Cat Insurance
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Whether you want insurance for a kitten or an older cat, keep your furry friend protected from illness and injury with Cat Insurance through Swinton.
Why do I need Cat Insurance?
At Swinton, we know that your cat is incredibly important to you. That’s why we believe it’s important to protect them with a Cat Insurance policy.
So, no matter how many lives your cat has left, you can rest assured that you’ll be covered by Cat Insurance in the event they’re injured or become ill (exclusions apply — check your policy wording for details). That means that you can focus on what’s important — loving them to pieces!
Looking to insure another pet? Look at all our Pet Insurance policies.
Why consider Swinton to insure your cat?
- Speak to veterinary professionals with the Swinton Vet Line
- Lifetime cover available for vet bills, legal fees, and more. Limits apply.
- Choose your level of cover and tailor your insurance benefits to build a policy that suits your cat’s needs.
- Get great tips and connect with fellow pet lovers through the Swinton Pet Club on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
What is covered by Cat Insurance?
Here at Swinton, we know that every cat is unique from head to paw! To make sure your cover is tailored to your cat’s needs, choose from two Lifetime Pet Insurance products — Essentials and Classic — so you can decide which suits your furry friend.
Each product provides a different vet fee limit for your cat, plus you can choose three levels of cover for whichever product you choose — £2,000, £4,000 or £7,000.
Feature/benefit | Essentials | Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
Vet fees: | £2,000 | £2,000 | |
MRI/CT scans* | £1,000 | £1,500 | |
Cruciate Ligament* | £2,000 | £2,000 | |
Dental treatment* | £1,500 | £2,000 | |
Complementary treatments* | £500 | £750 | |
Behavioural problems* | £750 | £750 | |
Prescription food* | £100 | £100 | |
Travelling abroad - Vet fees* | £2,000 | ||
Third party liability (dogs only) | £1m | £1m | |
Accidental damage (dogs only) | £250 | ||
Emergency boarding | £500 | £500 | |
Lost/Stolen | £1,000 | ||
Advertising and reward | £600 | ||
Death by accident | £1,000 | ||
Death by illness | £1,000 | ||
Holiday cancellations and associated costs per year | £500 | ||
Maximum trip length per year | 30 days | ||
*Included in the overall vet fee limit. Maximum limits shown. Other features, benefits and limitations exist. Please contact us for details. | |||
Feature/benefit | Essentials | Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
Vet fees: | £4,000 | £4,000 | |
MRI/CT scans* | £2,000 | £3,000 | |
Cruciate Ligament* | £2,500 | £4,000 | |
Dental treatment* | £3,000 | £4,000 | |
Complementary treatments* | £750 | £1,000 | |
Behavioural problems* | £1,000 | £1,000 | |
Prescription food* | £100 | £150 | |
Travelling abroad - Vet fees* | £4,000 | ||
Third party liability (dogs only) | £1m | £1m | |
Accidental damage (dogs only) | £500 | ||
Emergency boarding | £500 | £750 | |
Lost/Stolen | £1,500 | ||
Advertising and reward | £800 | ||
Death by accident | £1,500 | ||
Death by illness | £1,500 | ||
Holiday cancellations and associated costs per year | £750 | ||
Maximum trip length per year | 60 days | ||
*Included in the overall vet fee limit. Maximum limits shown. Other features, benefits and limitations exist. Please contact us for details. | |||
Feature/benefit | Essentials | Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
Vet fees: | £7,000 | £7,000 | |
MRI/CT scans* | £3,000 | £4,500 | |
Cruciate Ligament* | £3,000 | £7,000 | |
Dental treatment* | £5,000 | £7,000 | |
Complementary treatments* | £1,000 | £1,500 | |
Behavioural problems* | £1,500 | £1,500 | |
Prescription food* | £100 | £200 | |
Travelling abroad - Vet fees* | £7,000 | ||
Third party liability (dogs only) | £1m | £1m | |
Accidental damage (dogs only) | £750 | ||
Emergency boarding | £500 | £1,000 | |
Lost/Stolen | £2,000 | ||
Advertising and reward | £1,000 | ||
Death by accident | £2,000 | ||
Death by illness | £2,000 | ||
Holiday cancellations and associated costs per year | £1,000 | ||
Maximum trip length per year | 90 days | ||
*Included in the overall vet fee limit. Maximum limits shown. Other features, benefits and limitations exist. Please contact us for details. | |||
Policy documents
Essentials
Policy Wording (PDF - 397KB)
Classic
Policy Wording (PDF - 426KB)
Swinton Cat Insurance Benefits
Just some of our pawsome benefits include:
Classic and Essentials
- Vet fees - If your cat is injured or falls ill and needs vet treatment, we’ll make sure the costs are covered up to your chosen cover limit. This includes recommended complementary therapies like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and hydrotherapy.
