Short answer: In the US, the average accident-and-illness policy cost $836 a year (about $70 a month) for a dog and $435 a year (about $36 a month) for a cat in 2025 — so cat cover runs at roughly half the price, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The gap has held for years, but cat premiums jumped 12.6% in 2025, slightly faster than dogs.
“Average pet insurance cost” isn’t one number — it splits meaningfully by species, and within each species, by breed, age, and location. A single average figure hides more than it reveals, so a side-by-side comparison is more useful for actual budgeting.
What Do Dogs and Cats Cost to Insure, Side by Side?
NAPHIA publishes the average annual premium US policyholders pay, by species and plan type:
| US average annual premium | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog — accident and illness | $625 | $640 | $675 | $749 | $836 | ~$70 |
| Cat — accident and illness | $370 | $387 | $383 | $386 | $435 | ~$36 |
| Dog — accident only | $192 | $201 | $204 | $193 | $190 | ~$16 |
| Cat — accident only | $121 | $122 | $116 | $110 | $112 | ~$9 |
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026. Monthly figures are the 2025 annual average divided by 12 and rounded.
Two things stand out. Dog accident-and-illness premiums have risen every year, by about a third since 2021. Cat premiums barely moved from 2022 to 2024, then caught up in a single year. Accident-only cover — which excludes illnesses like cancer, infections and digestive problems — has actually got slightly cheaper for both species. If you want insurance that also bundles routine care, NAPHIA’s 2025 averages for plans with embedded wellness were $1,414 a year for dogs and $859 for cats.
For the full breakdown of what moves an individual quote, see how much pet insurance costs per month.
Why Do Dogs and Cats Have Different Average Costs?
Premiums follow expected claims. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance lists pet type first among its rating factors and says cats typically cost less than dogs, with larger breeds or those prone to chronic conditions costing more. In practice:
- Size drives treatment cost. Drug doses, anesthesia and many surgical costs scale with body weight, and dogs span a far wider range of sizes than cats
- Inherited risk is concentrated in some dog breeds — hip and elbow dysplasia in large breeds and breathing problems in flat-faced breeds, for example
- Lifestyle — dogs go outdoors, travel and exercise hard, which adds accident risk such as ligament tears and swallowed objects
That’s a population pattern, not a rule for your pet: a cat of a breed with known inherited problems can cost well above the cat average.
What Do Dogs and Cats Actually Claim For?
NAPHIA’s 2026 report lists the most common medical conditions claimed across North America in 2025:
| Most common claim categories, 2025 | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Top of the list | Gastrointestinal problems | Gastrointestinal problems |
| Also common | Ear infections, skin conditions, anxiety and behavioral or neurological issues, allergies, growths and masses | Dental disease, urinary tract infections, anxiety and behavioral or neurological issues, respiratory problems, kidney disease |
| Further down | Eye disorders, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, musculoskeletal problems, vomiting | Ear infections, hyperthyroidism, vomiting, arthritis, diabetes, eye disorders |
The largest single claims paid in 2025 show why people insure at all: NAPHIA lists a $66,600 claim for a three-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog and a $51,600 cancer claim for a four-year-old American Shorthair cat. Chronic cat conditions add up too — see the real cost of treating kidney disease in cats.
How Many Dogs and Cats Are Insured?
Few, especially cats. NAPHIA estimates that about 5.99% of US dogs and 2.29% of US cats were insured in 2025 — 5.23 million dogs and 1.75 million cats. Cats are the faster-growing group: insured cats rose 16.3% in 2025 against 6.8% for dogs, and cats’ share of all insured pets has climbed every year from 18.3% in 2021 to 25.1% in 2025.
What Actually Moves the Number Within Each Species?
- Breed — a breed with known predispositions typically costs more than an average-risk mixed breed. See the pet insurance price gap between popular dog breeds and, for cats, what Bombay cat insurance actually costs
- Age — many insurers reprice at renewal as pets age, in both species; see how dog insurance costs change with age
- Location — regional vet prices feed into rates
- Plan design — deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit, plus whether you add wellness cover
What About India?
Indian pet insurance is sold very differently — by sum insured for sections like surgery and hospitalisation — and entry ages are strict. Bajaj General Insurance, for example, accepts cats aged 3 months to 7 years (cover ending at 12), and small, medium and large dogs from 3 months to 7 years (cover ending at 10). For older pets, see is pet insurance worth it for senior pets in India.
How Should You Compare Quotes Fairly?
- Compare at the same settings — annual limit, deductible and reimbursement percentage — or the premiums aren’t comparable
- Quote for the specific breed and age, not just “dog” or “cat”
- Enroll while your pet is young and healthy, so fewer conditions are excluded as pre-existing
- Recheck pricing each year — with average premiums rising more than 10% in 2025 for both species, re-shopping can catch an insurer whose pricing has drifted, though switching means new waiting periods and pre-existing exclusions. See dog insurance cost per month for more on dogs
This article is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Averages are not quotes — get a quote for your own pet and read the policy before buying.
Sources
- NAPHIA — State of the Industry Report 2026 (Highlights), June 2026
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance — Is pet insurance affordable? How to find the best plan for your budget, August 2025
- Bajaj General Insurance — Pet insurance
