Cat insurance — is it necessary for an indoor cat?
A great many cat households ask themselves this and end up deciding against a policy. Here is an honest account of what cat insurance actually covers, and what you can do without one.
Why so many go without
Cats that live indoors are less exposed to traffic and fights than cats that roam, so the risk looks lower. Many owners reckon they could pay a single vet bill themselves and skip the policy. That is a reasonable judgement — but it is worth knowing the difference between low risk and no risk, because cats still develop acute problems such as urinary blockages or intestinal foreign bodies, and chronic conditions that build over years.
What cat insurance usually covers
As with dogs, a health policy generally covers treatment for illness and injury — consultation, surgery, medication and diagnostic imaging — subject to an excess and an annual ceiling. Some insurers charge less for indoor cats than for cats with outdoor access, precisely because they judge the risk to be lower.
What it often does not cover
Vaccinations, worming, flea treatment and routine health checks are normally classed as prevention and fall outside a health policy. Chronic conditions the cat already had when the policy started are frequently excluded or carry a long waiting period — which matters most for kidney and thyroid disease, both common in older cats.
Age changes the arithmetic
A young, healthy cat is cheap to insure, but the risk of expensive chronic illness rises sharply from around eight to ten years of age — at the same time as the premium typically rises. Some owners therefore insure early, while the cat is young and well, rather than waiting until the risk is visible.
What you can do without a policy
Whether or not you insure the cat, the cheapest and most effective thing you can do is keep on top of prevention: vaccinations, worming and flea treatment, and an annual health check so that early signs are picked up early. That costs no premium at all. It only requires that you remember it — which is exactly what a free health calendar is for.
Trofast and cats
Trofast was built for cats as well as dogs from the start, not as an afterthought. The health calendar is free whether or not you insure your cat, and you can use it to keep track of vaccinations, treatments and vet visits independently of whatever you decide about insurance later.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
- Does my indoor cat need insurance?
- It depends on what an unexpected vet bill would mean for your finances. Indoor cats are less often involved in road accidents, but they still fall ill and can develop chronic conditions that cost a great deal over time.
- Why do so many cats go uninsured?
- Many cat households judge the risk to be low for an indoor cat and decide against a policy. That does not make the cat risk-free — it means the owner has made a deliberate choice.
- Does cat insurance cover chronic illness such as kidney disease?
- It varies between insurers, and there are often waiting periods or exclusions if the condition was known before the policy started. Check the terms for the specific thing you are worried about.
- Do I have to insure my cat to use Trofast?
- No. The Trofast health calendar for cats is free, whether or not you hold a policy.