What is the best pet insurance for cats?

By Louise Smith 6 insurers analysed NAIC regulator verified Updated July 23, 2026

Cat insurance costs less than dog cover, and the claims look different. Dental disease is the one to watch: it starts around age 2 and typically costs 1,850 dollars, up to 5,000. Chronic kidney disease from age 7 averages 1,150 dollars and reaches 7,000. Urinary tract disease sits near 1,050 dollars, hyperthyroidism near 750, lymphoma near 4,750. Dental illness is also the most commonly excluded item in US policies, so we read the six forms below on exactly that point.

The pet insurance comparison

Recommended offer

#1

Healthy Paws

3.5

Reimbursement Flexible
Annual limit Flexible
Deductible n/a
Illness waiting 15 days

One uncapped accident and illness plan with two day claims, owned and underwritten by Chubb.

One uncapped accident and illness plan
Most claims processed within two days
Underwritten by Chubb

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about Healthy Paws

Is Healthy Paws trustworthy?

Healthy Paws is an established player. The risk carrier is Westchester Fire Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose Healthy Paws?

One uncapped accident and illness plan with two day claims, owned and underwritten by Chubb..

What are the waiting periods at Healthy Paws?

Accidents are covered after 15 days. Illness carries a 15 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does Healthy Paws cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is Healthy Paws for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

#2

Trupanion

3.5

Reimbursement 90 %
Annual limit n/a
Deductible $0
Illness waiting 30 days

The only US plan with no payout caps and a lifetime per-condition deductible

No annual or lifetime payout caps
Deductible applies once per condition, for life
Direct vet payment where clinics run its software

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about Trupanion

Is Trupanion trustworthy?

Trupanion is an established player. The risk carrier is American Pet Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose Trupanion?

The only US plan with no payout caps and a lifetime per-condition deductible. Reimbursement reaches 90 %. The everyday plus: Direct vet payment at checkout.

What are the waiting periods at Trupanion?

Accidents are covered after 5 days. Illness carries a 30 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does Trupanion cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. The annual deductible ranges from $0 depending on the plan. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is Trupanion for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

#3

MetLife

3.4

Reimbursement Flexible
Annual limit Flexible
Deductible n/a
Illness waiting 14 days

The most granular plan builder on the US market, with a rare zero deductible option and no upper age limit.

Deductible options down to $0
Limits from $500 up to unlimited
No upper age limit at enrollment

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about MetLife

Is MetLife trustworthy?

MetLife is an established player. The risk carrier is Metropolitan General Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose MetLife?

The most granular plan builder on the US market, with a rare zero deductible option and no upper age limit.. The everyday plus: Preventive care included (MetLife covers wellness).

What are the waiting periods at MetLife?

Accidents are covered after 0 days. Illness carries a 14 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does MetLife cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is MetLife for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

#4

Fetch

3.2

Reimbursement Flexible
Annual limit Flexible
Deductible n/a
Illness waiting 14 days

Broad everyday cover with sick-visit exam fees, full adult dental and telehealth in the standard plan.

Sick-visit exam fees included
Full adult dental in the standard plan
Distributed with AARP and Walmart

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about Fetch

Is Fetch trustworthy?

Fetch is an established player. The risk carrier is United States Fire Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose Fetch?

Broad everyday cover with sick-visit exam fees, full adult dental and telehealth in the standard plan..

What are the waiting periods at Fetch?

Accidents are covered after 0 days. Illness carries a 14 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does Fetch cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is Fetch for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

#5

Lemonade

3.2

Reimbursement 80-90 %
Annual limit $20,000
Deductible 100-$250
Illness waiting 14 days

Digital-first insurer with the market's lowest entry prices and AI claims paid in minutes.

Entry prices from $10 per month
AI claims, some paid in minutes
Dental illness and physical therapy excluded

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about Lemonade

Is Lemonade trustworthy?

Lemonade is an established player. The risk carrier is Lemonade Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose Lemonade?

Digital-first insurer with the market's lowest entry prices and AI claims paid in minutes.. Reimbursement reaches 80 to 90 %, up to $20,000 a year.

What are the waiting periods at Lemonade?

