By Tahir Abbas, Editor · Last updated 28 October 2026
Best Pet Insurance for Cats: 10 Top Companies Compared
The best pet insurance for cats depends on your cat’s age, health and your budget. For most owners, ASPCA, Pumpkin and Spot are strong starting points. Each offers flexible plans, accepts kittens from 8 weeks and has no upper age limit. If your cat has a long-term illness risk, Trupanion’s per-condition deductible can be worth a look. If you want to pay the smallest possible amount at the vet, Pets Best and Trupanion can pay some vets directly.
On average, U.S. owners paid about $36 a month to insure a cat for accidents and illnesses in 2025, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Your quote will depend on your cat and the options you choose.
Below, we compare 10 insurers side by side, explain who each one suits best, and show you what to check before you buy.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| Insurer | Best for | Reimbursement | Deductible | Annual limit | Enrollment age | Pays vet directly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA | Overall value | 70%–90% | $100–$750 | Up to unlimited | 8 weeks+, no max | Not listed |
| Pumpkin | Broad coverage | 80%–90% | $100–$1,000 | Up to unlimited | 8 weeks+, no max | No (fast payout service) |
| Spot | Senior cats | 70%–90% | $100–$1,000 | $2,500 to unlimited | 8 weeks+, no max | No |
| Lemonade | Building a budget plan | 60%–90% | $100–$750 | $5,000–$100,000 | 8 weeks to 14 years | No |
| Pets Best | Direct vet payment | Up to 90% (Pets Best advertises up to 100%) | $0–$1,000 | $5,000 to unlimited | Not stated; check your quote | Yes, if your vet agrees |
| Trupanion | Chronic conditions | 90% | $0–$1,000 per condition | Unlimited | Under 14 years | Yes, at vets with its software |
| Figo | 100% reimbursement | 70%–100% | $100–$750 | Up to unlimited | 8 weeks+ | No |
| Embrace | Young kittens | 70%–90% | $100–$1,000 | $5,000–$30,000 | 6 weeks+; illness cover until 15 | No |
| Healthy Paws | No payout caps | Varies, often 70%–90% | $100+ (varies by pet) | Unlimited | 8 weeks to under 14 | Sometimes, if your vet accepts |
| MetLife | Multi-cat homes | 50%–90% | $0–$2,500 | Up to unlimited | No age limit | No |
Plan details come from each insurer’s published terms and independent reviews from NerdWallet, MoneyGeek, Insurify and U.S. News. Options vary by state, so confirm them in your own quote.
How We Chose These Cat Insurance Companies
We focused on what matters most to cat owners, based on each insurer’s published policy details and data from independent reviewers such as NerdWallet, MoneyGeek and Insurify. We looked at:
- Coverage for common cat illnesses, such as urinary tract disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and dental disease.
- Hereditary and breed-related conditions, which matter for breeds such as Maine Coons and Persians.
- Age rules, including the youngest age a kitten can join and whether older cats can enroll.
- Plan flexibility, meaning the range of deductibles, reimbursement rates and annual limits.
- How claims are paid, including direct vet payment and payout speed.
- Price, using published sample quotes where available.
We did not rank on price alone. A cheap plan with low limits or many exclusions can cost you more when your cat gets seriously ill.
The 10 Best Cat Insurance Companies
1. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Best Overall Value
ASPCA suits most cats because it pairs low sample prices with flexible options. MoneyGeek’s 2026 cat study found ASPCA had the lowest average rate among its top picks, at $18 a month for its sample cat. NerdWallet also rates it the best pet insurer overall.
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $750
- Annual limit: up to unlimited
- Waiting period: 14 days for accidents and illnesses
- Age: from 8 weeks, with no upper age limit
- Plans: accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness add-ons
The base plan covers hereditary conditions, medication, behavioral issues and rehab care. An accident-only plan is also available if you need a cheaper option for an older cat.
Watch out for: the mobile app gets poor reviews, according to NerdWallet.
2. Pumpkin: Best for Broad Coverage
Pumpkin was MoneyGeek’s top overall pick for cats, and U.S. News named it best for customer satisfaction in its 2026–2027 awards. Its standard plan includes cover that some rivals sell as extras.
- Reimbursement: 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $1,000
- Annual limit: up to unlimited
- Waiting period: 14 days for accidents and illnesses
- Age: from 8 weeks, with no upper age limit
- Discount: 10% off each additional pet
Hereditary conditions, prescriptions, dental illness and alternative therapies are included in the base policy, according to MoneyGeek. For claims of $500 or more, its PumpkinNow service can pay you quickly, sometimes before you leave the vet.
Watch out for: reimbursement starts at 80%, so there’s no 70% option to lower your premium. NerdWallet also notes that Pumpkin has no mobile app.
3. Spot: Best for Senior Cats
Spot has no upper age limit, which makes it one of the easier options for older cats. U.S. News named it best for older pets.