- Emergency boarding — If you or anyone normally living with you needs to be admitted to hospital unexpectedly for three or more consecutive days, Cat Insurance covers the cost of licenced boarding, kennels or pet sitting up to your chosen cover limit.
Classic only
- Theft/straying — In the unfortunate event your cat is stolen or goes missing, we’ll provide cover for advertising and/or reward costs for their safe return.
- Death by accident or illness — If your cat passes away or a vet recommends they're put to sleep due to an accident or illness, we'll pay you the purchase price of your cat, or up to the cover limit provided - whichever is lower.
- Travelling abroad — If you need to cancel or delay a holiday because your cat has a life-threatening illness or injury, we’ll contribute towards additional costs. You’ll also be covered for the cost of treatments should your cat fall ill or be injured when traveling within the EU.
With Swinton Cat Insurance, you can also:
- Access and view your policy 24/7 with our online hub
- Speak to us via live chat or our call centre
What types of policies are available through Swinton?
All of the products available through Swinton Pet Insurance are Lifetime policies, offering cover against injury and illness for your cat’s lifetime.
You need to renew your policy with no insurance gaps to ensure continuing cover. Please note that when you renew your policy, your cover limit resets to fund any new and ongoing claims.
How much does Cat Insurance cost?
The cost of Cat Insurance will depend on a number of deciding factors: the type of policy that you choose, the age and breed of your cat, and the area that you live in.
- Your address - The cost of veterinary treatment varies across different postcodes. If you live in a high-cost area, you’re likely to have to pay more to insure your cat.
- Your cat’s age - Sadly, older cats are at a higher risk of developing disease than their younger counterparts, so your cat’s premium is likely to increase with age.
- Your cat’s breed - Some cats may be more expensive to insure than others because of their breed. For example, pedigree cats are at a higher risk of theft than mixed breeds. Some breeds are more prone to health conditions, too.
What types of cats can I insure?
Most types of cat can be insured, though there may be some exclusions.
Kittens
You can insure your kitten with Swinton once they are eight weeks old. However, there are some things that are not covered within your policy. These include:
- Neutering
- Vaccinations
- Worming tablets
- Flea control
- Microchipping
Older cats
While it’s possible to insure elderly cats, it’s common for insurers to apply an upper age limit to their policies. For example, at Swinton, we don’t offer insurance for cats over 12 years old if you’re a new customer. This is because older cats are unfortunately more likely to have an accident or become unwell.
If your cat has a pre-existing medical condition, be sure to declare this. It won’t be covered by your standard Swinton policy and your insurance may be invalidated if undeclared.
Pedigree cats
We insure pedigree cats. However, they may be more expensive to insure as they are more expensive to buy - and are more at risk of hereditary disease due to breeding.
For example, Siamese cats are sadly prone to cancer, Persian cats are prone to breathing problems, and British Shorthair cats can tragically suffer from kidney failure. Insurers have to take factors like this into consideration, often resulting in higher premiums.
Please note that the restrictions on your policy may vary depending on your cat’s breed.
What doesn’t Swinton Cat Insurance cover?
- Pre-existing medical conditions — anything your cat has, has had symptoms of, has had medication for or advice from a vet about, prior to the policy starting.
- Everyday checkups and treatments — vaccinations, flea treatments, grooming and nail care, neutering or blood and urine tests aren’t included.
- Dental treatments — if they could have been prevented through regular checkups
- Any treatments not prescribed by a vet.
- Costs associated with pregnancy or giving birth.
What is the Swinton Vet Line?
Our cats and kittens sadly can’t tell us when they’re not feeling well, so it can be worrying if you start to notice changes in your cat’s behaviour or they don’t seem like themselves. As a Swinton Pet customer, you’ll have access to our 24/7 vet line so you can chat to a trusted veterinary expert and ease any worries you may have.
With a team of friendly RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) vets, you can receive the help you need to answer your questions and concerns, day and night. Whether you need medical advice or simply have questions about the wellbeing of your pet, they can provide qualified advice when you need it most.
