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Kittens are little bundles of fluff who love exploring their new surroundings and generally causing havoc around the house. They very quickly endear themselves to the whole family, but their energy and impetuousness can leave them vulnerable to accidents and illnesses.
Contents of this guide
Kitten insurance is a method of protecting against unforeseen vet bills caused by accidents or injuries that your kitten may suffer from. With all providers their kitten insurance policies are exactly the same as their cat insurance policies. But there may be some policy types on offer that are more suited to kittens that older cats.
There are however some differences in terms of when you can get your kitten insured. Some providers offer to cover your kitten from 5 weeks old, with others this can be 8 weeks.
When your cat is young, much like humans, they tend to be healthier so you might think that insurance isn’t necessary. But, for a couple of reasons you might want to consider taking out a policy.
Firstly, whilst illnesses and diseases are more unlikely in youngers cats, you can never be 100% sure that a kitten won’t be susceptible to an illness which requires treatment. By covering your kitten you’ll be able to have the treatment for the condition covered by your insurer.
Generally speaking the earlier that you get covered the better, firstly it’ll be cheaper to insure a younger cat, and secondly, depending upon the cover type that you choose you can ensure that any conditions that do arise can be covered and don’t fall into the category of pre-existing.
If you’ve chosen to welcome a pedigree kitten instead of a moggie to your family then you should be aware that they are more at risk of developing illnesses, particularly congenital conditions. This increases the risk of making a claim, and therefore you might be better placed to consider kitten insurance to protect against this.
For example, Bengal cats have a tendency to suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia.
With most providers you can get covered under 4 different cover levels.
Lifetime pet insurance is the most comprehensive cover you can buy so this is usually a good choice if your looking for long term cover.
Time-limited is the other policy type that often proves popular with kitten owners. This provides cover against vet fees arising from accidents and illnesses up to a certain limit or for 12 months after the first date of treatment – whichever is reached first.
That’s not to say that accident only or maximum benefit policies aren’t appropriate for kitten insurance. Your circumstance and budget are important factors to consider when it comes to finding the right cover for your kitten.
Getting your cat insured when they are younger generally benefits you as the premiums will be cheaper, but let’s look a little closer of what can impact the price of your kitten insurance policy.
As mentioned above, pedigree cats are more likely to suffer from conditions passed down from their parents than moggies. As this is the case then you’ll find that pedigree breeds are more expensive to insure. Even with pedigrees you’ll find some difference in their pricing.
For example, the following quotes were compiled on 21/02/2022 for a 3 month old male kitten living in Gravesend, Kent on a time-limited policy with a £2,000 per condition limit.
Bengal cat: £7.64/month
Persian cat: 7.28/month
British shorthair cat: £6.24/month
Moggie cat: £6.10/month
Sometimes the age of your kitten has a big effect, even if it is a case of a few weeks. The health of your kitten is much more well known at 12 weeks as it would be at 6 weeks and as such, insurers can provide a more accurate premium. We have heard of cases where pet owners have corrected their pet age after incorrectly entering the pet’s date of birth only to learn of premium increasing due to the change.
If your pet has not had its vaccinations then you might find that your premium is slightly more expensive than if they had. You will likely also find that claims might be affected if your kitten suffers from an illness that could have been vaccinated against.
You might also find that kittens before they have been spayed or neutered will be slightly more expensive than those who haven’t. This increase is usually quite small.
| Breed | Conditions |
| Abyssinian | Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (this causes Anaemia) |
| Bengal | Glaucoma Cataracts Entropion Retinal problems Conjunctivitis Progressive retinal atrophy Cardiomyopathy Hip dysplasia |
| British Shorthair | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Polycystic kidney disease |
| Cornish Rex | Polycystic kidney disease Progressive retinal atrophy |
| Domestic Shorthair | Hyperthyroidism Kidney disease Diabetes Respiratory issues Vomiting Urinary conditions |
| Maine Coon | Hip dysplasia Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Spinal muscular atrophy Stomatitis Periodontal disease Polycystic kidney disease Obesity |
| Persian | Polycystic kidney disease Progressive retinal atrophy Hip dysplasia Brachycephalic airway syndrome Primary seborrhoea Ringworm Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Feline Infectious Peritonitis Cryptorchidism |
| Ragdoll | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Polycystic kidney disease |
| Russian Blue | Hyperthyroidism Renal Failure Obesity Tumours Diabetes |
| Siamese | Mouth and gum disease Heart disease Gastrointestinal disorders Kidney disease Liver disease and pancreatitis |
| Moggie | Diabetes Liver problems Urinary tract disease |
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