Do Cats Need Pet Insurance?

There are no federal nor state laws in the United States of America which require you to have pet insurance. In this way, it is not illegal to have an uninsured cat. Unlike some other types of insurance such as car insurance, taking out pet insurance for your cat is optional.

Only in some rare occasions might you be required to insure your cat. For example, this may be the case in some rental houses or apartments. While some will not allow pets, pet-friendly properties may require you to have pet liability insurance. This is not to protect the well-being of the cat, but to protect the integrity of the property. It means that it will cover any damage the animal may cause the property during your lease.

One of the main reasons why cat owners will get pet insurance is to cover the cost of veterinary treatment. This raises a concern for many guardians since the cost of veterinary treatment can prevent access to care in some cases^[1]. It is important to know that a veterinarian cannot require pet insurance for treatment. However, they can set their own prices and high fees may be incurred without pet insurance.

Although it is not a legal requirement, it may be a good idea for you to have pet insurance. This will depend on your own means and circumstances, but pet insurance does provide some level of safety net for your cat. This does not mean every cat will need the same type of insurance.

If you are wondering whether you should insure your cat, we help you to make your decision by providing the advantages and disadvantages for cat pet insurance.

Pros of pet insurance for cats

• Coverage: the most important reason to get pet insurance for your cat is to ensure you have coverage when you need it. Our cat's state of health can change in an instant and we may not always have the savings to cover the cost. Insurance means we can provide care in a wide range of financial circumstances.
• Chronic illnesses: while we may think of getting insurance due to accidents, it is also some which can help manage the costs of long-term health problems. These can require medications which may be prohibitively expensive without insurance.
• Peace of mind: even when your cat does not have a health problem, you may rest easier knowing that you have help if something goes wrong.

Cons of pet insurance for cats

• Cost: deciding whether or not you should get pet insurance for your cat is somewhat of a gamble. Many cats can stay healthy for their lives and you will be paying premiums for a long time with little to show for it. If you can cover the costs of veterinary checkups and have savings set aside for a rainy day, insurance may not be worth it.
• Coverage: while some insurance plans will cover your needs, others might not even be worth it when your cat has a health problem. Each insurance policy is different and you may end up having to pay out of pocket regardless.

To learn about another concern owners have when adopting a cat, check out our article on the pros and cons of declawing a cat.

As with insuring a car or property, there are different types of pet insurance which are available to cat owners. Each has their own specific purpose, with not all owners having the same requirements. The different types of pet insurance for cats include:

• Veterinary or health insurance: as we have explained, pet liability insurance covers the cost of damage an animal may cause to a property or other third parties. Health insurance for pets covers the costs incurred when the animal has the need for health care. This can include regular checkups, but it is most important for unforeseen health problems which may require expensive treatment such as surgeries. Different types of pet health insurance provide different levels of coverage, determining how much treatment will cost.
• Accident insurance: as its name suggests, this type of pet insurance covers only expenses arising from accidents, not those caused by illness. Some also include expenses incurred due to theft or loss.
• Civil liability insurance: while this is much more common for dogs, some pet insurance companies also offer civil liability insurance for cats. This covers damage the animal may cause to people, other animals or other property, so it does not insure the cat itself.
• Comprehensive insurance: this refers to all insurance policies that include both veterinary coverage for the animal and any civil liability that may arise from their actions. This would be the all of the aforementioned insurance policies combined.

If we want to purchase insurance for our cat, it's best to first assess our own specific needs. When doing so, we should consider the following:

• Be clear about what you want your insurance to cover: if you go by price alone and buy the cheapest option, you may end up with less coverage than you expected.
• The cat's age and health: many pet insurance plans require that the cat be healthy and not exceed a certain age (usually 7-9 years). Pre-existing conditions may also prevent you being able to take out insurance.
• Analyze the different companies: once we are clear about what we're looking for, we should carefully examine the different plans offered by insurance companies to select the one that best suits our needs and budget. Insurance policies range greatly in cost. Typically, they'll give us the option to request a personalized quote, allowing us to compare several options.

Finally, if you have home insurance, it's a good idea to review it. Some comprehensive home insurance often also includes pets residing in the home as part of the family. This may mean your cat will be covered without having to take out additional insurance.

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