Considering pet insurance? These are the cheapest cat breeds to insure
Pet insurance can help you avoid sky-high bills if your animal needs emergency vet care or surgery, and in some cases, it can even cover basics like exams, vaccinations, and medications for chronic conditions.
The exact coverage and costs of pet insurance vary by company, but cats tend to be the cheapest animals to insure, generally speaking. The exact premium you'll pay depends on your cat's age, health, and, most importantly, breed.
If you have one of the cat breeds below you can probably expect a lower pet insurance price than most cat owners. You can get a free, personalized price quote now so you know exactly what to expect.
The cheapest cat breeds to insure
While pet insurance costs vary based on the policy and provider, they typically remain close in price. Here is an approximate list of the five cheapest cat breeds to insure.
1. Exotic
Exotic shorthairs and exotic longhairs are cheap to insure. An analysis from lendEDU found that exotic shorthairs cost slightly less, with an average premium of $20.74 per month. Longhairs average $25.05 per month.
It's not too surprising: The International Cat Association (TICA) calls exotics "very healthy breeds" that can live up to 11 years.
You can get a customized pet insurance quote for a exotic cat now.
2. Bombay
Bombay cats also come with low pet insurance premiums. The lendEDUanalysis found that Bombays average just $25.73 per month. If you opt for an accident-only policy, it's a mere $13.81 monthly.
Embrace Pet Insurance notes that Bombay cats are "generally healthy." They can develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and excessive tearing, and their short muzzle may lead to breathing difficulties. Other than that, though, they tend to live long, healthy lives — sometimes up to 18 years, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
3. Mixed-breed
Mixed-breed animals are almost always cheaper to insure than purebred ones and that goes for both dogs and cats. This is because mixed-breed animals are less likely to have the genetic health predispositions that purebreds are.
Specifically, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) says, mixed-breed, spayed females come with the lowest premiums. Domestic shorthairs, a type of mixed breed cat, cost around $30 per month to insure or just $19 for an accident-only policy.
4. Siberian
Siberians' average premiums clock in around $30 per month or $23 if you choose an accident-only policy. TICA calls Siberians "a generally healthy breed," though they can be prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This breed can live up to 18 years or more.
5. Sphynx
Sphynx cats might look a little strange, but they save you big on your insurance premiums — particularly accident-only pet insurance policies. According to the analysis, a Sphynx costs just $7 per month to insure against accidents. If you opt for an accident and illness policy, it goes up to $38 per month.
TICA says Sphynxes are "a very robust and healthy breed," though, like many cats, they can develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They often live 15 years or longer.
Not sure what it would cost to insure your cat? You can easily get a free price quote online now.
Most expensive cat breeds to insure
On the other side of the coin, you have Russian Blues, Persians, Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Ragdolls, Maine Coons and Snowshoes, which were all found to be on the pricey side.
Russian Blues averaged about $45 per month, according to the lendEDU analysis — a whopping $25 more than the cheapest cat to insure (the exotic shorthair).
Shop around for your cat insurance
As you can see, pet insurance costs for cats can differ quite a bit from one breed to the next. The insurance company you choose plays a big role, too, so make sure you shop around and compare at least a few pet insurance providers if you want the best price. Many companies offer discounts that can help reduce your costs. Use the table below to start shopping providers.
