Pre-existing conditions on AU cat insurance — what's actually excluded

By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we'd use with our own cats.

Every AU pet insurance policy excludes pre-existing conditions. The detail matters — definitions vary slightly between insurers, the workarounds are real but limited, and 'pre-existing' includes conditions you may not have known about. Here's the practical 2026 picture.

Key takeaway

Enrol before the cat's first vet visit if possible. After year 1, any pre-existing exclusions are baked in. Bilateral conditions (one knee, then the other) and temporary conditions can sometimes be reinstated after 18+ symptom-free months on Hollard-underwritten policies.

Knose (PetSure underwrite)

Standard PetSure pre-existing wording

From $32/mo

Pre-existing = any condition with symptoms/signs/diagnosis before policy start + waiting period. PetSure does not generally reinstate. Bilateral conditions excluded once one side is diagnosed.

Best for: Cats with clean vet history at first enrolment.

Check on Knose Pet InsurancePartnerize

Pet Insurance Australia (Hollard underwrite)

Possible reinstatement after 18 months symptom-free

From $34/mo

Hollard-underwritten policies offer case-by-case reinstatement after 18 months symptom-free (request in writing). Useful for one-off conditions (e.g. one-time UTI, transient diarrhoea).

Best for: Cats with a single temporary condition history.

Check on Pet Insurance AustraliaCommission Factory

Bow Wow Meow (Hollard underwrite)

Same reinstatement path as PIA

From $38/mo

Same Hollard wording. Stronger hereditary cover means breed-specific conditions are more likely to be covered if not yet diagnosed.

Best for: Pedigree cats with hereditary risk + clean history at enrolment.

Check on Bow Wow Meow Pet InsuranceEditorial (not affiliated)

Petplan Covered for Life

Most permissive on chronic condition continuation

From $44/mo

Lifetime cover means chronic conditions diagnosed under the policy stay covered each year. Pre-existing exclusions still apply at first enrolment.

Best for: Cats with one diagnosed chronic condition but otherwise healthy.

Check on Petplan AustraliaDirect / CF (pending)

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a pre-existing condition for cat insurance in Australia?

Any condition where symptoms, signs, or diagnosis occurred before the policy started (and any applicable waiting period passed). Includes 'noted but not diagnosed' items — e.g. 'mild heart murmur, monitor' on a kitten check can exclude all cardiac conditions later.

Can pre-existing exclusions be removed?

Sometimes, on Hollard-underwritten policies (PIA, Bow Wow Meow, Petplan, Petsy, Budget Direct), after 18 months symptom-free, by written request. PetSure-underwritten policies (Knose, RSPCA, Woolworths, Medibank, ahm, Bupa) rarely reinstate. Confirm in writing before relying on this.

If my cat has had a UTI, is FLUTD pre-existing forever?

FLUTD itself yes — and the entire 'urinary tract' becomes a category exclusion on most policies. Bilateral organs (kidneys, eyes, ears) follow the same pattern — one diagnosed, the system excluded. Enrolling early is the only real workaround.

Do all insurers define pre-existing the same way?

Wording differs in small but important ways. PetSure: 'condition with signs or symptoms before policy start.' Hollard: similar but with case-by-case reinstatement after 18 months. Petplan: stricter on initial assessment but more generous on chronic continuation. Read the PDS — small wording differences swing six-figure claim outcomes.