US Trends

best pet insurance for cats

Spot and Pets Best consistently rank among the top choices for best pet insurance for cats in 2026, but the right plan depends heavily on your cat’s age, health, and your budget. Other strong contenders frequently recommended for cat owners include Figo, Embrace, Trupanion, and ASPCA-branded coverage.

Quick Scoop

  • Spot is often rated #1 specifically for cats, with flexible deductibles, high reimbursement options (up to 90%), and no upper age limit, making it excellent for senior cats.
  • Pets Best stands out for relatively low premiums, direct vet payments, and short accident waiting periods, which helps with cash flow if you face big emergency bills.
  • Figo is popular for very generous reimbursement options (including up to 100% on some plans) and coverage of alternative/holistic treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic care.
  • Embrace is strong if you have multiple pets, thanks to multi-pet discounts and broad illness coverage including cancer and genetic conditions.
  • Trupanion is known for no payout limits and an optional zero-dollar deductible, helpful for very high-cost, unexpected surgeries or chronic conditions.
  • ASPCA plans are frequently top-rated in editorial rankings and appeal to owners who want simple, recognizable branding and broad accident-and-illness coverage options.

Here’s an HTML table-style overview of some of the best pet insurance options for cats:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Company</th>
      <th>Why it’s good for cats</th>
      <th>Typical cat premium (approx.)</th>
      <th>Best suited for</th>
      <th>Key potential downsides</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Spot</td>
      <td>Top-rated for cat coverage with flexible deductibles, high reimbursement rates, and no upper age limit for enrollment.[web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>From about $13/month for cats, depending on coverage limits and options.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Senior cats, owners wanting lots of customization and optional wellness coverage.[web:1][web:5]</td>
      <td>Waiting period (around 14 days) and no 100% reimbursement option.[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Pets Best</td>
      <td>Affordable average premiums with accident & illness and accident-only plans; covers prescriptions, dental disease, and offers direct vet pay.[web:1][web:5][web:10]</td>
      <td>Average cat premiums around $20/month on many comparison lists.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Budget-conscious cat owners who want solid coverage and direct payment to vets.[web:1][web:5]</td>
      <td>Some forum users report frustrations around rate increases and claim experiences, so reviews can be mixed by state.[web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Figo</td>
      <td>Covers many accidents and illnesses plus holistic/alternative care, with reimbursement options up to 100% on some plans.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Average cat premium around $25/month in recent comparisons.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Owners who want very high reimbursement and coverage for alternative therapies.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Does not generally cover most parasites or prescription food; some waiting periods (e.g., orthopedic conditions).[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Embrace</td>
      <td>Accident & illness plans that cover cancer, genetic conditions, prescriptions, and dental disease, with optional wellness add-ons and multi-pet discounts.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Average cat premium about $28/month in comparison data.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Multi-pet households and owners wanting strong illness coverage plus wellness options.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Cats 15+ may only qualify for accident-only coverage; prescription food not covered under standard accident & illness.[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Trupanion</td>
      <td>No annual payout limits, optional $0 deductible, and broad coverage for hereditary issues, surgeries, and hospital stays.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Average cat premiums often around $30/month or higher, depending on deductible and region.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Owners worried about very high-cost emergencies and long-term chronic conditions.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Does not cover exam fees or routine wellness; some users on forums feel pet insurance can be pricey or “scam-like” if they rarely claim.[web:1][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ASPCA (branded)</td>
      <td>Frequently top-rated in editorial lists for cats with broad accident & illness coverage and recognizable branding.[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Premiums vary widely by age, breed, and location; typically competitive with other major cat insurers.[web:3]</td>
      <td>Owners who want simple, name-brand coverage and flexible plan options.[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>As with most insurers, pre-existing conditions are excluded and premiums can rise as pets age.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

What “best” really depends on

For cats, “best” pet insurance usually means:

  • Good accident & illness coverage, including emergencies, surgeries, and chronic conditions like kidney disease or diabetes.
  • Reasonable reimbursement (often 70–90%) with a deductible you can afford in a bad month.
  • Clear exclusions around pre-existing conditions and waiting periods so you are not surprised at claim time.

Editorial rankings in 2025–2026 tend to put Spot and Pets Best toward the top for value and flexibility, with Figo, Embrace, Trupanion, and ASPCA also highly ranked depending on the angle (price, no limits, multi-pet, etc.).

Forum buzz and recent trends

Recent forum discussions show a mix of experiences:

  • Some cat and dog owners praise insurers like Trupanion and Pets Best for saving them thousands on unexpected surgeries, especially when direct vet pay is available.
  • Others complain about rising premiums and denials due to pre-existing condition rules, which leads to posts calling pet insurance “a scam” when they do not get the payouts they expected.

Over the last year or two, many providers have raised rates, partly due to higher vet costs, so comparing multiple quotes and re-checking policy terms each renewal has become more important than in the past.

How to choose the best plan for your cat

When you actually pick a policy, focus on:

  1. Coverage details
    • Check if chronic illnesses, hereditary conditions, cancer, and dental disease are covered under accident & illness plans.
 * Look at any caps: annual limits (e.g., 5,000 dollars vs. unlimited) and whether there are per-condition caps.
  1. Waiting periods and exclusions
    • Most plans have waiting periods for accidents and illnesses; some have longer delays for orthopedic issues.
 * Anything noted in records before enrollment is usually treated as pre-existing, which is an area of frequent frustration on forums.
  1. Budget fit
    • Lower premiums usually mean higher deductibles, lower annual limits, or lower reimbursement percentages.
 * Consider whether wellness add-ons (vaccines, checkups) actually save you money versus paying routine care out of pocket.
  1. Your cat’s life stage
    • Kittens benefit from early enrollment so future conditions are less likely to be deemed pre-existing.
 * Senior cats may face higher premiums and more exclusions, which is why plans like Spot with no upper age limit and flexible options can be attractive.

Bottom line: for the phrase “best pet insurance for cats” in 2026, Spot, Pets Best, Figo, Embrace, Trupanion, and ASPCA-branded plans are all strong candidates; which one is truly “best” hinges on your cat’s age and health, plus how you balance monthly cost versus potential reimbursement in a crisis.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.