Cheapest Cats to Insure: Cat Insurance Cost by Breed and What You Pay Over a Lifetime

The cheapest cats to insure are common domestic cats with little inherited disease, and they cost about $273 a year in PetBudget's model. Pedigreed, large and flat-faced cats cost up to $508. The average U.S. cat accident-and-illness premium reached $435 in 2025, per NAPHIA. This guide ranks cat insurance cost by breed, compares yearly and lifetime premiums, and shows how cat insurance differs from dog insurance.

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Latest news: cat insurance and cat health in 2026

• Cat premiums jumped. NAPHIA's 2026 State of the Industry highlights put the 2025 U.S. cat accident-and-illness average at $435, up 12.6% from $386. Accident-only cat plans averaged $112.
• Few cats are insured. The same report found 2.29% of U.S. cats insured at the end of 2025, against 5.99% of dogs.
• New diabetes guidelines. The 2026 AAHA feline diabetes guidelines, covered by dvm360 on June 26, 2026, recommend oral SGLT2 inhibitors as first-line therapy for many newly diagnosed cats. Insulin is still advised for cats with advanced kidney disease or systemic illness.

What it means for you: a new treatment option does not lower the need for coverage. Enroll young, before any diagnosis.

What does cat insurance cost on average?

The average U.S. cat accident-and-illness premium was $435 a year in 2025, or $36.25 a month. NAPHIA's 2026 State of the Industry highlights report that figure, up 12.6% from $386 in 2024. The same report puts the U.S. dog average at $836.

NAPHIA also reports that 2.29% of U.S. cats were insured at the end of 2025, against 5.99% of dogs. Cat insurance is the smaller market, but it is growing. U.S. premium volume reached about $5.7 billion, up 19.7%.

Cats cost about half as much to insure as dogs on average. NAPHIA does not give a reason.

How PetBudget models cat insurance by breed

PetBudget starts with the NAPHIA average and adjusts for size and breed risk. The tiers for cats are:

Risk tier	Cat breeds in the data	Multiplier implied by PetBudget's figures
1 (lowest)	3	0.80
2	18	0.92
3	24	1.00
4	26	1.18
5 (highest)	4	1.38

Size works the same way. Small cats get a discount near 10% and large cats a premium near 8%. A medium cat in tier 3 models at $341. A large cat in tier 5 models at $508.

These are modeled estimates built on the 2024 average of $386, not insurer quotes, and NAPHIA's 2025 average is 12.6% higher. Our guide to how insurers price premiums covers the real factors, including age and location.

The cheapest cats to insure

The cheapest cats to insure carry the lowest breed risk. Three breeds model at $273, and two more at $282.

Breed	Size	Risk tier	Yearly premium	Typical life
Domestic Shorthair	Medium	1	$273	15 years
European Shorthair	Medium	1	$273	16 years
Aegean	Medium	1	$273	11 years
Korat	Small	2	$282	17 years
American Curl	Small	2	$282	14 years
Cornish Rex	Small	3	$307	13 years
Mixed-breed cat	Medium	2	$314	15 years
Russian Blue	Medium	2	$314	17 years

The Domestic Shorthair is the lowest-risk cat in the data. PetBudget's rationale is wide genetic diversity, which leaves "only common, largely preventable conditions" like dental disease, obesity and upper respiratory infection. That is why a household cat is cheap to insure.

The same breeds are cheap to own overall. A Domestic Shorthair costs $822 a year in the model. See our least expensive cat breeds guide for the full ranking.

The most expensive cats to insure

Large, long-haired and flat-faced cats cost the most. The Ragdoll is highest at $508 a year, followed by the Persian at $471. Several large breeds share $435.

Breed	Size	Risk tier	Yearly premium
Ragdoll	Large	5	$508
Persian	Medium	5	$471
Maine Coon	Large	4	$435
Bengal	Large	4	$435
Savannah	Large	4	$435
Norwegian Forest Cat	Large	4	$435
British Shorthair	Large	4	$435
Siamese	Medium	4	$402

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy shows up in most of the higher tiers. The Cornell Feline Health Center's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy guide explains the disease. PetBudget's data lists it for the Ragdoll, Persian, Maine Coon, Bengal, Savannah, Siamese and British Shorthair. Our most expensive cat breeds guide shows what these cats cost to own.

