Knose Pet Insurance vs Petplan Australia — 2026 cat insurance comparison
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
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Knose Pet Insurance and Petplan Australia both insure cats in Australia. Knose Pet Insurance is underwritten by PetSure; Petplan Australia by Hollard. Different underwriters, so the cover wording, hereditary stance, and claims experience differ meaningfully.
Most domestic shorthairs under 8 — flexible cover at a good price.
Cats with a likely chronic-disease trajectory — Burmese (diabetes), seniors, breeds prone to CKD.
The verdict in one line
- Cheaper monthly: Knose Pet Insurance starts $12 less per month.
- Stronger hereditary cover: Petplan Australia (Strong) — matters if your cat is a pedigree with known genetic risk.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Knose Pet Insurance | Petplan Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter | PetSure | Hollard |
| From / month (1yo DSH) | $32 | $44 |
| To / month (1yo DSH) | $58 | $88 |
| Annual limit | Up to $15,000 | Up to $20,000 per condition annually |
| Reimbursement | 60% / 70% / 80% | 80% |
| Excess options | $0 / $200 / $500 | $100 / $200 / $300 |
| Illness waiting period | 21 days (illness), 0 days (accident after 24hr) | 21 days (illness), 5 days (accident) |
| Hereditary cover | Standard | Strong |
| Routine care | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Vet direct-pay | No | No |
| Accepts kittens from | From 8 weeks | From 6 weeks |
| Senior new enrolments | No upper enrolment age, but premiums steep after 9 | Up to 9 years for new policies |
Knose Pet Insurance — what it does well
Knose is the most customisable insurer in Australia. Pick your excess, reimbursement %, and annual limit — premium adjusts in real-time. Great for owners who know their budget and want to shape cover around it. Underwritten by PetSure (the dominant AU pet underwriter).
- Customise excess ($0–$500), reimbursement (60–80%) and annual limit
- Optional routine care covers vaccinations, desexing, microchip
- Fast app-based claims (most paid in 3–5 days)
- No age cap on continuing cover once enrolled
Petplan Australia — what it does well
Petplan's Covered for Life plans renew chronic-condition cover every year — most other AU policies stop reimbursing for the same condition after 12 months. For cats developing diabetes, IBD, hyperthyroidism or CKD, this is the difference between cover that compounds and cover that drops away.
- True lifetime cover for chronic conditions (most AU policies cap at 12 months)
- No age cap on continuing existing policies
- Generous dental cover on top tiers
Which one wins for your cat?
- Young domestic shorthair, healthy, indoor-only: Knose Pet Insurance — the small premium gap matters more than hereditary cover for a low-risk cat.
- Pedigree with hereditary risk (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian, Sphynx, Burmese, British Shorthair): Petplan Australia — the stronger hereditary cover usually pays for itself by year 5.
- Older cat (8+) being newly enrolled: Whichever still accepts new enrolments at this age. Check current rules — the answer drifts year-to-year.
- Big upfront vet bill is your worry, not the monthly premium: Neither — both reimburse after you pay.
More cat insurance comparisons
Updated 2026-05-13 · Not financial advice — read each insurer's PDS before buying. Premium snapshots are mid-2026 indicative quotes for a 1-year-old domestic shorthair, metro postcode.