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $1,000
- Annual limit: $2,500 to unlimited
- Waiting period: 14 days for accidents and illnesses
- Age: from 8 weeks, with no upper age limit
- Discount: 10% multi-pet discount
Spot may cover curable pre-existing conditions once your cat has been symptom-free and treatment-free for 180 days. Exam fees are covered, and the company says it processes most claims within two days.
Watch out for: premiums still rise as your cat ages, and Spot can’t pay your vet directly.
4. Lemonade: Best for Building a Budget Plan
Lemonade lets you build a plan piece by piece, so you only pay for the extras you want. U.S. News named it best overall in its 2026–2027 awards.
- Reimbursement: 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $750
- Annual limit: $5,000 to $100,000 (no unlimited option)
- Waiting period: none for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Age: from 8 weeks to 14 years
- Discounts: up to 10% for multiple pets, plus savings for bundling and paying yearly
Add-ons include vet visit fees, dental illness, physical therapy, behavioral therapy and end-of-life care. Wellness packages are also available. NerdWallet’s sample quotes for cats ranged from $14 to $30 a month, depending on breed and age.
Watch out for: Lemonade applies your reimbursement rate before the deductible, which can mean a slightly smaller payout. Exam fees are an add-on, not standard.
5. Pets Best: Best for Direct Vet Payment
Pets Best can pay your vet directly if the clinic agrees, so you don’t have to cover the full bill up front. U.S. News named it best for seamless claims.
- Reimbursement: up to 90% on most plans (the company advertises up to 100%)
- Deductibles: from $0 to $1,000
- Annual limit: $5,000 to unlimited
- Waiting period: about 3 days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses
- Extras: accident-only plans and routine-care add-ons
- Claims: the company says it processes most claims in 2 days
Pets Best covers congenital, hereditary and chronic conditions, prescriptions and dental disease. It doesn’t require a vet exam to sign up.
Watch out for: cats with serious chronic pre-existing conditions may only qualify for accident-only cover, according to Insurify.
6. Trupanion: Best for Chronic Conditions
Trupanion works differently from most insurers. Instead of a yearly deductible, you pay one deductible per condition for your cat’s whole life. If your cat develops diabetes or kidney disease, you pay that deductible once, not every year.
- Reimbursement: 90%
- Deductibles: $0 to $1,000 per condition
- Annual limit: unlimited
- Waiting period: 5 days for accidents and 30 days for illnesses in most states
- Age: must enroll before 14 years old
- Direct pay: yes, at vets that use Trupanion’s software
Watch out for: Trupanion doesn’t cover exam fees or wellness care, and it costs more. MoneyGeek’s standardized quote averaged $84 a month for cats with a $500 deductible and unlimited cover.
7. Figo: Best for 100% Reimbursement
Figo is one of the few insurers that offers 100% reimbursement, so once you’ve paid your deductible, it can pay back the full covered bill.
- Reimbursement: 70% to 100%
- Deductibles: $100 to $750 (the 100% option comes with higher deductibles and lower limits)
- Annual limit: up to unlimited
- Waiting period: 1 day for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Discount: 5% multi-pet discount
- Extras: optional exam and wellness cover
Holistic care, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, is covered.
Watch out for: prescription food isn’t covered, and there’s a six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions.
8. Embrace: Best for Young Kittens
Embrace accepts kittens from 6 weeks old, a little earlier than most insurers.
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: $100 to $1,000
- Annual limit: $5,000 to $30,000
- Waiting period: 14 days for illnesses
- Discount: 10% multi-pet discount
Its accident and illness plan covers cancer, congenital and genetic conditions, prescriptions, dental disease, diagnostics and alternative therapies.
Watch out for: cats aged 15 or older can only get accident cover, and the highest annual limit is lower than plans with unlimited options.
9. Healthy Paws: Best for No Payout Caps
Healthy Paws keeps things simple. There are no annual or lifetime payout limits, so a long illness won’t use up your cover.
- Reimbursement: set by your cat’s age and location, often between 70% and 90%
- Deductibles: from $100, depending on your cat
- Annual limit: none
- Waiting period: 15 days in most states
- Age: from 8 weeks, and generally before the 14th birthday
- Direct pay: possible if your vet accepts it
NerdWallet’s sample quotes for a Domestic Shorthair were about $24 a month at age 2 and $58 at age 8.
Watch out for: exam fees, prescription diets and spay/neuter surgery aren’t covered. The reimbursement rate is applied before the deductible. NerdWallet’s review notes that Reddit users often mention large price increases as pets get older.
10. MetLife: Best for Multi-Cat Homes
MetLife’s family plan can cover up to three pets with one shared deductible, which can make it easier to insure a multi-cat home.
- Reimbursement: 50% to 90%
- Deductibles: $0 to $2,500
- Annual limit: up to unlimited
- Waiting period: none for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Age: no age restrictions
- Bonus: the deductible drops each year you don’t claim
Watch out for: MetLife can’t pay your vet directly, and it doesn’t cover vitamins or supplements.
