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Cat insurance

99% of claims paid within 5 working days^. 27/4 Vet Assistance Up to £10,000 vet fee cover. Dental cover as standard.

Pet insurance provided by Pinnacle Insurance Ltd.

Why choose our cat insurance?

We take the stress out of keeping tabs on your tabby with our selection of cover for cats. Our range of policies offer different benefits and perks, giving you the flexibility to choose cat insurance cover that’s right for you. Here are some of the reasons to choose Sainsbury’s Money:

  • Award-winning
    We’re proud to be named Defaqto’s Pet Insurer of the Year 2025/26
  • 5 star rated cover
    Our cover over £4,000 is Defaqto 5* expert rated (Time Limited cover excluded)
  • Flexible insurance that meets your cat’s needs
    Choose from lifetime, time limited or maximum benefit cover and get vet fee cover up to £10,000
  • No upper age limit
    Cover available for cats of all ages. Starting from 8 weeks old
  • Vet Assistance, day or night
    24/7 access to qualified UK-based vet nurses over the phone or via live chat who’ll answer your pet health questions
  • Multi-pet cover – insure more, spend less
    Get a discount of £1 per pet per month with our multi-pet insurance †
  • Extra discounts for Nectar members
    As a Nectar member, you get an extra discount on your pet insurance Δ
  • Manage your policy online
    Get claims information and make changes to your policy on My Pet Portal

What your cat is covered for

We have your favourite feline’s best interests at heart. Whether they have an accident or fall ill, we can help cover the cost of your cat’s vet fees – so there’s no need to worry.
With a host of benefits, including death from accident, illness or injury cover and holiday protection, this can help you relax knowing your cat is covered by one of our pet insurance policies.

table
BenefitTime limited - Covers each condition for up to 12 months or up to max amount belowMaximum benefit - Covers up to the max amount per conditionLifetime - Covers up to max amount each year

Treatment period

12 months

unlimited

unlimited

Treatment basis

per condition

per condition

per year

Veterinary fees

Veterinary helpline

Additional benefits

Holiday cover

Veterinary fees can include:

table
BenefitTime limited £3,000Maximum benefit £6,000Lifetime £10,000

Dental Cover

up to £3,000

up to £6,000

up to £10,000

Complementary Treatment

up to £500

up to £1,500

up to £1,500

Physiotherapy

up to £500

up to £1,500

up to £1,500

Behavioural illnesses
(excludes the cost of any damage to your home)

up to £3,000

up to £6,000

up to £10,000

Overseas veterinary treatment

up to £3,000

up to £6,000

up to £10,000

With our lifetime pet insurance, you get access to £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000 towards vet costs each year – depending on the level of cover you choose. We’ve used Lifetime £10,000 cover as an example in the table above.

Our maximum benefit cover can provide you with £3,000 or £6,000 towards vet costs per condition depending on the level of cover that you choose. We’ve used £6,000 maximum benefit cover as an example in the table above.

With our time limited cover, you’ll get access to a maximum of £3,000 towards vet costs up to 12 months.

Additional benefits and limits:

table
BenefitTime limited £3,000Time limited £6,000Lifetime £10,000

Death from accident/injury

£1,000

£1,500

up to £2,000

Death from illness

£1,000

up to £1,500

up to £2,000

Cremation

£200

£200

£200

Advertising & reward

£1,000

£1,500

up to £2,000

Theft or straying

£1,000

£1,500

up to £2,000

Emergency boarding cattery fees (if you’re ill/injured for over 48hrs)

£1,000

£1,500

£1,500

Holiday travel cover:

table
BenefitTime limited £3,000Maximum benefit £6,000Lifetime £10,000

Holiday cancellation

£1,000

£1,500

£3,000

Quarantine costs

£1,000

£1,500

£1,500

Loss of healthcare cert

£250

£250

£250

Emergency expenses abroad

£1,000

£1,500

£1,500

Please note that we won’t cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply. You can find out more about the terms of our cover in our policy documents.

What cover’s right for your cat?

When you’re ready to insure your cat, you have a choice of three types of pet insurance: time limited, maximum benefit or lifetime cover. The right cover for you depends on you and your cat’s circumstances.

Need more information?

Any more questions about Sainsbury’s Pet insurance? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQ and support page for more.

Why buy cat insurance?

Cats are curious creatures, and despite their quick reflexes, they can be prone to accidents and illnesses. When this happens, we know that caring for your furry family member can be expensive. That’s why with Sainsbury’s Cat insurance, you might not have to foot the full bill, should the worst happen. We can cover your cat in the event of:

  • Accidents
  • Illnesses
  • Thefts
  • Straying

Vet treatment alone can cost hundreds of pounds, which can put some pet owners in a financial bind. Having a pet plan in place for your cat ensures you’re there for your pet when it matters most. With our policies, you can:

Cover the cost of a wide range of benefits, from complimentary treatments to physio.

