How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in 2025?

MetLife Pet insurance starts at $16 per month for dogs and $7 per month for cats.¹ What you might expect to pay for a premium depends on things like the type of plan you choose and your specific pet. 

Learn more about what affects the cost of pet insurance and how to get the right plan for your needs and budget. 

How Much Is Pet Insurance on Average?

Across the U.S., the average monthly cost of pet insurance in 2025 is $60 for a dog and $32 for a cat.² Your exact cost depends on factors like the provider and type of coverage you choose, your zip code, and your pet’s age, health, and breed.

When budgeting for pet insurance, remember that an average cost will only help you so much. The coverage you need will likely be as unique as your pet, so your premium will reflect that. But the right policy can help ensure your furry family receives necessary medical care to get and stay healthy.

How much is pet insurance for a dog?

Dog insurance typically costs more than cat insurance, and the national average in 2025 comes in at around $60 per month. Here’s a look at some of the average monthly premiums for dog insurance based on breed.²

How much is pet insurance for a cat?

Cat insurance generally costs less than dog insurance, with the national 2025 average being $32 per month. Here’s a look at some of the average monthly premiums for cat insurance based on breed.²

Types of pet insurance and how they affect cost

There are a few different kinds of pet insurance plans you can purchase, depending on what providers offer. Let’s take a look at how these choices impact costs.²

• Accident and illness: This is the most coverage you can get for your pet. It’s usually also the most expensive.
• Accident-only: If you don’t want coverage for illnesses, you can get a plan that only covers accidents and injuries. This typically costs less than comprehensive coverage.
• Wellness: Some pet insurance providers offer wellness or preventive coverage. It may be included with a standard plan or presented as an add-on for an additional cost.

MetLife Pet offers a customizable accident and illness policy and optional Preventive Care coverage. Check out our pet insurance plans to find the right level of coverage for your furry family.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Pet Insurance

In addition to the provider and type of insurance plan you choose, there are specific factors related to your pet that impact pet insurance costs.

Species

The dogs versus cats debate may never be settled. But when it comes to pet insurance, the numbers are clear: Dog insurance is, on average, more expensive than cat insurance.²

Breed

At MetLife Pet, all pets are created equal — there are no breed restrictions when it comes to coverage. However, some cat and dog breeds may come with higher premiums because they’re considered a higher health risk.

How so? Due to genetic makeup, body build (like flat snouts or long backs), and size, certain breeds may be more prone to developing health conditions, experiencing injuries, or having a shorter lifespan.³

There’s a general belief that mixed-breed pets are considered “healthier” than purebred pets due to their diverse genetic makeup. Recent studies have shown that’s not always the case because genetics aren’t the sole determining factor when it comes to developing health issues.⁴ Still, you may find that mixed-breed pets can be less expensive to insure than purebreds.³

Age

Our pets are like us — the older they get, the more likely they are to encounter health issues. Luckily, there are no upper-age restrictions to enroll in a MetLife Pet Insurance policy.⁵

Keep in mind that getting dog or cat insurance for an older pet means your premium will likely be higher than it would be for puppy insurance or kitten insurance when they’re younger. This also means your premium may increase year to year as your pet ages.

Health

If your pet currently has a health condition, it will likely be considered a pre-existing condition when you enroll them. Even though pre-existing conditions aren’t typically covered by pet insurance, they can impact the cost of your policy.

Additionally, if there’s a greater chance of injury and illness in your pet’s future due to their current lifestyle, your premium could be higher.

For example, if your dog herds sheep, they might be more likely to develop joint problems or cruciate ligament tears. Or if you have a barn cat, they may be more likely to get parasites or injure themself wandering around sharp objects.

Location

Where you and your pet live can also influence the cost of pet insurance. Vets in metropolitan areas, like New York City, may charge more for services than veterinarians in rural Kentucky. Vets may also charge differently depending on certain considerations like state taxes and the demand for veterinary services. Your premium will adjust accordingly to offset this.

Environmental factors are also considered when determining risk. For example, a suburban house cat may not encounter as many hazards as an outdoor cat.

Policy customizations

On top of your pet’s specific information, the level of coverage you choose determines your pet insurance rate. Here’s how some of these policy options impact prices.

• Reimbursement rate: This is the amount of money, as a percentage, your provider will pay out for covered medical expenses according to your policy. A higher reimbursement rate usually means a higher premium.
• Deductible: This is the amount of money you need to pay toward covered vet expenses before you’re eligible for claims reimbursement according to your policy. A lower deductible typically translates to a higher premium.
• Annual limit: This is the maximum amount of money your insurance provider will reimburse you for all covered claims in a policy period. A higher annual limit usually means a higher premium.
• Optional plans or riders: Some providers offer all kinds of add-on coverage, like preventive care, breeder care, vet visit fees, and more. Generally, these also increase your premium.

Explore your options thoroughly so you know how pet insurance works and what’s covered before you purchase a policy.

How To Get Lower Pet Insurance Rates

Now that you know which factors influence pet insurance costs, you can assess different policy options based on your personal budget. As pet parents ourselves, we’re all about saving money where we can. Here are a few things you could do to potentially lower your pet insurance price.

Look for discounts

Depending on your profession or how you enroll, you may be able to take advantage of discounts⁶ that can help you save on your premium.

MetLife Pet offers premium discounts for first responders, healthcare workers, animal care staff, and members of the armed forces.^7,8 You can also get a discount if you enroll online or enroll in our pet insurance through your employer.^9,10 Plus, we have a healthy pet discount where you can save money on your deductible.¹¹

Customize your plan

Decide on the level of coverage that makes sense for your pet’s needs and your budget by getting quotes for different reimbursement rates, deductibles, annual limits, and optional plans.

You can choose from reimbursement rates up to 90%, plus plenty of annual limits and deductibles with MetLife Pet’s plans.^12,13,14 Need help looking at all of your options? Give us a call at (855) 270-7387.

Enroll at certain times

While purchasing a plan can be a great decision at any time, if you want to take advantage of lower premiums, a good time to enroll in pet insurance is when your pet is younger or when they’re generally still healthy.

Whatever premium you’re offered, it’s important to make sure pet insurance fits in your monthly budget, so it doesn’t upset your overall financial plan.

Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?

Ultimately, pet insurance might be worth it because you can be reimbursed for covered vet bills so your finances don’t have to absorb the entire cost.¹² This can be especially helpful when these bills are high.

An emergency vet visit for a cat could cost up to $3,000 or more, with the cost of emergency care for dogs being even higher — up to $5,000 or more.¹⁵ If you’re paying the 2025 average pet insurance monthly premium for your cat ($32) or dog ($60), your policy may pay for itself after just one emergency vet bill.²

Pet insurance can also help support your pet’s health by giving you the opportunity to get them different treatment options — ones that may not be financially accessible without pet insurance.

Save on Vet Bills With MetLife Pet Insurance

Finding the right pet insurance that works with your budget and provides the coverage your pet needs might take some time. But it can make all the difference when paying vet bills.

MetLife Pet offers flexible, cost-effective plans starting at $7 per month for cats and $16 per month for dogs.¹ You can even get optional Preventive Care to help save on routine expenses, or enroll multiple pets on a single policy with a shared deductible thanks to our unique family plan.¹⁹

Get started on your pet insurance journey today with a free, personalized quote.