How to Get Pet Cat Insurance

Cats are typically the most inexpensive type of pet to insure. You can get several kinds of insurance for your cat, providing coverage for illness and injury, wellness checkups and dental cleanings. Some insurers even offer insurance to guarantee care for your cat if something happens to you, plus third-party liability insurance to protect against issues with landlords. Picking an insurer is a matter of considering your cat's special needs and finding the policy that meets them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Get Pet Insurance for Your Cat

1. Look into any hereditary condition your cat's breed may tend to develop by visiting the Dr. Addie website (see Resources below). Some genetic conditions are entirely excluded from coverage by most insurance companies, but others may be covered as long as your cat is not diagnosed until after its insurance coverage has started.

2. Choose a policy that covers elective procedures if you plan to have your cat declawed. Make sure the policy covers the procedure for both front and back claws if you intend to have both sets removed.

3. Get insurance quotes online from a few different pet insurers. Most companies offer immediate online quotes.

4. Order your pet insurance online. Most companies also have options for purchasing pet insurance over the phone. Understand that the actual cost and coverage of your pet insurance may not match your quote exactly.

5. Avoid taking your cat for a physical before your insurance coverage starts. If a disease is diagnosed before your insurance takes effect, it is considered a preexisting condition, and the insurance company will not be required to cover it.

Tips & Warnings

• If your cat is younger, you may want to choose insurance that focuses on covering injuries. Kittens and young cats are more likely to need emergency care for injuries than illnesses.
• If you choose to insure more than one cat, most pet insurers will give you a discount.
• You can get a lower rate for indoor cats than for cats that spend time outside.
• Purebred cats are prone to a higher number of genetic conditions and illnesses than other cats.
• Some insurers will not issue new policies to cats over 8 years old.
• Not all insurance policies cover routine care, such as dental cleanings and care for heartworms. You will need to choose a policy that does or simply cover those costs out of pocket.
• If your cat has a history of medical issues, it is still possible to get insurance, but it will likely be far more expensive.

Resources

• Genetic and hereditary conditions of cats at the Dr. Addie website.