Dogs vs cats

Dog vs. Cat Insurance: What's Different?

The mechanics of a policy are the same for both species — but the risks, the costs, and what's worth prioritizing differ enough that it's worth knowing before you buy for a dog, a cat, or both.

Updated July 2026 · About a 5-minute read

Pet insurance works the same way whether you have a Labrador or a tabby: you pay premiums, you get reimbursed for covered accidents and illnesses, and the same three settings — deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit — shape your plan. What changes between species is the underlying risk profile, and that shows up in both price and which coverage details matter most.

Why dogs usually cost more to insure

Across the board, dog policies tend to run higher than cat policies. A few reasons drive this:

• More accidents. Dogs are out in the world more — walks, parks, cars, other dogs — and get into more scrapes, swallow more foreign objects, and take more spills.
• Size and treatment cost. Larger animals often mean higher medication doses and pricier procedures.
• Breed-linked conditions. Many dog breeds carry well-documented hereditary risks — joint and hip problems in large breeds, breathing issues in flat-faced breeds, elevated cancer risk in others — which insurers price in.

Cats, by contrast, are often (though not always) indoor animals with fewer accident claims, which tends to keep their premiums lower.

Health risks that differ by species

Common areas of concern for dogs

• Orthopedic issues like cruciate ligament tears and hip dysplasia, especially in larger breeds.
• Swallowed objects and digestive obstructions.
• Breed-specific hereditary and congenital conditions.
• Certain cancers, with risk varying widely by breed.

Common areas of concern for cats

• Urinary tract and kidney conditions, which are notably common in cats.
• Dental disease.
• Hyperthyroidism and diabetes, particularly in older cats.
• Issues related to indoor lifestyle, such as obesity-linked conditions.

What to prioritize for each

Insuring a dog

Pay close attention to how a plan handles hereditary and orthopedic conditions, since these are where big dog claims often come from — and where waiting periods for things like cruciate ligament injuries can be longest. A strong annual limit matters here too, because dog emergencies (surgery, obstruction, cancer treatment) can run high.

Insuring a cat

Look for solid coverage of chronic conditions like urinary, kidney, and thyroid problems, and check how the plan treats curable-then-recurring issues — cats can have repeat urinary episodes, and how a policy handles those varies. Because cat premiums are generally lower, it's often affordable to choose a higher reimbursement rate.

Insuring both

If you have multiple pets, ask whether the insurer offers a multi-pet discount — many do. Just make sure each pet's plan settings suit that individual animal rather than forcing both onto identical terms.

The bottom line

Dogs cost more to insure and skew toward orthopedic and breed-linked risks; cats cost less and skew toward urinary, kidney, and age-related conditions. But the policy machinery is identical, and the most important move — insuring early, before problems appear — is the same for both. Whichever you have, comparing a few plans with your pet's specific risks in mind is the step that pays off.