Kitten insurance
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Why should I get pet insurance for my kitten?
With all the climbing, investigating and playing, having a new kitten in the house is an exciting time. It can also be expensive, thanks to the costs of pet food, equipment, toys and routine vaccinations. So, should you bother with pet insurance for your kitten or wait until they’re older?
There are a few good reasons to get your insurance when your kitten is young. If your kitten has an accident and needs to visit a vet, kitten insurance could potentially cover you for hundreds of pounds in treatments and procedures. Without insurance, those costs would have to come out of your own pocket.
Plus, insuring your pet before they develop any medical conditions means you could avoid the difficulty of pre-existing conditions being excluded from your insurance cover.
What types of kitten insurance are there?
There are four main varieties of pet insurance that you can consider for your kitten.
| Type of pet insurance | What does it cover? |
| Lifetime pet insurance | Covers your pet for their lifetime (as long as you renew your policy each year). |
| Time-limited pet insurance | Covers your kitten for any new illness up to an agreed cost limit within a certain time frame (usually 12 months). |
| Maximum benefit pet insurance | Covers your kitten for all new conditions up to an agreed cost limit, without the restriction of time constraints. |
| Accident-only pet insurance | Covers your kitten for the costs of treatment following an accident, but it won’t cover illnesses. |
What does kitten insurance usually cover?
You should always check your cover details as policies of the same type could differ, depending on the insurance provider. If there’s something specific you want insurance for, such as travel or dental cover, then double check the small print to make sure this is the best kitten insurance policy for you.
Also, check exactly which vet fees will be covered by your policy, and whether your insurance provider pays your vet directly, or you have to stump up first and claim the money back.
Policies may include:
- Advertising cover – if your kitten gets lost, you could claim back the cost of putting up posters and even funding a reward.
- Cattery fees – if you had to go to hospital and couldn’t find a cat sitter to look after your kitten, then your insurance could cover the cost of a cattery.
- Death by accident or illness – it’s not something you want to think about with a kitten, but some policies could return the amount you paid for your kitten should the worst happen.
- Euthanasia, cremation and burial – although hopefully a long way off, you could get some help with the costs involved.
The best pet insurance for you depends on your budget and your needs. But whichever policy you choose, always read the policy documents carefully and make sure you know what’s excluded to avoid any nasty surprises.
What isn’t covered by kitten insurance?
Policies can vary, depending on your provider and individual situation, but there are a range of pretty standard exclusions. Routine treatments aren’t normally covered, and you might find that specific conditions are excluded. This is particularly important if your kitten is a pedigree and prone to certain hereditary conditions.
You should check your policy carefully for the following exclusions, and arrange any specialist cover that your kitten may need:
- Routine check ups
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Vaccinations
- Flea treatment
- Spaying/castration
- Kittens under a certain age (six to eight weeks)
- Conditions within the first 14 days of taking out your policy
How much is kitten insurance?
Costs can vary but it will very much depend on the type of policy and level of cover you choose. However, insuring your kitten early on means your premiums should be cheaper than for an older cat.
The cost of your kitten insurance can also depend on:
- Where you live – you’ll typically pay more for your kitten insurance if you live in London.
- Your kitten’s breed – pedigree cats are often more expensive to insure. Pure breeds can be prone to specific health conditions, so there’s a higher risk of making a claim than there would be for a regular moggy.
How do I find a good deal on kitten insurance?
Use our price comparison service to find kitten insurance that suits your pet.
Just give us a few details about your kitten and we’ll show you a range of quotes.
Start a quoteFrequently asked questions
How will having pet insurance for my kitten help?
Despite the fact that vet bills are rising by around 12% a year, 61% of the UK’s cat owners don’t have pet insurance cover. This means they could face hefty costs if something goes wrong.
How old should my kitten be when I buy insurance?
You should be able to get pet insurance for your kitten when they’re between six and eight weeks old.
When is it safe for my kitten to go outside?
You should wait until at least a week after the initial vaccinations before letting your kitten go outside – this is usually when they’re around 13 to 14 weeks.
But even under your supervision, curious kittens can get into mishaps or scrapes. Having a kitten insurance plan in place will give you the peace of mind that they’re covered, especially when they begin exploring.
What are the main health issues for kittens?
Here are the main conditions to look out for in your kitten:
- Upper respiratory infections – symptoms include sneezing, trouble breathing, eye discharge and a runny nose.
- Coccidia – this intestinal parasite causes diarrhoea and dehydration.
- Worms – roundworms, hookworms and whipworms can burrow into your kitten’s intestine and cause diarrhoea and weight loss.
- Fleas – these are easily caught, easy to see and easy to treat with medication.
- Ear mites – kittens will shake their head and scratch their ears.
How can I help keep my kitten healthy?
Within the first few weeks you should register your kitten with a vet and arrange a health check.
At this appointment, you’ll discuss issues such as:
- Microchipping – under new legislation, owners have until 10 June 2024 to microchip their cat. Having your kitten microchipped could also reduce the cost of your insurance premium
- Vaccinations – including cat flu, feline leukaemia and chlamydia
- Worming
- Flea treatments.
You may want to discuss having your kitten spayed or neutered. This can be done from four months old.
Be aware that routine vaccinations and check-ups aren’t typically covered by your pet insurance and that you’ll have to stay on top of these for your policy to be valid.
What our expert says...
“As you welcome a kitten into your home, you’ll want to make sure the new member of your family is protected. Getting kitten insurance while they’re still young will ensure they’re covered if they develop a medical problem later on. Compare pet insurance plans and give your fur baby the protection they deserve at a price that suits you.”
- Anna McEntee, Home, pet and travel insurance expert