Accidents are covered after 0 days. Illness carries a 14 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does Lemonade cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. The annual deductible ranges from $100 to $250 depending on the plan. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is Lemonade for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

#6

Pumpkin

3.1

Reimbursement 90 %
Annual limit n/a
Deductible $100
Illness waiting 14 days

Exam fees included and 90 percent standard, with the best Trustpilot profile in US pet insurance.

Exam fees included in the core plan
90% reimbursement standard
Best Trustpilot profile of the US panel

Our full take Full review →

5 things to know about Pumpkin

Is Pumpkin trustworthy?

Pumpkin is an established player. The risk carrier is United States Fire Insurance Company. As always, read the policy wording and exclusions before signing.

Why choose Pumpkin?

Exam fees included and 90 percent standard, with the best Trustpilot profile in US pet insurance.. Reimbursement reaches 90 %. The everyday plus: Pumpkin Preventive Essentials (routine care add-on).

What are the waiting periods at Pumpkin?

Accidents are covered after 0 days. Illness carries a 14 days waiting period. Also check condition-specific waiting periods before committing.

How much does Pumpkin cost?

Pricing depends on species, breed and age, via a personalised quote. The annual deductible ranges from $100 depending on the plan. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly premium.

Who is Pumpkin for?

Dog and cat owners whose pet profile matches this plan. Our review shows when a competitor does better.

Our full take →

How to choose your pet insurance

Criterion	What we check
Check dental illness before anything else	Dental disease starts around age 2 in cats and typically costs 1,850 dollars. Lemonade excludes all dental illness at any age. Healthy Paws excludes it too. Fetch includes full adult dental in its base plan. This single line separates the plans more than the price does.
Plan for chronic conditions, not one big surgery	A cat's expensive years are chronic: kidney disease from age 7, hyperthyroidism from age 10, diabetes from age 7. Those bills repeat annually. An annual deductible resets with them, while Trupanion charges its deductible once per condition for life, which suits a chronic feline diagnosis.
Do not overpay for an unlimited cap	Feline claims rarely reach dog-surgery levels. Typical US costs run 1,150 dollars for chronic kidney disease and 1,050 for urinary tract disease. A 10,000 dollar annual limit already covers almost every feline scenario. Lymphoma, near 4,750 dollars typical and up to 12,000, is the main exception.
Count the exam fee on every visit	Cats hide illness, so a diagnosis often takes repeat visits. Pumpkin includes exam fees and reimburses 90 percent as standard. Fetch includes sick-visit exam fees. Healthy Paws excludes exam fees entirely, which is felt most on the recurring urinary and dental consultations.
Verify the upper age limit before enrolling a senior cat	Cats live long, so the enrollment door matters. MetLife, Fetch and Pumpkin publish no upper age limit. Embrace restricts pets enrolling at 15 or older to accident-only cover. Renewal price is the real trap, with one senior cat premium doubling past 200 dollars a month in reported complaints.
Enroll while the mouth is still clean	Dental disease is progressive and is often noted at a routine visit long before it needs treatment. Once it is in the file it is pre-existing, and excluded for good. The same applies to early kidney values. A young cat with an empty medical file is the only fully insurable one.

01

Trupanion for cats: no cap, and one deductible per condition for life

Trupanion carries no annual limit, reimburses 90 percent, and applies its deductible, 0 to 1,000 dollars, once per condition for the life of the policy. For a cat that is the strongest structure on the market, because kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes are lifelong and every other insurer restarts the deductible each year. The clinic can be paid directly at checkout. Two costs to weigh: the illness waiting period is 30 days, the longest in our US panel, and preventive care is excluded. Underwriter: American Pet Insurance Company. Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 across 11,886 reviews.

02

Healthy Paws for cats: uncapped and fast, minus exam fees and dental

One plan, no annual limit on claims, reimbursement up to 90 percent, and a reputation for quick claim decisions. Two exclusions bite hard on cats. Exam fees are out, and dental illness is out, which removes the single most frequent feline claim from the contract. Rate and deductible options are restricted by age and breed at enrollment. Both accident and illness waits are 15 days. Its own sample rates take a cat from 24 dollars a month to 58 by age 8. Underwriter: Westchester Fire Insurance Company, Chubb group. Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 across 3,644 reviews.

