100+ Pet Insurance Statistics

The national average for a routine pet visit is between $25-$186, but unexpected accidents and illnesses can quickly amount to several hundred if not thousands of dollars in pet care after considering things like x-rays and medication.

A cat getting stuck and injured might require an x-ray to make sure they don’t have any broken bones and then pain medication for the next several days amounting to $400.

A dog ingesting something he shouldn’t might require an emergency visit with minor surgery and medication amounting to a few thousand dollars.

Pet insurance however, can offer a way to avoid the financial risk of these unexpected accidents and illnesses. This page will provide key statistics around pet insurance like pet insurance statistics based on breed, premiums, and owner demographics.

Pet Insurance By Breed

The breed you have for your pet will determine the cost of pet insurance. Large dog breeds, for example, are much more expensive compared to small dogs. The size of the breed directly influences the amount of medicine needed for each treatment or the length of time for certain surgical procedures.

Likewise, the breed will influence the risk. Purebred dogs, for example, come with a much higher risk as they get older for several conditions like cancer, diabetes, and hip dysplasia. As such insurance premiums will rise to compensate for this risk.

The most expensive dog for pet insurance is the American Bandogge Mastiff. However, pet insurance for Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds is much more expensive than Shih Tzus or Chihuahuas. On average the insurance plan for a French Bulldog is $63 more each month over the plan for a Chihuahua with all other factors being equal.

As for cats, there are certain breeds that are more expensive like the Maine Coon, Abyssinians, or British shorthairs. a Maine Coon costs an average of $10 more per month over a domestic shorthair cat with all other factors in the pet insurance plan being equal.

Below is a table comparing the average premiums for different cat breeds:

Below is a table comparing the average premiums for different dog breeds:

Pet Insurance Owner Demographics

The APPA National Pet Owners Survey indicates that 66% of houses throughout the US have a pet. In total this equates to 86.9 million homes. The most common pets include dogs and cats, followed by fish, birds, reptiles, small mammals, and horses. So which pets are most often owned/insured?

• 5 million: 46.5 million pets in the US are cats.
• 1 million: 65.1 million pets in the US are dogs.
• 1 million: 6.1 million pets in the US are birds
• 3 million: 13.3 million pets in the US are fish.

Pet ownership is almost evenly divided among Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, with very few of those in the Silent Generation owning pets. Millennials own the highest proportion of pets today.

• 2%: 2% of pets are owned by the Silent Generation.
• 24%: 24% of pets are owned by Baby Boomers.
• 25%: 25% of pets are owned by Gen X.
• 33%: 33% of pets are owned by Millennials.
• 16%: 16% of pets are owned by Gen Z.

No matter the animal or owner, the number of pets who have pet insurance has risen steadily.

• 6%: 78.6% of insured pets are dogs.
• 4%: 21.4% of insured pets are cats.

The table below shows the percentage increase year over year of pet insurance coverage as it has grown since 2020 for dogs and cats:

Dogs represent a significantly larger percentage of insured pets across the U.S. However, growth rates have risen for dogs, cats, and other less common pets.

• 419 million: 419 million cats were insured in 2019.
• 2.097 million: 2.097 million dogs were insured in 2019.
• 531 million: 531 million cats were insured in 2020.
• 57 million: 2.57 million dogs were insured in 2020.
• 727 million: 727 million cats were insured in 2021.
• 251 million: 251 million dogs were insured in 2021.
• 964 million: 964 million cats were insured in 2022.
• 885 million: 885 million dogs were insured in 2022.
• 217 million: 217 million cats were insured in 2023.
• 459 million: 456 million dogs were insured in 2023.

Pet Insurance Premiums

These are the two most common forms of pet insurance across the U.S. are Accident and Illness or Accident Only.

Accident and Illness coverage is pet insurance that applies to accidents as well as illness such as digestive issues, infections, or cancer.

Accident Only coverage applies to accidents such as poisoning, lacerations, ingesting something, a torn ligament, or a motor vehicle accident.

