by dog and cat owners, according to a 2022 report from pet insurance company Embrace:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Urinary tract infection

• Weight loss

• Otitis externa (ear infection)^[6]

Cat insurance FAQs

Methodology

To determine the top pet insurance companies for cat owners, Insurify compared quotes, coverage offerings, and customer reviews of a dozen insurance companies selling pet insurance in the U.S. Insurify determined the average monthly quotes for each insurer by completing the quotes process on each company website. The cat profile used was that of a 2-year-old American shorthair female.