03

MetLife for cats: zero deductible option, wellness care included

MetLife offers the most adjustable plan in our panel, with a deductible that can be set to zero. Preventive care and telemedicine are included rather than sold as add-ons, which fits the annual bloodwork a cat over 7 needs to catch kidney or thyroid trouble early. There is no upper age limit at enrollment, so a senior cat can still be covered for conditions that appear later. Accidents are covered from day one, illnesses after 14 days. Underwriter: Metropolitan General Insurance Company. Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 across 10,866 reviews.

04

Fetch for cats: full adult dental included in the standard plan

Fetch is the one plan here that covers full adult dental in the standard product, alongside sick-visit exam fees and telehealth. On a cat, where dental disease typically costs 1,850 dollars and begins around age 2, that is the difference that pays for itself. It also covers boarding fees, theft or straying, and a death benefit. The deductible is per condition per policy period. Enrollment opens at 6 weeks with no upper age limit. Watch the renewals, since complaint files document increases of 40 percent one year and 50 percent the next. Underwriter: United States Fire Insurance Company, Chubb group. Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 across 7,293 reviews.

05

Lemonade for cats: cheapest entry, but zero dental illness cover

Lemonade advertises policies from 10 dollars a month and settles claims through an app, sometimes in minutes. Its own policy example runs 80 percent reimbursement, a 20,000 dollar annual limit and a 250 dollar deductible, with an unlimited option at 90 percent and a 100 dollar deductible. For a cat, the exclusion list is the problem: all dental illness, all physical therapy, all behavioral care and all alternative treatment, at any age, on any configuration. Dental is the most common feline claim, so the low price buys a real hole. Lemonade Insurance Company is its own carrier. Trustpilot: 4.2 out of 5 across 6,242 reviews.

06

Pumpkin for cats: 90 percent standard and exam fees covered

Pumpkin reimburses 90 percent as standard where most rivals default to 80, with a 100 dollar deductible in its own example, and it includes exam fees. That pairing suits a cat whose diagnosis takes several consultations. Preventive Essentials is a separate add-on for routine care. Enrollment has no upper age limit and no breed restrictions, which keeps the door open for an older cat. Accidents are covered from day one, illnesses after 14 days. The premium is the variable to check, since senior quotes above 300 dollars a month appear in owner reports. Underwriter: United States Fire Insurance Company. Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 across 3,499 reviews, the best profile in US pet insurance.

Frequently asked questions

How much does cat insurance cost in the US?

Less than dog cover. Pets Best accident-only starts at 6 dollars a month for cats, and a documented accident and illness quote sits at 20 dollars a month for a 2-year-old cat in Texas. Costco sample quotes, member discount included, run from 12 to 35 dollars. Healthy Paws own sample takes a cat from 24 dollars a month to 58 by age 8.

Which pet insurance is best for cats?

Fetch for dental cover inside the base plan, Trupanion for a chronic diagnosis thanks to its per-condition deductible, Pumpkin for 90 percent reimbursement with exam fees included, Lemonade for the lowest price if you accept the dental gap. Pick on the exclusion that would hurt your cat most.

Does cat insurance cover dental disease?

It depends entirely on the insurer, and it is the most important question for a cat. Fetch includes full adult dental in its standard plan. Lemonade excludes all dental illness. Healthy Paws excludes dental illness. The Figo contract sold at Costco covers only dental damage caused by an accident.

Is cat insurance worth it?

It depends which bill you fear. Typical US costs are 1,850 dollars for dental disease, 1,150 for chronic kidney disease and 1,050 for urinary tract disease. Those are payable out of pocket for many owners. Lymphoma at up to 12,000 dollars is not, and that is what insurance is really for.

Are pre-existing conditions covered for cats?

No. Every US policy in our panel excludes anything already diagnosed or showing symptoms before enrollment, and the exclusion is permanent. Early kidney values or tartar noted at a checkup both count. AKC Pet Insurance is the one exception in our panel, covering pre-existing conditions after 365 days.

Can I insure an old cat?

Yes. MetLife, Fetch, Pumpkin, Spot and ASPCA publish no upper age limit at enrollment. Embrace limits pets enrolling at 15 or older to accident-only cover. The premium is the real constraint, with one senior cat premium doubling past 200 dollars a month in reported complaints.

What waiting periods apply to cat insurance?

Most of our panel covers accidents from day one and illnesses after 14 days. Trupanion waits 5 days on accidents and 30 on illnesses. Healthy Paws waits 15 days on both. Anything showing symptoms during the waiting period is treated as pre-existing, so the first two weeks matter.

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