The average cost of pet insurance for cats is around $46 per month in Canada1. The premium for your cat, however, depends on various factors like your cat’s breed, age, location, and type of policy you choose.
Cat Insurance: An Introduction
With vet costs skyrocketing, pet owners are increasingly turning to insurance to manage all the unexpected expenses. The Canadian pet insurance market was valued at $584 million in 2024 and is only growing. Cats form 23.3% of the 630 thousand insured pets in the country.1
Looking at this statistic, you may think that not many cat owners are opting for pet insurance. Perhaps because they have yet to recognize the value. But before you decide on that, here are some facts that can help you –
Cats are prone to multiple accidents and illnesses during their lifetime, even indoor ones. Falling from high perches, ingesting toxic substances like lilies or chocolate, and developing chronic conditions like cancer or diabetes are only some of the examples.
Dental diseases affect as many as 85% of cats, and the average treatment cost for advanced procedures like extractions and periodontal disease can cost around $1,517.2
Urinary tract infection is another common condition in cats. Severe cases requiring hospitalization can even cost up to $3,600 for treatment. 1,3
Other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, respiratory infections, skin allergies, osteoarthritis, etc., are also common in felines and can cost anywhere between $500 -$1000+.1,4
Can Pet Insurance Help?
A comprehensive pet insurance plan for cats can help cover accidents and illnesses for cats. With such a plan, you can save up to 90%* of the covered treatment costs. Pet insurance can help cover the following –
Eligible vet exam fees for allergies, stomach issues, etc.
Broken bones and other injuries
Cuts, bite wounds, insect stings, swallowed objects
Surgery
Diagnostics related to the covered condition
Breed-specific, congenital, and genetic conditions like hip dysplasia, cataracts, allergies, etc.
Chronic and orthopedic conditions and more.
Spot plans also help cover things like prescription diets, alternative therapies, and behavioral conditions.
How much is comprehensive coverage for cats?
Accident and Illness coverage for pets, which includes both accidents and illnesses, could cost you around $46 for cats monthly.1 It can be higher for breeds like Sphynx, Maine Coon, Persian and Devon Rex.
Accident and Illness pet insurance policies do not cover routine wellness check-ups, dental cleaning, spaying/neutering, vaccinations, etc., but you can get reimbursed for the eligible costs, too, by adding a preventive/wellness add-on to your policy.
How much is a wellness add-on for cats?
Being a cat owner does give you one benefit for sure – lower insurance premiums!
You’ll see that the premium is almost always lower for cats than for dogs (not because cats have 9 lives!). That’s because cats are less prone to accidents and injuries. They are also usually smaller compared to dogs and hence need fewer dosages of medications.
Spot plans offer two different kinds of add-ons here – Gold and Platinum, which start from as low as $8.25 per month. You can save up to $450 annually, depending on the add-on.
Having said that, not all cats are cheap to insure.
Most Expensive Cat Breeds to Insure
Siberian Forest Cat
Oriental Shorthair
It’s not that these cats are more mischievous than others. It’s just that they are more susceptible to certain medical conditions that are expensive to treat.5
If you have yet to make the decision on which cat to bring home, and are contemplating based on the cost of insurance, here are some of the most affordable breeds to insure6 –
Their premiums can vary depending on multiple factors as stated above in the first paragraph.
At Spot Pet Insurance, we offer extensive plan options for pets with affordable prices, and a hassle-free claim procedure - so you can focus on your pet's care and less on the cost.
More About Spot Pet Insurance
With a Spot accident and illness plan, you can take your cat for treatment at any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Spot plans don’t have networks, so whether you’re home or traveling within the U.S, veterinary services your cat receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of eligible services can be covered. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions, ranging from broken bones and bite wounds to behavioral conditions and cancer. While base plans do not offer coverage for preventive care services, Spot’s Wellness Riders can be added to any base plan for an additional fee and can help cover the eligible costs of wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more!
Learn more about cat insurance or get a free quote!
With 10 years of experience as a pet parent, I aim to empower pet owners with insights into pet insurance and maintaining their pet's well-being. I aspire to be a trusted source, combining knowledge with a commitment to the welfare of our beloved pets.
*Reimbursement rate is based on your pet's age at enrollment and renewal.
"State of the Industry Report" NAPHIA, 2025, https://naphia.org/industry-data.
"Dental Disease in Cats." International Cat Care, n.d., https://icatcare.org/articles/dental-disease-in-cats.
"Cat and UTI Treatment Cost..." PetsCare, n.d., https://www.petscare.com/news/post/cat-uti-treatment-cost-guide.
"Cost of Cat Care." Action Volunteers for Animals, n.d., https://www.avacats.org/cost-of-cat-care.
Tokic, A. "17 of Most Expensive Cat Breeds in Canada." Apr. 05, 2025, https://money.ca/managing-money/budgeting/expensive-cat-breeds.
Copeland, K. "10 Incredible Canadian Pet Insurance Statistics & Facts." Hepper, Mar. 26 2025, https://articles.hepper.com/pet-insurance-statistics-canada/.
