Best cat insurance policies 2025

Best UK cat insurance policies compared

• Want the best cat insurance policy or insurer? Use our tables below, then go to Stickee.com or another comparison site, or you can go direct to the insurer.
• Want the cheapest cat insurance policy or insurer? Follow the links to Stickee.com, or another comparison site, to get a list of policies. Then check what the policies scored by searching our tables.

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.

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Best Buy cat insurance policies

In total, we named 20 cat policies as Which? Best Buys. Here we take a deeper look at the top performers:

Agria Lifetime Premium

• 82% policy score for cat cover, the second-highest ranking of 160 cat policies we reviewed
• 70% customer score, placing it first of the nine insurers we had customer scores for

We like: one of the highest vet fee limits available – £20,000 a year. The cap includes costs for scans and £750 for therapy provided by a behaviourist.

We don't like:  as with most (but not all) policies, it excludes conditions that started before the policy was taken out.

• Read our expert review of Agria pet insurance

PetPlan Covered For Life £12,000

• 79% policy score for cat cover, 12th of 160 cat policies we reviewed
• 67% customer score, placing it second of the nine insurers we had customer scores for
• 80% claims score, placing it first of the six insurers we had claims scores for

We like: Alongside a high £12,000 annual limit for vets fees, PetPlan covers some pets' pre-existing conditions – subject to agreement by the underwriter.

We don't like: Unlike some policies, PetPlan's won't pay towards costs of repairing or replacing accidental damage caused by your cat.

• Read our expert review of PetPlan pet insurance.

How can you save money on cat insurance?

1. Find out the needs of your cat breed

According to the Association of British Insurers, the value of the average pet insurance claim in 2023 was £668. Factoring in the possibility of you needing to make multiple claims, and the fact that vets' prices are rising, we don't recommend polices that would pay less than £2,000 annually.

But all pets are different, so it's important to understand your pet's needs to be sure you get adequate cover.

Cats are generally cheaper to insure than dogs, but can still be prone to chronic conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, later in life. And certain breeds can have more expensive health needs than others.

Talk to your vet about common conditions and what level of cover they recommend.

2. Buy insurance when your cat is healthy

This might seem counterintuitive, but as most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, buying early means you're maximising the cover your pet will get.

3. Make sure your cat is up to date on its jabs

Make sure your cat gets the appropriate inoculations and injections, including boosters, to minimise the chance of getting an illness that could lead to expensive premiums.

4. Get your cat microchipped

Since June 2024, it's been a legal requirement for your cat to be microchipped. If you've not done this, it could affect your cover with insurers.

5. Pay annually (if you can)

Your insurer may charge you interest if you pay monthly, rather than annually, which can be surprisingly expensive.

6. Haggle at renewal

If the insurer increases your cat's premiums without good reason, call it to discuss prices. It might be open to negotiation. 

• Find out more: how to find cheap pet insurance

Do you need cat insurance?

Dean Sobers, Which? insurance expert, says:

'You're not legally required to have cat insurance, so it's your choice as to whether you want to fork out for premiums.

'With no NHS for cats – and some vet procedures costing thousands of pounds  – insurance means you'll have significantly less to worry about if your cat requires expensive medical treatment.

'The main downside is that cat cover can also be fairly pricey (especially for older cats), and exclusions or high compulsory excesses can chip away at the policy's value.

'One alternative to owning insurance is "self-insuring" – in other words, paying for your cat's medical needs from savings. If you choose this option, it's worth putting aside regular amounts into a savings account, so you have a growing fund to help pay for steep vet bills.'

• Find out more: pet insurance alternatives
  
• Also check our cat food reviews to get the best for your feline friend.

 Types of cat insurance

 About Which? cat insurance research

In November 2024, we analysed 160 cat insurance policies. We examined the amounts they paid out in vet fees and other benefits they provide, including costs for holiday cancellation, dental cover, and advertising and reward costs to help find your cat if it goes missing.

To create a policy score, we compared 31 policy features, plus the amount each pays in vet fees. The higher the score, the more comprehensive the policy's cover.

Our Best Buys are all lifetime policies that did well in our analysis, scoring at least 70%. In addition:

• each will pay out a minimum of £2,000 a year in vet fees. 
• each will pay out a minimum of £1,000 for any single condition in a year, if an annual condition limit applies.
• they all provide dental cover for both accidents and illnesses.

Customer service

In November 2023, we carried out a survey of 1,300 Which? members that own pet insurance. Customers were asked how satisfied they were with their provider, and how likely they would be to recommend it. We used answers to these questions to generate our customer score.

Claims scores are based on responses from 758 Which? members who have claimed on pet insurance in the past five years (survey carried out in November 2021). Respondents were asked how satisfied they were with their most recent claim and how likely they would be to recommend their provider based on its claims service.

Customer Score sample sizes: Agria (35), Animal Friends (127), Direct Line (53), John Lewis (58), LV (78), Many Pets (167), Petplan (364), Sainsbury's (42), Tesco Bank (74) 

Claims Score sample sizes: Animal Friends (86), John Lewis (36), LV (40), Many Pets (92), Petplan (288), Tesco (47). Where '-' given in customer or claims score columns, we didn't receive enough responses in our survey (30) to generate the scores.

We didn't receive enough respondents in our customer survey to provide customer or claims scores for each brand considered. This means we can't assess the levels of service for each Best Buy provider. However, we haven't included providers we were able to rate that received poorer-than-average customer or claims scores. We've additionally not included other providers that, at the time of the analysis, had a poorer-than-average complaints record with the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We've also examined data published by the Financial Conduct Authority on how often pet insurers have accepted claims and how often customers making claims complained to the insurer. We've not given our Best Buy award to providers shown to accept fewer than average numbers of claims or where 10% or more claimants made a complaint.