The Swinton vet line can assist you with:
- Pet health triage and advice, including whether you should take your pet to your vet
- Behavioural triage and advice
- Nutritional advice
- Bereavement
- Diagnosis (where appropriate)
You can call the Swinton vet line as many times as you need to, and our lines are open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. To get in touch, you need to:
- Call the Swinton vet line on 0333 332 4473.
- Have your policy number ready to provide — you can find this on your policy schedule.
- Describe your concerns or cat’s symptoms, or ask any questions about your pet’s health.
- A qualified veterinary nurse or vet will provide the advice you need.
In an emergency, you should always contact your vet immediately.
Get a Cat Insurance quote online
Join our Swinton Pet Club
Want to meet like-minded pet owners and share tips and tricks on all things cats and dogs? Why not join the Swinton Pet Club? As a follower, you’ll have access to exclusive competitions, giveaways and pet goodies, as well as helpful hints and advice
to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy.
FAQs about Cat Insurance
No, Cat Insurance doesn’t usually cover the cost of microchipping — but make sure you double check in your policy documents before you book an appointment, just in case.
From 10 June 2024, cats in England will need to be microchipped by the time they’re 20 weeks old and owner details should be kept up to date. Further details of how and when to microchip your pet are available at your vets.
Thankfully, the most common cat health problems are the not-so-serious ones. Fleas or ear infections are easily treatable. But sadly, cats do sometimes get seriously ill. Kidney disease, diarrhoea, dental or gum disease and broken bones are relatively common.
Outdoor cats are more prone to illness as they are more likely to mix with other animals and eat things that they shouldn’t. However, most conditions are treatable when caught early — so make sure you understand your cat’s normal behaviour!
Costs can vary from practice to practice as well as by breed, age, and the size of your cat. This can affect the amount you may need to claim for any particular illness or condition.
With Swinton Classic Pet Insurance, your cat will be covered if you take it abroad. It includes:
-
Vet fees abroad
-
Holiday delay or cancellation
-
Maximum trip length per year (varies depending on the cover you’ve chosen — check your policy)
-
Cost of emergency accommodation for up to 14 days (check your policy)
However, the policy does not cover:
-
Accommodation and expenses for more than one person
-
The treatment of illnesses which were known of before travelling
-
Travel outside of the EU
Please note that travel cover is not included in our Essentials policy.
The excess or co-payment you will be required to pay following a claim for treatment is based on the age of your pet:
- For cats under 7 years old you will pay a fixed excess. This will be either £99 or £139 depending on the breed.
- For cats aged 7 years or older you will pay a fixed excess and a 20% co-payment fee.
Fixed Excess: This is the amount you must pay for each separate injury or illness in each policy year when you make a claim for your pet. Your Swinton policy will cover the remaining cost of the claim or any other eligible claims for the same condition within that year, up to the benefit limit. If your pet receives treatment for the same injury or illness in separate policy years, then we will apply the excess to the first claim in each policy year.
Co-Payment fee: This is the portion of the vet fees that you are responsible for paying, in the event of a claim, once any fixed excess has been deducted for cats aged 7 years or over. Co-payment is commonly used in the pet insurance industry.
You’ll find information about the fixed excess and co-payment fee that is applicable for your pet each policy year in your schedule of insurance. These amounts may change at renewal so it’s important to check your schedule should you need to make a claim.
Here’s an example of how it all works
Let's say you make a claim for £499 relating to treatment for your 8-year-old cat for a new condition, firstly the fixed excess is applied - for this example we’ll say it’s £99. Once this has been deducted the remaining amount of £400 would be subject to a co-payment fee due to the age of your cat. In this case, you would be responsible for paying 20% of that £400, which is £80, so your contribution for the treatment would be £179 in total (£99 fixed excess + £80 co-payment fee). The remaining costs of £320 would be covered by your policy, up to any benefit or individual treatment limits.
You then make another claim for £300 for further treatment related to the same condition in the same policy year. In this scenario there would be no fixed excess to pay as the claim is related to the same condition, so you would be responsible for paying the co-payment fee of 20% of the total amount of £300, which is £60. Subject to any benefit or individual treatment limits your policy would then cover the remaining costs of £240.
Yes, the insurance policy will cover dental care as a result of an accident or injury. However, it doesn’t cover dental treatment due to illness or routine preventative dental care.
Although few Cat Insurance companies cover pre-existing medical conditions within your policy, they won’t prevent your cat from being insured. Make sure that you declare this condition to make sure that the policy is not invalidated.
With Swinton Pet Insurance, cats with pre-existing medical conditions can be covered for future accidents and injuries, but not for treatment of the pre-existing conditions themselves.