Get multi-pet discounts if you have more than one pet.

Choose from three different types of cover, to get the right insurance plan for you and your cat.

What does cat insurance cover?

Cat insurance allows you to be prepared for many eventualities. Depending on what type of cover you choose, cat insurance can include the following:

  • Vet fees up to £10,000, depending on your cover
    Should your cat become ill, injured or need dental care, your insurance can cover some of the costs.
  • Death by accident or illness
    If your furry friend dies, your insurance can reimburse you for the cost that you paid for them. However, most insurance policies have an age limit.
  • Missing pet cover
    Should your cat go missing, we can help take care of the cost of setting up posters and paying a reward.
  • Cattery fees
    We can cover the cost of a cattery if you’re hospitalised and unable to care for them.
  • Euthanasia, cremation and burial
    In some instances, your policy can cover the costs of your cat being put to sleep, cremated or buried.

What isn’t covered by cat insurance?

As with any insurance policy, there are some exclusions from cat insurance plans. These include:

  • Pre-existing illness or injury
    This involves any medical condition that existed prior to you taking out your cat insurance policy. These fall into two categories: chronic conditions and historic conditions (from the past) and chronic conditions (persisting for a long time or constantly recurring).
  • Waiting period
    Any illnesses that begin within the first 10-14 days of your insurance policy will not be covered.
  • Pregnancy and giving birth
    Some cat insurance policies may exclude expenses relating to pregnancy, giving birth and treatment of any offspring.
Sitting on the sofa reading with a cat

What to consider when buying cat insurance

Some cats require more care than others. When looking for a cat insurance quote, you’ll need to consider a range of important factors that will determine which quote you can get. These include:

  • Your cat’s age
  • The breed or size of your cat
  • The health of your cat (and whether it has been neutered)
  • How much you paid for your cat (if you didn’t adopt it)
  • Your cat’s behavioural history
  • Your cat’s medical history

Once you’ve considered this information and provided it to us, we can help you find the right pet insurance policy for you and your friendly feline.

It’s also worth considering the financial benefits of cat pet insurance too. Future vet bills are something to consider at any time as a cat owner, whether you’ve just bought a new kitten or have owned a cat for a while. Getting an insurance policy could potentially help you save thousands on future vet bills, by paying monthly premiums.

Ready to protect your cat?

If you want cat insurance that has your cat’s health at heart, you’re in the right place.

Check you’re happy with the terms of our cover in our policy documents – then get started with your quote. When you’re ready, we’re ready.

Helpful guides for your cat

What’s the best way to safeguard the health of your cat? Would you know what to do if your new kitten went missing? Get your cat facts straight with our helpful pet guides.

Frequently asked questions

What age can my cat be insured?

You can insure your kitten as soon as they’re eight weeks old.

How much is cat insurance?

The cost of cat insurance depends on many different factors. As well as the type of policy you choose, it’s based on the breed of cat you have, their age and external factors like rising vet fees. It’s easy to get a quote online with Sainsbury’s Money to see how much your premium might be.

Get a quote

Does it cover dental treatment?

Yes, dental cover falls under the vet fees part of our cat insurance policy. We’ll cover your cat’s dental treatment if it’s because of an illness or injury. We’re sorry, but we can’t cover dental crowns, root canals or fillings.

Dental cover

What is Vet Assistance?

It’s a 24/7 vet advice helpline allowing Sainsbury’s Pet insurance customers to talk to a qualified team of vet nurses. If you’ve any questions or concerns about your cat’s health, don’t hesitate to give the team a call – any time of the day or night.

Vet assistance

What does pet insurance cover for cats?

As well as dental treatments, our policies cover complementary treatmentsphysiotherapy, behavioural illnesses and herbal or homeopathic medicine. If your cat has any pre-existing conditions you can still take out pet insurance with us, but we won’t be able to cover these existing illnesses.

Vet fees cover

Is it worth insuring an indoor cat?

While indoor cats are less prone to accidents outdoors the decision is up to you. Indoor cat insurance can still cover treatments for at-home injuries, as well as costly treatment of cat illnesses. It also promotes any routine care that your cat needs during its lifetime.

Can I get cat life insurance?

No, you cannot get cat life insurance, but cat lifetime insurance is the most comprehensive insurance cover we can provide for your furry companion. By renewing your policy, your insurance can pay out for every new condition each year and will last their whole life.

Any more questions about Sainsbury’s Cat insurance? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQ and support page for more.

Terms and conditions

Δ The discount is based on information related to you and the Sainsbury’s transactions linked to your Nectar account. For more information on how we use your data, go to money.sainsburys.co.uk/privacy

** Based on website data between April 2025 and July 2025.

† Multi-pet discount is a minimum of £24 when insuring more than one pet as this is worked out at £1 per pet per month for each pet on a policy. Pets can have different cover levels. Discount deducted separately from any other offer.

^ Based on Sainsburys Pet insurance claims data from January 2025 to January 2026.