Yearly premium versus lifetime premium

Lifetime premiums can reverse the yearly ranking. This table multiplies each breed's modeled yearly premium by its typical lifespan in PetBudget's data. It assumes a flat premium.

Breed	Yearly premium	Typical life	Premiums over a lifetime
American Curl	$282	14 years	$3,948
Domestic Shorthair	$273	15 years	$4,095
Mixed-breed cat	$314	15 years	$4,710
Korat	$282	17 years	$4,794
Exotic Shorthair	$402	12 years	$4,824
Siamese	$402	13 years	$5,226
Maine Coon	$435	13 years	$5,655
Bengal	$435	14 years	$6,090
British Shorthair	$435	15 years	$6,525
Persian	$471	14 years	$6,594
Ragdoll	$508	15 years	$7,620

Here is what you pay over a lifetime. The Korat's low yearly premium of $282 runs for 17 years, so its lifetime total of $4,794 is above the Domestic Shorthair's $4,095. Cats live long, and every extra year adds a premium. Real premiums usually rise with age, so the true totals will be higher. See our renewal playbook.

Cat insurance cost by size class and risk tier

Size and risk tier explain the whole range. The tables below group PetBudget's 75 cat breeds.

Size class	Breeds in data	Lowest premium	Highest premium	Average premium
Small	13	$282	$424	$338
Medium	47	$273	$471	$350
Large	15	$339	$508	$409

Risk tier	Breeds in data	Lowest premium	Highest premium
1 (lowest)	3	$273	$273
2	18	$282	$339
3	24	$307	$368
4	26	$362	$435
5 (highest)	4	$424	$508

Most cat breeds sit in tier 3 or tier 4. Only four reach tier 5, including the Ragdoll and the Persian. Large cats average $409, which is 21% above the small-cat average of $338.

Cat versus dog insurance

Cat insurance costs about half as much as dog insurance. The two ranges barely overlap in PetBudget's data.

Measure	Cats	Dogs
2025 U.S. average premium (NAPHIA)	$435	$836
Share of U.S. pets insured, end of 2025 (NAPHIA)	2.29%	5.99%
Lowest modeled premium (PetBudget)	$273	$599
Highest modeled premium (PetBudget)	$508	$1,240
Typical lifespan in PetBudget's data	11-17 years	6-15 years

The cheapest dog to insure costs more than the average cat to insure. A Great Dane's premium is 2.4 times a Ragdoll's. NAPHIA does not explain the gap, and it does not mean cats are healthier.

Which cat illnesses make insurance worth it?

Three age-related illnesses account for most of the large bills in senior cats. All three can start with heavy drinking, as our thirsty cat guide explains.

• Kidney disease. PetMD calls it one of the most common diseases in cats, and not curable. Management relies on medication, diet and hydration.
• Diabetes. The Cornell Feline Health Center says obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop it. Insulin is given about every 12 hours. If remission does not come within six months, the cat will almost certainly need lifelong insulin.
• Hyperthyroidism. Cats often lose weight despite a big appetite and drink more. A T4 test can find it, and a nonprofit clinic's price list shows that test at $25.

The 2009 dvm360 figures cited below put 12 months of treatment at $860 to $1,401 at median. Those were teaching-hospital costs 17 years ago, so today's totals are likely higher. The point stands: one chronic illness can cost more in a year than several years of premiums.

Insurance only pays for conditions that start after the waiting period. That is why a Domestic Shorthair at $273 a year is a sound bet for a young cat.

Popular cat breeds side by side

Insurance takes between 33% and 39% of a popular cat's yearly cost. This table shows ten common breeds.

Breed	Yearly premium	Yearly cost after year one	Insurance share
Domestic Shorthair	$273	$822	33%
Korat	$282	$797	35%
Mixed-breed cat	$314	$908	35%
Siamese	$402	$1,049	38%
Abyssinian	$402	$1,028	39%
Bengal	$435	$1,190	37%
Maine Coon	$435	$1,322	33%
British Shorthair	$435	$1,152	38%
Persian	$471	$1,299	36%
Ragdoll	$508	$1,314	39%

The share barely moves, so the premium tracks the overall cost of the breed. A cheap-to-own cat is cheap to insure. See the Domestic Shorthair breed page for its full budget.

Where insurance sits in a cat's yearly budget

For a Domestic Shorthair, insurance is a bigger line than routine vet care. PetBudget's model breaks the $822 yearly cost into five lines.