According to the (NAPHIA) 2023 State of the Industry Report 92.8% of those with pet insurance opted for Accident and Illness plans over basic accident coverage. In fact, Accident Only plans were the least popular in 2023, representing only .2% of those purchased.

The premiums for Accident Only are, on average, one third the cost of Accident and Illness. The cost is also influenced by whether you pay your premiums on a monthly basis or an annual basis. Typical insurance plans give a 10% discount on average for those who pay annually rather than monthly.

The table below shows the average 2023 premiums for pet insurance for a dog versus a cat, with annual versus monthly premiums:

Pet insurance premiums have increased steadily over the last 5 years as prices for veterinary care, especially emergency care have increased. Mitigating risk with pet insurance plans has led to steady growth and a higher number of pet owners purchasing plans than ever before.

The table below provides the average pet insurance premiums both monthly and annually for different pets with a $5,000 annual coverage, $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement:

Several factors influence pet insurance premiums including:

• Age of pet
• Breed
• Whether you pay monthly or annually
• Reimbursement percentage
• Deductible amount
• Coverage amount

For example, older pets and new kittens or puppies are going to have higher pet insurance premiums because they require additional care. Purebred dogs especially are at high risks of unique health conditions which means they cost more too.

Paying on an annual basis can slightly reduce your pet insurance premiums over monthly but so can adjusting the reimbursement percentage versus the deductible and the total coverage for which you pay.

If you have a mixed breed dog, 6 years of age, with a $500 deductible and a $5,000 payout the monthly premiums would be as follows based on reimbursement:

• $81.32: Monthly premiums based on 70% reimbursement would be $81.32.
• $89.97: Monthly premiums based on 80% reimbursement would be $89.97.
• $111.58: Monthly premiums based on 90% reimbursement would be $11.58.

If you have a 7 month old puppy with a $500 deductible and a $5,000 payout the monthly premiums would be as follows based on reimbursement:

• $39.89: Monthly premiums based on 70% reimbursement would be $39.89.
• $42.82: Monthly premiums based on 80% reimbursement would be $42.82.
• $52.65: Monthly premiums based on 90% reimbursement would be $52.65.

If you have a mixed breed cat, 6 years of age, with a $500 deductible and a $5,000 payout the monthly premiums would be as follows based on reimbursement:

• $39.29: Monthly premiums based on 70% reimbursement would be $39.29.
• $43.26: Monthly premiums based on 80% reimbursement would be $43.26.
• $53.20: Monthly premiums based on 90% reimbursement would be $53.20.

If you have a 7 month old kitten with a $500 deductible and a $5,000 payout the monthly premiums would be as follows based on reimbursement:

• $21.61: Monthly premiums based on 70% reimbursement would be $21.61.
• $23.62: Monthly premiums based on 80% reimbursement would be $23.62.
• $28.65: Monthly premiums based on 90% reimbursement would be $28.65.

Let’s look more closely at age-related vet insurance premiums. The two tables below look at the average monthly premiums based on the first 10 years of a dog or cat’s life.

Below is a table listing the average monthly pet insurance premium for a Border Collie, with a  plan that has maximum annual coverage of $5,000, a $500 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement.

Below is a table listing the average monthly pet insurance premium for a domestic longhair, with a  plan that has maximum annual coverage of $5,000, a $500 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement.

Vet Costs

Thanks to inflation and increased labor rates for employees, vet costs have risen each year, and with it, the cost of care. There are very few differences in terms of vet costs for age however, older animals are more likely to have several health conditions which necessitate an increased number of visits.

The cost of these visits can range from a few hundred dollars for simple x-rays or exams after an accident at home to a few thousand dollars for surgery. With Accident Only or Accident and Illness coverage, many of these costs can be reduced.

Dogs are at a high risk of several conditions as they age especially if they are purebred dogs. but there are also common accidents like ingesting foreign objects or breaking bones that can lead to high vet costs. Cats are at risk for their own set of health conditions in addition to the risk of accidents or age-related illnesses.

