With all the excitement of bringing a pet into the family, pet insurance might be the last thing to cross your mind. But knowing that your dog or cat are covered for any accidents or illnesses that develop throughout your life together can offer real peace of mind.  
 
So, it’s good to know what to expect when you’re weighing up pet insurance deals. And the first thing to know is that there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pet insurance quote.  

All sorts of factors will determine how cheap pet insurance is. These include: 

• What type of pet you have – cat or dog 
• The breed of your pet 
• How old your cat or dog is 
• What your pet’s health history is 
• Where you live 
• What type of cover you choose  
• Whether you have a multi-pet insurance discount 

As we’ve mentioned, the cost of pet insurance in the UK will be different from one quote to the next, because there are so many variables that affect pet insurance premiums.  

 
Now, we must stress that a quote for a lifetime dog insurance policy will be very different to, say, a cat insurance quote for accident-only cover. Likewise, a kitten insurance quote will vary from a quote for older cat insurance. And puppy insurance will probably be much cheaper than cover for an ageing hound. So, do take that average with a big old pinch of salt!   

The simple answer is significantly! Cat pet insurance and dog pet insurance costs are different because dogs tend to be larger and heavier than cats. This means their treatment costs are typically higher which, in turn, means pet insurers have to pass those extra costs onto you, the pet parent. 
 
Pedigree pets also tend to carry higher pet insurance premiums than mongrels or moggies. That’s because they can be more prone to breed-specific conditions, such as hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BOAS).  
 
As a very rough guide, here’s what you might expect to pay for generalised dog insurance vs cat insurance: 

Dog insurance costs 

Pet owners can find cheap dog insurance quotes from UK insurers and we advise to read what is included across the various policy types. It’s important some elements are taken into consideration things like age, health history and breed, etc. It’s important to bear in mind that any number of factors could affect how cheap pet insurance for dogs is.  

Cat insurance costs 

As with dog insurance, cat insurance costs vary greatly depending on the age, health, breed and location of the kitty in question. 

How old your pet is will have a big impact on your pet insurance quote. That’s because older animals tend to have more age-related illnesses, like arthritis, diabetes and kidney disease.  
 
These types of conditions usually require ongoing, costly courses of treatment, presenting a higher “risk” when it comes to a payout on your pet insurance.  
 
Kitten insurance, for example, is likely to be much cheaper than insurance for an older cat. 
As a general rule of thumb, you could expect to see your cat insurance quote to increase by the time they reach the age of around 9 years old. That said, you may pay ever so slightly more for a young kitten versus a juvenile cat that’s fully developed and a little hardier.  

You’ll usually find that lifetime pet insurance is the most expensive, because it offers the most comprehensive coverage for your four-legged friend. The cheapest pet insurance will generally be accident-only cover. That’s because, as the name suggests, it only protects your pet if they were to be injured in an accident. It doesn’t cover any illnesses your pet may develop. 
 
So, when it comes to working out what the best pet insurance policy is for you, it’ll be a balance of enough cover at an affordable price for your budget. And remember, the best-value pet insurance won’t necessarily be the cheapest. You’ll want to consider how much cover and what added benefits you’re getting for your premiums.  
 
With a Pets Insurance policy, for example, you’ll get Lifetime cover for accidents and illnesses—including dental—with vet fee limits of between £3,000 and £15,000. In addition to the Vet fee Limit, you’ll also get lots of complementary therapies, clinical food (therapeutic diet) cover and help to find a missing pet included as standard.  

Many pet insurers will offer pet parents with a larger brood a multi-pet insurance discount. This means that you can take out a few different pet insurance policies with the same provider—often managing all of your pets’ cover from a single simple dashboard. Pets Insurance offers multi-pet insurance discounts for dogs, cats or a mix of both, helping you find affordable pet insurance for your whole fur family!   
 
Ready to get a Pets at Home pet insurance quote from the UK’s most trusted petcare provider? Simply click the link below, tell us a little bit about you and your furry family member/s and we’ll give you a quote in two shakes of a tail. It couldn’t be easier!  

Get a super simple Pets Insurance quote