When is the Best Time to Buy Cat Insurance?

Haven’t gotten cat insurance but are considering it? It’s only natural to wonder if there is a particular time when you should sign up for a policy. Cat insurance or, as it’s often called, “cat health insurance” or more broadly, “pet insurance,” is a worthwhile investment to help pay for unexpected veterinary costs. But enrolling does mean paying a monthly rate, for as long as you wish to protect your cat. So to make sure you’re getting the most out of your coverage, is there a right time to buy cat insurance?

The truth is that there typically is no hard-set or seasonal best time to sign up for cat insurance. Instead, it comes down to a few individual factors: when you adopt your cat, how old they are, their health risks, and when their veterinary care begins. But even if you’ve had your cat for a while, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed the window for the best time to get cat insurance.

Whether you’ve recently adopted a kitten, are thinking about getting a cat, or have had your feline friend with you for years, here’s what you need to know about when is the right time to protect their health.

The best age to get cat insurance

If you’re just looking into your pet insurance options, you’ll want to consider your kitty’s age. Generally speaking, the sooner you invest in cat health coverage, the better. Veterinary professionals and pet insurance providers alike tend to agree that the best age to get cat insurance is when your cat is still a kitten. At this stage, they are less likely to have pre-existing conditions, which the vast majority of pet insurers won’t cover.

It’s also worth mentioning that younger cats also generally qualify for lower rates compared to older cats at higher health risks. For kittens, this means coverage can be more affordable upfront. Getting a policy early on in your cat’s life helps you get the most out of it, ensuring a broader range of unexpected illnesses, accidents, or hereditary conditions are eligible for future coverage. In other words, you’re likely to get the most value out of cat insurance by signing up for it when your cat is young and healthy.

Speaking of which, it’s unwise to assume that your cat won’t incur any major veterinary costs until they’re older. Even kittens are still at risk of a wide range of health conditions.

What about older cats?

Worried you missed the window? Believe it or not, older cats can still benefit from a good medical insurance plan. After all, senior cats are more prone to illnesses like kidney disease, arthritis, and diabetes, leading to costly vet bills. Insurance can help cover unexpected accidents, new illnesses, and even chronic condition management, depending on the policy.

While conditions that are eligible for coverage (remember pre-existing conditions) may be limited compared to younger cats, having insurance for older cats can still provide financial relief in emergencies. Likewise if your older cat is healthy and going strong, getting coverage before any major issues arise may be a very smart investment indeed.

Cat health insurance age limits

While discussing the best age to sign up for cat insurance, it’s important to note that most pet insurance providers have age limits. So, it’s important to look carefully at the details when comparing providers to avoid unwelcome surprises. The good news is that established, trusted providers often have pretty wide age ranges — for example, Trupanion will enroll any new dog or cat up to age 14.

Other considerations

In addition to your cat’s age, there are several other things to think about before signing up for cat insurance. If you’re on the fence about cat insurance, it’s worth considering the following three points:

1. Your cat’s health and treatment history

Does your cat have a lot of pre-existing conditions? Are they at risk of future issues that could be covered by signing up now before they show clinical signs and become ineligible?

These are important questions to ask yourself in order to better understand if now is a good time to get cat insurance. Waiting too long to sign up can result in more pre-existing conditions not being eligible for coverage. On the other hand, you may find that your cat’s current state of health and lengthy veterinary history prevent a new coverage plan from fully benefitting your pet. This is not likely to be the case for most cat owners — especially new cat owners — considering cat insurance, but it’s important to be realistic.

2. Your preventative care routine

Following your vet’s dental care recommendations and practicing monthly parasite prevention are key to your cat’s well-being. And, if not followed, they can lead to otherwise preventable health conditions that may not be covered by insurance.

Even with cat insurance, you’ll also need to keep up with routine veterinary checkups to catch issues early. Insurers expect you to do this, so it’s a good idea to find a veterinarian you like and trust before getting a policy.

3. Your future plans with your pet

Looking to travel with your cat, bring another pet into their lives, or start a new activity with them? Nobody likes to think that any of these things will negatively affect their cat’s health, but accidents do happen. While a good coverage plan will cover the unexpected, there are waiting periods or delayed effective dates to consider. With this in mind, you may want to sign up for cat insurance first and wait to make any big changes to your pet’s life.

The best time to protect your cat’s health is now

Whether you have a new kitten or a longtime feline friend, the bottom line is that there’s no better time than the present to protect them with the right cat health insurance. As long as your kitty isn’t past the cutoff age limit for enrollment, it’s not too late to add some peace of mind to their veterinary care.

Learn more about the benefits of pet insurance for cats, or compare providers to find the right fit for you and your feline friend.