• $1000: The average cost of a pet emergency is around $1000 without surgery.
• $600: The average annual cost for dog pet insurance is $600 per year.
• $10,000+: The average vet cost for treating cancer in a dog or a cat is $10,000 or more.
• $2,000- $5,000: The average cost for vet care after ingesting a foreign object for a cat or a dog is between $2,000 and $5,000.
• $200- $1,000: The average vet cost for a heart murmur in a dog is between $200 and $1,000.
• $135: The average cost to deal with arthritis in a dog is $135 per month.
• $600- $2,000: The average cost for vet care if your dog breaks a bone is between $600 and $2,000.
• $2,500-$4,000: Vet care for a dog with an eye condition can cost between $2,500-$4,000.
• $274: Each time you have to visit your vet for a bladder infection in your dog, it costs an average of $274.
• $2,500-$4,000: Treatment for dental disease for a dog costs an average of $2,500-$4,000.
• $200: If your dog has diabetes it can cost $200 on average per month to manage.
• $800-$6,000: Purebred dogs like Labrador Retrievers are at a high risk of things like hip dysplasia as they get older and this can cost an average of $800-$6,000 in vet fees.
• $150-$2,000: For feline immunodeficiency virus, the vet costs can average $150-$2,000.
• $650-$750: For feline leukemia virus, expect vet costs between $650-$750.
• $1,000-$5,000: In cats, diabetes treatment amounts to an average of $1,000-$5,000.
• $90: Heartworm treatment for feline friends can cost $90 per year.
• $1,500-$3,000: High Rise Syndrome in cats amounts to an average vet cost of $1,500-$3,000.
• $100-$500: As cats get older they are more likely to have kidney failure which costs $100-$500 per month.
• $216: For upper respiratory infections, vet costs average $216 each time.
• $458: If your cat has a skin condition or ulcer, it can cost an average of $458 per vet visit.

Most Common Pet Injuries & Illnesses

Common pet injuries and illnesses can result in a minimum of a few hundred dollars or upwards of a few thousand dollars in unexpected costs. Those who have purebred animals are more likely to incur these costs especially as the animals get older.

• $1,000: A UTI is the most common pet illness for cats, and treatment can cost an average of $1,000.
• 8%: According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, 19.8% of German shepherds end up diagnosed with hip dysplasia.
• 24: There are 24 dog breeds with a genetic risk of brachycephalic syndrome.
• 3-4x: Brachycephalic dogs suffer from corneal ulcers 3 to 4 times more than other breeds.
• 50 million: According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention 50 million dogs are overweight or obese.
• 34%: According to Kansas State University 34% of dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites.
• 20%: 20% of dogs have ear diseases according to the Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego.
• 4%: 4% of cats have feline immunodeficiency virus according to Cornell University.
• 3%: 3% of cats have feline leukemia virus.
• 56 million: 56 million cats are overweight.

Gastrointestinal issues are the second most common medical condition shared among dogs and cats. They are also both equally likely to struggle with vomiting, diarrhea, skin conditions, or urinary tract infections which can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars for treatment.

Below is a table with the top ten most common pet injuries and illnesses for dogs:

Below is a table with the top ten most common pet injuries and illnesses for cats:

Pet Ownership Costs

According to the Center for Insurance Policy and Research, costs on pets have steadily risen since 2018, with pet owners spending more on veterinary care, insurance, and other services.

The majority of costs by pet owners also include routine visits to the vet, surgical or emergency visits, and food.

Below is a table showcasing the most common pet expenses over the last 12 months for cats versus dogs:

Rising prices for pet food as well as medicine and labor for veterinary services has contributed to higher pet ownership costs as well as pet insurance premiums.

The table below shows the expenses for pets across the U.S. market in 2023 and projections for 2024:

With regard to routine that visits, the table below breaks down the average pet ownership costs for dogs and cats based on common medical needs: