Cat insurance in Australia — compare every major insurer (2026)
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
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Almost every AU pet insurer is underwritten by one of two companies: PetSure (Knose, RSPCA Pet, Woolworths, Medibank, ahm, Bupa, most bank-branded policies) or Hollard (Bow Wow Meow, Pet Insurance Australia, Petplan, Petsy, Budget Direct). That means the real differences come down to price, excess flexibility, hereditary-cover strictness, and how the claims app actually works.
The quick answer
- Best overall for most cats: Knose — flexible excess, up to 80% reimbursement, simple app.
- Best for pedigree cats (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian, Sphynx): Bow Wow Meow — strongest hereditary cover.
- Best for vet direct-pay: Pet Insurance Australia — avoid the upfront-payment wait.
- Best for lifetime chronic-condition cover: Petplan — no annual reset on chronic claims.
- Cheapest comprehensive: Woolworths Basic (~$26/mo).
- Cheapest accident-only: RSPCA Pet (~$18/mo) — fine for cats 10+.
The full side-by-side
| Insurer | Underwriter | From / mo | Annual limit | Reimburse | Hereditary | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knose Pet Insurance | PetSure | $32 | Up to $15,000 | 60% / 70% / 80% | Standard | Most domestic shorthairs under 8 — flexible cover at a good price. |
| Bow Wow Meow | Hollard | $38 | Up to $25,000 | 80% | Strong | Pedigree cats — Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Persian, Sphynx, British Shorthair. |
| Pet Insurance Australia | Hollard | $34 | Up to $20,000 | 70% / 80% | Standard | Owners who want to avoid out-of-pocket vet bills via direct-pay. |
| Petplan Australia | Hollard | $44 | Up to $20,000 per condition annually | 80% | Strong | Cats with a likely chronic-disease trajectory — Burmese (diabetes), seniors, breeds prone to CKD. |
| Petsy Pet Insurance | Hollard | $36 | Up to $25,000 | 80% | Strong | Tech-leaning owners wanting Hollard cover with a modern app. |
| Budget Direct Pet Insurance | Hollard | $28 | Up to $20,000 | 75% / 80% | Standard | Owners who want Hollard-grade hereditary cover at PetSure pricing. |
| Woolworths Pet Insurance | PetSure | $26 | $8,000 (Basic), $15,000 (Comprehensive) | 70% / 80% | Limited | Budget-conscious owners of healthy young-to-middle cats. |
| Medibank Pet Insurance | PetSure | $28 | $15,000 / $20,000 | 70% / 80% | Limited | Existing Medibank health-insurance members. |
| ahm Pet Insurance | PetSure | $30 | $15,000 | 70% / 80% | Limited | Owners who want PetSure cover via a simpler interface than Knose. |
| Bupa Pet Insurance | PetSure | $28 | $15,000 | 70% / 80% | Limited | Existing Bupa health-insurance members. |
| RSPCA Pet Insurance | PetSure | $18 | $12,000 (accident-only), $15,000 (comprehensive) | 70% / 80% | Limited | Older cats (10+) where accident-only is the rational floor. |
Premium snapshot: 1-year-old domestic shorthair, metro postcode, 80% reimbursement where available, $200 excess. Actual quote will vary by postcode, age and breed.
Top picks profiled
Knose Pet Insurance
Underwriter: PetSureKnose 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
- 21-day illness waiting period (standard)
- PetSure underwriter excludes a few breed-specific hereditary conditions
Up to $15,000
60% / 70% / 80%
$0 / $200 / $500
No
Bow Wow Meow
Underwriter: HollardDespite the dog-leaning name, Bow Wow Meow has the strongest hereditary cover in the AU market — making it the right call for Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian, Sphynx and British Shorthair where HCM, PKD or genetic disease is the realistic claim driver. Hollard-underwritten with a 24/7 vet helpline.
- Best hereditary cover in the AU market — fewer breed exclusions than PetSure policies
- 24/7 vet helpline included free
- Multi-pet discount stacks across cats and dogs
- Up to $25,000 annual limit on top tier
- Benefit caps reduce after age 9 on most tiers
- Premium ~15% higher than PetSure equivalents
Up to $25,000
80%
$100 / $200
No
Pet Insurance Australia
Underwriter: HollardPet Insurance Australia is the AU-owned Hollard policy. The standout feature is GapOnly vet direct-pay — your vet claims and you only pay the gap on the spot. Cuts out the wait between paying $2,000 upfront and receiving the reimbursement.
- GapOnly direct-to-vet payment (avoid upfront vet bills)
- AU-owned and AU-staffed claims team
- No age cap on continuing existing cover
- Up to 80% reimbursement on top tier
- Pre-existing exclusions are strict
- Annual limits on cheaper tiers ($8k) are tight for complex chronic cases
Up to $20,000
70% / 80%
$100 / $200
Yes
Petplan Australia
Underwriter: HollardPetplan'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
- Among the most expensive AU policies
- Strict pre-existing exclusions on first enrolment
Up to $20,000 per condition annually
80%
$100 / $200 / $300
No
Petsy Pet Insurance
Underwriter: HollardPetsy 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
- Smaller brand — fewer reviews to evaluate
- Premiums sit mid-pack on Hollard products
Up to $25,000
80%
$100 / $250
No
Budget Direct Pet Insurance
Underwriter: HollardBudget Direct's pet product is a Hollard underwrite priced aggressively to win on price. Cover specifics are closer to Bow Wow Meow / PIA than to PetSure policies — meaning hereditary cover is stronger than the cheap PetSure options. Worth a quote against Woolworths.
- Often cheapest Hollard-underwritten comprehensive in the market
- Stronger hereditary cover than PetSure budget plans
- Multi-policy discount if you bundle with car/home
- Limited tier customisation
- Customer service rated lower than direct insurers
Up to $20,000
75% / 80%
$100 / $250
No
What premiums actually cost (2026)
For a 1-year-old domestic shorthair in a metro postcode, expect $28–$48/month for comprehensive cover (accident + illness) with 80% reimbursement and a $200 excess. Pedigree cats with known hereditary risk (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Persian, Sphynx, British Shorthair) run 20–40% higher. Premiums climb 5–8%/year naturally plus an extra step-up at age 8 and again at age 11 on most policies.
Rules of thumb
- Start cover before 2 years old — anything diagnosed before enrolment is permanently excluded as pre-existing.
- Accident-only is a waste under 8 years old. Comprehensive is rarely worth it over 14 years old.
- Higher excess + lower premium is usually correct if you have $2,000 emergency-fund headroom.
- Read the PDS for breed-specific hereditary exclusions. HCM (Maine Coon, Ragdoll), PKD (Persian), diabetes (Burmese) are where cat claims most often get denied.
- If you already hold Medibank / Bupa health insurance, get a quote with your member number — the discount can flip the cheapest-comprehensive ranking.
Head-to-head comparisons
More cat insurance guides
Ranked shortlist with premiums and claim caps.
When cheap is OK and when it isn't.
Lock in lifetime cover before age 2.
Lower-risk cats — is comprehensive still worth it?
What changes at age 9, 11, 14.
What insurers actually exclude — and the workarounds.
Updated 2026-05-13 · Not financial advice — read each insurer's PDS before buying.