Yearly line	Domestic Shorthair
Insurance	$273
Food	$214
Vet care	$221
Supplies and toys	$90
Grooming	$24
Total	$822

Insurance is 33% of the yearly bill, and food is 26%. For a Ragdoll, insurance is 39% of $1,314. Insurance does not replace routine vet care. It pays for the unexpected, usually after a deductible and at a reimbursement rate.

Is that a good trade? A 2009 Michigan State University study, reported by dvm360, tracked costs for 12 months after diagnosis. It found median costs of $1,065 for chronic kidney disease, $1,401 for hyperthyroidism and $860 for diabetes. The study excluded exams and hospital stays, and prices have risen since. A single year of treatment equals about four years of Domestic Shorthair premiums at $273.

Those illnesses are age-related, not outdoor risks. Our guide to cat dehydration and excessive thirst explains the early signs and the tests that find them.

What cat insurance costs per month

Monthly premium rates make the breed gap easier to see. The table converts the yearly figures and compares them with the NAPHIA 2025 average of $36.25 a month.

Cat	Yearly premium	Monthly premium
Domestic Shorthair	$273	$22.75
Korat	$282	$23.50
Mixed-breed cat	$314	$26.17
NAPHIA 2025 U.S. cat average	$435	$36.25
Siamese	$402	$33.50
Maine Coon	$435	$36.25
Persian	$471	$39.25
Ragdoll	$508	$42.33

The cheapest cat costs about $13.50 a month less than the national average. The most expensive costs about $6 a month more. That is a spread of $19.58 a month, or $235 a year, between a Domestic Shorthair and a Ragdoll.

Those totals stay modest next to dogs. A Ragdoll's top premium of $42.33 is below the $49.92 monthly cost of the cheapest modeled dog. If you are choosing between a cat and a dog, our lifetime cost of a dog vs a cat guide compares the full budgets.

How to read a cat insurance quote

A cheap quote with narrow coverage can cost more in the end. Check these items.

1. Deductible and reimbursement rate. They set how much of each bill you pay.
2. Annual limit. A cat that lives 15 years may hit a cap.
3. Waiting periods. Illness coverage often starts after a delay.
4. Breed-linked exclusions. Owners of Ragdolls, Maine Coons and Persians should check heart and kidney conditions.
5. Dental coverage. Dental disease is the most common reason a Domestic Shorthair needs a procedure, per PetBudget's breed data. Read our dental coverage guide.
6. Renewal increases. Premiums usually rise each year.

How to get pet insurance for cats for less

You cannot change your cat's breed, but you can change how you buy. These steps apply to any cat.

1. Enroll young. A condition diagnosed before coverage starts is usually excluded. Our waiting periods guide explains how.
2. Compare three quotes. Match the deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit.
3. Check the exclusions. Look for breed-linked conditions such as heart disease.
4. Weigh accident-only. It costs less and covers injuries only. See our accident-only pet insurance guide.
5. Consider saving instead. Our insurance vs emergency fund guide shows when that works.
6. Compare brands. Use the pet insurance comparison chart.

For the break-even math, read is pet insurance worth it.

Put insurance in your cat's budget

Insurance is only one line, and it varies with breed. Add the other costs in the PetBudget calculator. For the full first-year picture, see how much a cat costs and our kitten first-year checklist.

The bottom line on cat insurance cost

The cheapest cats to insure are the ones with the fewest inherited conditions, and the gap between cheapest and most expensive is $235 a year. That gap is real but modest. The bigger decision is whether to insure at all, and when. A young cat insured before any diagnosis keeps the widest coverage for the rest of its life.

If you are weighing a plan, price the cat's whole budget first. Use the PetBudget calculator and the breed pages linked above. Then compare quotes on the same deductible and reimbursement rate. A plan that costs $22.75 a month for a Domestic Shorthair is a different decision from one that costs $42.33 for a Ragdoll.

Quick answers

• Cheapest cats to insure: Domestic Shorthair, European Shorthair and Aegean at about $273 a year.
• Most expensive: Ragdoll at about $508 a year.
• U.S. average cat premium: $435 a year in 2025, per NAPHIA.
• Cat versus dog: cat insurance costs about half as much on average.
• Best test: compare lifetime premiums, and enroll while your cat is young.