Best Pet Insurance for Cats by Situation
| If your cat is… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A kitten | Embrace, ASPCA, Pumpkin | Early enrollment and broad cover while your kitten is healthy |
| A senior (8+) | Spot, ASPCA | No upper age limit for new enrollments |
| A purebred or high-risk breed | Pumpkin, Pets Best | Hereditary conditions in the base plan |
| At risk of long-term illness | Trupanion, Healthy Paws | Per-condition deductible or no payout caps |
| One of several cats | MetLife, Embrace, Pumpkin | Family plan or 10% multi-pet discounts |
| On a tight budget | ASPCA, Lemonade | Low sample prices and accident-only or build-your-own options |
Cats That Need Routine Vet Care
If you want help paying for yearly exams, vaccines and dental cleanings, look for a wellness or preventive add-on. ASPCA, Spot, Pets Best, Lemonade and Embrace all offer one. Pumpkin sells a separate wellness plan. Add up what you already spend on routine care first. If the add-on costs more than it pays back, you’re better off paying for routine care yourself.
Breeds With Higher Health Risks
Some breeds cost more to insure because they’re prone to inherited conditions. Maine Coons, Persians, Ragdolls, Sphynx and British Shorthairs, for example, have a higher risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart disease. If you have a purebred cat, choose a policy that clearly covers hereditary and congenital conditions.
What to Look For in a Cat Insurance Policy
Good pet insurance for cats should cover the conditions cats actually get, not just accidents. Every insurer on this list covers accidents and illnesses, but the details make a big difference when you claim. Before you buy, check these six things:
- Hereditary and chronic conditions. Kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes are common in cats and can need treatment for years. Make sure they’re covered without a short time limit.
- Dental illness. Gum and tooth disease are common in cats. Some plans include it, some sell it as an extra, and routine cleanings usually need a wellness add-on.
- Exam fees. A sick visit can cost more than people expect. Check whether the plan pays the exam fee or only the treatment.
- How the payout is calculated. Some insurers take off the deductible first, others apply the reimbursement rate first. The second method pays a little less on the same bill.
- Waiting periods. Most illness waiting periods are around two weeks. Anything that shows signs in that window becomes a pre-existing condition.
- Age rules and price rises. Ask how premiums change as your cat gets older, and whether you can keep the same cover for life.
For a deeper look at policy types, costs and exclusions, see our complete guide to cat insurance.
How Much Does Cat Insurance Cost?
Average U.S. premiums for cats in 2025 were about $435 a year ($36 a month) for accident and illness cover and $112 a year for accident-only cover, according to NAPHIA. Sample quotes from the insurers above ranged from about $13 to $84 a month, depending on the company, the cat and the settings used.
Your price depends on your cat’s age, breed and ZIP code, plus your deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit. Insurify’s data shows how much age matters: its median monthly premium was about $21 for kittens, $22 for adult cats and $62 for senior cats.
To compare prices fairly, get quotes with the same deductible, reimbursement rate and limit from at least three insurers. See how much cat insurance costs for a full breakdown.
How to Read Cat Insurance Reviews
Customer reviews and Reddit threads can tell you things a company’s website won’t. Read them with care:
- Look for patterns, not single stories. One angry review about a denied claim may involve a pre-existing condition. Many reviews about slow payments point to a real problem.
- Focus on claims and price rises. These are the two areas where experiences differ most between insurers. Long-term customers on Reddit often mention how much their premium went up as their pet aged.
- Check the date. Policies and service change. Reviews from the past year or two are the most useful.
- Compare with independent rankings. Groups such as U.S. News, NerdWallet and MoneyGeek compare insurers using set methods, which helps balance out individual opinions.
Is Pet Insurance a Good Idea for Cats?
For many owners, yes. Cats are good at hiding signs of illness until a problem is serious, and treatment for conditions such as urinary blockages, kidney disease or cancer can run into the thousands. Insurance lets you choose care based on your cat’s needs, not your savings.
It may not be worth it if your cat already has several pre-existing conditions, or if you have a large emergency fund set aside for vet bills. Our guide on whether cat insurance is worth it walks through both sides.
Saving for Vet Bills Instead
If you decide against insurance, open a separate savings account just for your cat’s care and add money every month. A high-yield savings account can help the balance grow faster. The risk is timing: a serious illness can arrive before your savings are large enough. Some owners combine both, with a cheap accident-only plan for emergencies and savings for everything else.
How to Choose the Best Plan for Your Cat
- List what matters most: price, broad coverage, direct vet pay or senior enrollment.
- Shortlist two or three insurers from the table above that match those needs.
- Get quotes with the same settings, for example a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $10,000 limit.
- Read the sample policy for exclusions, waiting periods and how hereditary and dental conditions are handled.
- Choose a plan you can afford for years. Switching later turns your cat’s past problems into exclusions.
You can compare cat insurance quotes side by side to see your real prices.
Sources and Disclosure
Premium averages in this guide come from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) State of the Industry report, and plan details are taken from each insurer’s published policy documents. You can check any insurer’s licensing through your state insurance department or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Disclosure: Being Insurance is an independent comparison site. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. That never changes which companies we list or the order we present them in.