Petplan Australia vs Petsy Pet Insurance — 2026 cat insurance comparison
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
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Petplan Australia and Petsy Pet Insurance both insure cats in Australia. Petplan Australia is underwritten by Hollard; Petsy Pet Insurance by Hollard. Same underwriter, similar product DNA — the differentiators are price, member discounts, and the claims app.
Cats with a likely chronic-disease trajectory — Burmese (diabetes), seniors, breeds prone to CKD.
Tech-leaning owners wanting Hollard cover with a modern app.
The verdict in one line
- Cheaper monthly: Petsy Pet Insurance starts $8 less per month.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Petplan Australia | Petsy Pet Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter | Hollard | Hollard |
| From / month (1yo DSH) | $44 | $36 |
| To / month (1yo DSH) | $88 | $68 |
| Annual limit | Up to $20,000 per condition annually | Up to $25,000 |
| Reimbursement | 80% | 80% |
| Excess options | $100 / $200 / $300 | $100 / $250 |
| Illness waiting period | 21 days (illness), 5 days (accident) | 30 days (illness), 0 days (accident) |
| Hereditary cover | Strong | Strong |
| Routine care | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Vet direct-pay | No | No |
| Accepts kittens from | From 6 weeks | From 8 weeks |
| Senior new enrolments | Up to 9 years for new policies | Up to age 9 for new policies |
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
Petsy Pet Insurance — what it does well
Petsy is a digital-native Hollard product — strong app, fast claims, lifetime cover language. Less well-known than Bow Wow Meow but the underlying cover is similar. Worth a quote for owners who want a slicker UX without paying Petplan-level premiums.
- App-first claims experience
- Lifetime cover on chronic conditions (Hollard-underwritten)
- Generous dental on Premium tier
Which one wins for your cat?
- Young domestic shorthair, healthy, indoor-only: Petsy 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.