Petplan is positioned for ongoing conditions; Animal Friends is positioned for budget lifetime cover. Neither is cheaper in every case — the deciding factors are your cat's breed risk, whether you want routine care included, and the payout cap. Run both quotes on the same reimbursement percentage and deductible before comparing prices.
Independent · not an insurer| Petplan | Animal Friends | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ongoing conditions | Budget lifetime cover |
| In their words | The UK's biggest pet insurer; Covered For Life plans renew cover for ongoing conditions every year. | Lower-cost lifetime and time-limited plans; donates profits to animal charities. |
| Stands out for | accident & illness cover | lifetime cover, budget-friendly, charity-backed |
| Market | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Positioning is taken from each company's own public description. We do not hold either insurer's rate cards, so this page compares cover and fit, not quoted premiums.
Whichever you pick, this is the shape of a serious claim year in United Kingdom.
| Big claim | Worst-case bill | You pay at 80% | You pay at 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Body Surgery | £2,900 | £810 | £550 |
| Cancer Treatment | £5,800 | £1,390 | £840 |
| Dental Extractions | £695 | £370 | £330 |
Assumes a £290 annual deductible, one claim year, GBP. Every insurer prices and excludes differently — check the policy wording.
1. What can you absorb in cash? If a £2,380 bill would go on a credit card, the payout cap matters more than the monthly saving.
2. What is your breed prone to? Breed-specific conditions drive most claims. Our breed pages list the ones to expect.
3. How old is your cat today? Both insurers exclude pre-existing conditions, so the value of any policy peaks the week you bring the cat home.
The UK's biggest pet insurer; Covered For Life plans renew cover for ongoing conditions every year.
Get a quote →Lower-cost lifetime and time-limited plans; donates profits to animal charities.
Get a quote →Petplan suits owners who want ongoing conditions. Animal Friends suits owners who want budget lifetime cover. For a high-risk breed the payout cap matters more than the monthly price.
Neither publishes a fixed price. Premiums in United Kingdom move with breed, age, postcode and the reimbursement level you pick, so the only fair comparison is two quotes taken on the same day with the same settings.
The worst urinary blockage (male cat) bill we model is £2,380. At 80% reimbursement after a £290 deductible you would still be out roughly £710.
No. Every mainstream pet insurer in every market we track excludes conditions that showed symptoms before the policy started or during the waiting period. This is the single biggest reason to insure early.
You can, but anything treated under the first policy usually becomes pre-existing under the new one. Switching is cheap for a healthy young pet and expensive for an older one.
Some insurer links are referral links, which never change your price. We are not paid to rank one insurer above another, and we do not have access to either company's internal pricing.