How Much Is Pet Insurance a Month in Canada?

Pet insurance in Canada costs an average of $98 CAD per month for dogs and about $50 CAD per month for cats¹ on an accident-and-illness plan, according to NAPHIA’s newest State of the Industry Report from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). A monthly cost of 50 dollars is right around the national average for a cat, not comfortably under it — for dogs, staying near that same number usually means choosing accident-only coverage, a higher deductible, or insuring a young or small dog, not full accident-and-illness coverage for an average adult dog.

What the Average Monthly Premium Looks Like in Canada

Nationally, accident-and-illness coverage averages $98 CAD per month for dogs and about $50 CAD per month for cats¹, per NAPHIA’s newest State of the Industry Report. Those are national averages, not quotes — your actual premium depends on your pet’s age, breed, and province, plus the coverage type, deductible, and reimbursement rate you choose.

The gap between cats and dogs is consistent and significant — cat premiums run at roughly half the dog average. That single fact matters for anyone asking “is a 50-dollar budget realistic,” but the answer for cats has shifted: the national cat average now sits right at that number instead of comfortably below it.

Can You Get Decent Coverage Under 50 Dollars a Month?

It depends on the pet and the plan. For a cat, 50 dollars a month is now almost exactly the national accident-and-illness average, not a comfortable margin below it — some cat parents land under that figure, some land slightly over it, without downgrading coverage either way. For a dog, the national A&I average is roughly double that amount, so getting near a 50-dollar monthly budget on an extensive plan usually requires a trade-off somewhere.

A handful of choices move a dog’s premium toward a 50-dollar monthly budget: choosing accident-only coverage instead of accident-and-illness, raising your annual deductible, choosing a lower reimbursement rate, or enrolling a young or small-breed dog, which typically starts at a lower premium than an older or large-breed dog. None of these are free — each one trades away either the breadth of your coverage or the size of your eventual payout.

For the full breakdown of every lever that lowers your premium, including deductible and reimbursement math, see the cheapest ways to lower your pet insurance premium. The short version: a dog policy priced near 50 dollars a month is more likely to be accident-only or high-deductible than a full-featured accident-and-illness plan at the national average.

Accident-Only vs. Accident-and-Illness: The Monthly Cost Difference

The single biggest lever for hitting a lower monthly number is coverage type. Accident-only plans cost meaningfully less than accident-and-illness plans because they cover a narrower slice of what can go wrong.

The trade-off is real: an accident-only plan won’t reimburse a claim for cancer treatment, a chronic skin condition, or an infection, even though those are some of the most expensive things pet parents face. Before choosing accident-only purely to hit a budget target, weigh what it excludes against what a full accident-and-illness plan actually covers.

What Else Changes Your Monthly Premium

Beyond coverage type, a few other factors shift your premium up or down. Age matters most over time — premiums climb as your pet gets older and statistically more likely to need care. Breed matters too, since some breeds carry documented hereditary risks that cost more to treat.

Location plays a role because veterinary costs vary by province and by city versus rural area. Your deductible and reimbursement rate round out the list: a lower deductible and a higher reimbursement rate both raise your monthly premium, while a higher deductible and lower reimbursement rate lower it. The pet insurance terms glossary breaks down exactly how these settings interact with your premium and your payout. For the complete factor-by-factor breakdown, see how pet insurance cost is calculated in Canada.

Is a Lower Monthly Premium Worth the Trade-Off?

That depends on what you’d otherwise pay out of pocket. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association² advises pet parents to pay close attention to per-year or per-condition maximums, co-pays, and deductibles when comparing plans — not just the monthly sticker price.

A lower premium that excludes illness coverage can leave a significant gap if your pet develops a chronic condition later in life. If your pet is young, healthy, and you’re financially prepared to cover illness costs out of pocket, accident-only coverage at a lower monthly rate can make sense. If you’d rather have illness coverage as a safety net, the national A&I average is the more realistic monthly figure to budget for, even if it lands well above a 50-dollar target.

Enrolling while your pet is young also helps regardless of which tier you choose, since starting premiums are typically lower and it reduces the chance that a condition develops before coverage begins, which would make it a pre-existing exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is pet insurance a month in Canada?

The national average for accident-and-illness coverage is $98 CAD a month for dogs and about $50 CAD a month for cats¹, according to NAPHIA’s newest State of the Industry Report. Your actual quote depends on your pet’s age, breed, province, coverage type, deductible, and reimbursement rate, so individual premiums can land well above or below the average.

Can I get pet insurance for under 50 dollars a month?

For cats, it’s close — the national cat average now sits right around 50 dollars, so it depends on the individual quote whether it lands under or slightly over. For dogs, staying under that same 50-dollar monthly budget usually means accident-only coverage, a higher deductible, a lower reimbursement rate, or a young or small-breed dog, rather than full accident-and-illness coverage at the national average.

What’s the cheapest type of pet insurance coverage?

Accident-only plans are typically the least expensive because they help cover a narrower range of claims — usually just injuries from accidents, not illnesses, cancer, or chronic conditions. The lower premium comes with meaningfully less protection if your pet gets sick rather than injured.

Does raising my deductible lower my monthly premium?

Yes. A higher annual deductible reduces your monthly premium because you’re covering more of each claim’s early cost yourself before reimbursement starts. You’ll pay less every month but more out of pocket the next time your pet needs care, so weigh the difference against your savings cushion before choosing a high-deductible plan.

Is a cheaper pet insurance plan actually worth it?

It depends on what the lower premium excludes. A cheaper accident-only plan can be worth it for a young, healthy pet if you’re prepared to cover illness costs yourself, but if you want a safety net for chronic conditions or cancer, budgeting closer to the accident-and-illness average is the more realistic plan.

Choosing pet insurance is about more than preparing for emergencies — it’s also about finding coverage that fits your pet’s needs and your budget. The right plan can help support both everyday peace of mind and long-term financial flexibility.

With Spot Pet Insurance, pet parents can customize their coverage with reimbursement options from 70% to 90%, annual limits up to unlimited, and deductible choices that work for their lifestyle. Spot also offers optional preventive care add-ons that can help with the eligible costs of routine services like annual exams, dental cleanings, and certain vaccines. Learn more about dog insurance, cat insurance, or get a free quote.