Cat insurance
Every cat knows they're a VIP (Very Important Pet), so they need pet insurance to match that's 5-star Defaqto rated and has dental cover as standard.
Pet insurance provided by Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Defaqto 5* expert rated, applies to cover over £4000, Time Limited and Rabbit cover excluded.
Why choose our cat insurance?
We take the stress out of keeping tabs on your tabby with our selection of cover for cats. Our range of policies offer different benefits and perks, giving you the flexibility to choose cat insurance cover that’s right for you. Here are some of the reasons to choose Sainsbury’s Bank:
- Flexible insurance that meets your cat’s needs
Choose from lifetime, time limited or maximum cover and get vet fee cover up to £10,000 - Vet Assistance, day or night
24/7 access to qualified UK-based vet nurses over the phone or via live chat who’ll answer your pet health questions - Multi-pet cover – insure more, spend less
Get a discount of £1 per pet per month when you buy our multi-pet insurance † - Extra discounts for Nectar members
As a Nectar member, you get an extra discount on your pet insurance * - Manage your policy online
Get claims information and make changes to your policy on My Pet Portal
What your cat's covered for
| Benefit | Time limited Covers each condition for up to 12 months or up to max amount below |
Maximum benefit Covers up to the max amount per condition |
Lifetime Covers up to max amount each year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment period | 12 months | unlimited | unlimited |
| Treatment basis | per condition | per condition | per year |
| Veterinary fees |  |
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| Veterinary helpline | |
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| Additional benefits | |
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| Holiday cover | |
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| Benefit | Time limited £3,000 | Maximum benefit £6,000 | Lifetime £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Cover | up to £3,000 | up to £6,000 | up to £10,000 |
| Complementary Treatment | up to £500 | up to £1,500 | up to £1,500 |
| Physiotherapy | up to £500 | up to £1,500 | up to £1,500 |
| Behavioural illnesses (excludes the cost of any damage to your home) |
up to £3,000 | up to £6,000 | up to £10,000 |
| Overseas veterinary treatment | up to £3,000 | up to £6,000 | up to £10,000 |
With our lifetime pet insurance, you get access to £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000 towards vet costs each year – depending on the level of cover you choose. We've used Lifetime £10,000 cover as an example in the table above.
Our maximum benefit cover can provide you with £3,000 or £6,000 towards vet costs per condition depending on the level of cover you choose. We've used £6,000 maximum benefit cover as an example in the table above.
With our time limited cover, you'll get access to a maximum of £3,000 towards vet costs up to 12 months.
| Benefit | Time limited £3,000 | Maximum benefit £6,000 | Lifetime £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death from accident/injury | £1,000 | £1,500 | up to £2,000 |
| Death from illness | £1,000 | up to £1,500 | up to £2,000 |
| Cremation | £200 | £200 | £200 |
| Advertising & reward | £1,000 | £1,500 | up to £2,000 |
| Theft or straying | £1,000 | £1,500 | up to £2,000 |
| Emergency boarding cattery fees (if you're ill/injured for over 48hrs) | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Benefit | Time limited £3,000 | Maximum benefit £6,000 | Lifetime £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday cancellation | £1,000 | £1,500 | £3,000 |
| Quarantine costs | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Loss of healthcare cert | £250 | £250 | £250 |
| Emergency expenses abroad | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
Please note that we won't cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply. You can find out more about the terms of our cover in our policy documents.
What cover’s right for your cat?
When you’re ready to insure your cat, you have a choice of three types of pet insurance: time limited, maximum benefit or lifetime cover. The right cover for you depends on you and your cat’s circumstances.
Lifetime
Our most comprehensive pet insurance for cats. Your cat will be covered for total vet costs of up to £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000 per year. It depends on the level of cover you choose.
We’ll pay out for ongoing issues your cat may have throughout its lifetime – for as long as you’re with us.
Maximum benefit
Your cat will be covered for accidents, illnesses and conditions up to your chosen policy cover limit – £3,000 or £6,000.
There’s no time limit on reaching the maximum benefit. Just renew your policy each year without a break in cover. Your cat’s illness, injury or condition could be covered year after year until you reach your limit.
Time limited
You can make claims for different treatments during the year, up to £3,000.
We'll pay up to the individual limit for each condition or for up to 12 months from start of treatment – whichever comes first.
After this, you'll need to pay for any ongoing treatment your cat needs yourself.
It's more suitable for short-term health conditions.
Need more information?
Any more questions about Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQ and support page 
for more.
Why buy cat insurance?
Cats are curious creatures, and despite their quick reflexes, they can be prone to accidents and illnesses. When this happens, we know that caring for your furry family member can be expensive.
That’s why with Sainsbury’s Bank Cat Insurance, you might not have to foot the full bill, should the worst happen. We can cover your cat in the event of:
- Accidents
- Illnesses
- Thefts
- Straying
Vet treatment alone can cost hundreds of pounds, which can put some pet owners in a financial bind. Having a pet plan in place for your cat ensures you’re there for your pet when it matters most.
With our policies, you can:
- Cover the cost of a wide range of benefits, from complimentary treatments to physio.
- Get multi-pet discounts if you have more than one pet.
- Choose from three different types of cover, to get the right insurance plan for you and your cat.
What does cat insurance cover?
Cat insurance allows you to be prepared for many eventualities. Depending on what type of cover you choose, cat insurance can include the following:
- Vet fees up to £10,000, depending on your cover
Should your cat become ill, injured or need dental care, your insurance can cover some of the costs.
- Death by accident or illness
If your furry friend dies, your insurance can reimburse you for the cost that you paid for them. However, most insurance policies have an age limit.
- Missing pet cover
Should your cat go missing, we can help take care of the cost of setting up posters and paying a reward.
- Cattery fees
We can cover the cost of a cattery if you’re hospitalised and unable to care for them.
- Euthanasia, cremation and burial
In some instances, your policy can cover the costs of your cat being put to sleep, cremated or buried.
What isn’t covered by cat insurance?
As with any insurance policy, there are some exclusions from cat insurance plans. These include:
- Pre-existing illness or injury
This involves any medical condition that existed prior to you taking out your cat insurance policy. These fall into two categories: chronic conditions and historic conditions (from the past) and chronic conditions (persisting for a long time or constantly recurring).
- Waiting period
Any illnesses that begin within the first 10-14 days of your insurance policy will not be covered.
- Pregnancy and giving birth
Some cat insurance policies may exclude expenses relating to pregnancy, giving birth and treatment of any offspring.
What to consider when buying cat insurance
Some cats require more care than others. When looking for a cat insurance quote, you’ll need to consider a range of important factors that will determine which quote you can get. These include:
• Your cat’s age
• The breed or size of your cat
• The health of your cat (and whether it has been neutered)
• How much you paid for your cat (if you didn’t adopt it)
• Your cat’s behavioural history
• Your cat’s medical history
Once you’ve considered this information and provided it to us, we can help you find the right pet insurance policy for you and your friendly feline.
It’s also worth considering the financial benefits of cat pet insurance too. Future vet bills are something to consider at any time as a cat owner, whether you’ve just bought a new kitten or have owned a cat for a while.
Getting an insurance policy could potentially help you save thousands on future vet bills, by paying monthly premiums.
Ready to protect your cat?
If you want cat insurance that has your cat’s health at heart, you’re in the right place.
Check you’re happy with the terms of our cover in our policy documents – then get started with your quote. When you’re ready, we’re ready.
Got more than one pet?
Be the cat that got the cream – save with our multi-pet policy.†
Need to talk to us?
You should find what you need on our help and support page . But if you’d prefer to talk to us, our friendly UK-based team will be happy to help with any queries you have about our cat insurance.
Cat care guides
What’s the best way to safeguard the health of your cat? Would you know what to do if your new kitten went missing? Get your cat facts straight with our helpful pet guides.
Helpful guides
Browse through our handy list of helpful guides and information
Health and wellbeing
Find out how to keep your cat bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Pet insurance glossary
Get to know your cover
Frequently asked questions
What age can my cat be insured?
You can insure your kitten as soon as they’re eight weeks old. And we’ll start a new policy for your cat right up to its 10th birthday. Don’t worry, once your cat is insured, you can cover it up to any age, as long as you keep renewing your policy without a break.
How much is cat insurance?
Does it cover dental treatment?
Yes, dental cover falls under the vet fees part of our cat insurance policy. We’ll cover your cat’s dental treatment if it’s because of an illness or injury. We’re sorry, but we can’t cover dental crowns, root canals or fillings.
What is Vet Assistance?
It’s a 24/7 vet advice helpline allowing Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance customers to talk to a qualified team of vet nurses. If you’ve any questions or concerns about your cat’s health, don’t hesitate to give the team a call – any time of the day or night.
What does pet insurance cover for cats?
As well as dental treatments, our policies cover complementary treatments, physiotherapy, behavioural illnesses and herbal or homeopathic medicine. If your cat has any pre-existing conditions you can still take out pet insurance with us, but we won't be able to cover these existing illnesses.
Is it worth insuring an indoor cat?
While indoor cats are less prone to accidents outdoors the decision is up to you. Indoor cat insurance can still cover treatments for at-home injuries, as well as costly treatment of cat illnesses. It also promotes any routine care that your cat needs during its lifetime.
Can I get cat life insurance?
No, you cannot get cat life insurance, but cat lifetime insurance is the most comprehensive insurance cover we can provide for your furry companion. By renewing your policy, your insurance can pay out for every new condition each year and will last their whole life.
Terms and conditions
* The discount is based on information related to you and the Sainsbury’s and Sainsbury’s Bank transactions linked to your Nectar account. For more information on how we use your data, go to sainsburysbank.co.uk/privacy
** Based on website data between April 2024 and June 2024.
† Multi-pet discount is a minimum of £24 when insuring more than one pet as this is worked out at £1 per pet per month for each pet on a policy. Pets can have different cover levels. Discount deducted separately from any other offer.
Important information
Sainsbury's Bank plc, Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no. 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd is an appointed representative of Sainsbury's Bank plc.
Sainsbury's Bank plc acts as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance plc who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered Office: Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2XX. Sainsbury’s Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.