Cat insurance Netherlands 2026
From €6.91/month with no age limit. The complete expat guide to insuring a cat in the Netherlands.
Cat insurance in the Netherlands is fully voluntary, but a single emergency surgery can cost €1,500-€3,000 at Dutch vets. Roughly half of Dutch cat owners take out insurance, while the other half save €30-€50/month into an emergency fund instead. This guide explains exactly what is covered, the differences between Figopet, PetSecur, InShared, and OHRA, and what to do for indoor cats, kittens, senior cats, and imported cats.
If you are still setting up your Dutch life, see our moving to the Netherlands guide and getting a pet in the Netherlands. For a head-to-head of the two most-asked-about cat insurers, see our Figopet vs PetSecur comparison. For dogs specifically, see our dog insurance guide.
Quick answer for impatient readers: if your cat is under 7, PetSecur with code AFF235 gives you worldwide coverage and flexible deductibles. If your cat is 7 or older, or you want the lowest possible price, Figopet at €6.91/month is the only realistic option (no age limit anywhere in the Dutch market). Both are explained in detail below.
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Table of contents
Top affiliate picks for cat insurance in the Netherlands:
Figopet
From €6.91/mo. The only mainstream Dutch insurer with no upper age limit. First month free until 31 July 2026.
PetSecur
From €10.88/mo entry tier. Worldwide vet cover included, €12,500/year max on Extra tier, flexible deductibles from €0.
Affiliate links. No extra cost to you. Keeps our expat guides free.
Is cat insurance worth it in the Netherlands?
The honest answer depends on your cash buffer. The maths is simple. A basic Dutch cat policy runs €7-€15/month (€84-€180/year). A comprehensive tier costs €18-€25/month (€216-€300/year). A standard vet consultation costs €50-€75, a typical surgery €400-€2,000, and a single emergency such as a urinary blockage or orthopaedic injury easily reaches €1,500-€3,000. See our detailed vet costs in the Netherlands guide for the full pricing breakdown.
Break-even arrives the moment one major incident exceeds your annual premiums plus deductible. With insurance, a €2,500 surgery on an 80% policy with a €100 deductible costs you €600 instead of €2,500. Without insurance, you pay the full bill. The question is not whether vet bills will come (they will), but whether you would rather pay €15/month forever as a fixed cost, or face an unpredictable €2,000+ bill once or twice across your cat's life.
Self-insure if: You have €3,000-€5,000 in savings you can earmark for vet emergencies, and your cat is young and healthy. Save €30-€50/month into a dedicated account and you have built your own insurance fund within 5 years.
Get insurance if: A surprise €2,000 bill would force you into debt or to make a vet decision you would regret. This applies to most expats in their first 1-2 years in the Netherlands while still building local savings.
One useful rule from Dutch pet forums: if you cannot answer "yes" to "could I cover a €3,000 vet bill tomorrow without changing my plans", get insurance. Once your buffer crosses €5,000 you can revisit the question.
What cat insurance covers (and does not)
All Dutch cat policies share a core: illness, injury, surgery, hospitalisation, diagnostic tests, prescription medication, and emergency care. The differences are in the extras, the geographic scope, and the annual limits. Here is what is and is not covered as standard.
Always covered (base policy)
- Illness, infections, chronic disease (after waiting period)
- Accidents, injuries, fractures (often from day one)
- Surgery and anaesthesia for medical reasons
- Hospitalisation, intensive care, post-surgical recovery
- Diagnostic imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI)
- Prescription medication during treatment
Usually excluded or capped (read the schedule)
- Pre-existing conditions (permanently excluded, every insurer)
- Routine vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment (covered only via "preventive care" add-on, usually €75/year cap)
- Sterilisation and castration (standard policies exclude, some 5-year contracts include)
- Routine dental cleaning (always excluded; medical dental capped at €275-€500/year)
- Pregnancy and birth (excluded by all)
- Behavioural therapy (sometimes available as add-on, capped €250-€500/year)
- Travel cover outside NL (often add-on; PetSecur includes worldwide as standard)
Important: "Pre-existing condition" is interpreted broadly by Dutch insurers, especially OHRA. A mild past allergy can be used to deny a later, seemingly unrelated claim. Always declare the full vet history at signup and get a baseline exam done at the start of the policy.
Best cat insurance providers in the Netherlands (2026)
Four providers dominate the Dutch cat insurance market for expats: Figopet, PetSecur, InShared, and OHRA. Reaal's pet insurance was absorbed into OHRA and no longer sells separately. Here is how the four compare on the metrics that matter.
| Feature | Figopet | PetSecur | InShared | OHRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat entry price | €6.91/mo | €10.88/mo | €10-€12/mo | €12+/mo |
| Max age at signup | None | 7 years | 6 years | 6-7 years |
| Annual max payout | €3,000 / €6,000 / unlimited | €3,250 / €5,000 / €12,500 | €3,000 / €4,000 / €6,000 | €2,000 (Basis) |
| Reimbursement % | 50% / 70% / 90% | 50% / 70% / 90% | 80% fixed | 80% fixed |
| Deductible options | Fixed by tier | €0 / €50 / €100 / €150 | Fixed | €30/year fixed |
| Waiting period (illness) | 30 days | 14 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Coverage area | NL + Europe (€1,000/yr) | Worldwide (€1,250/yr) | NL (EU add-on) | NL (EU add-on) |
| Promo / cashback 2026 | First month free (until 31 July 2026) | Code AFF235 = €5 off | None | 10% first year (until 30 July 2026) |
Figopet
from €6.91/mo
- Lowest entry price for cat insurance in the Netherlands
- No upper age limit (only mainstream provider without one)
- Choose 50%, 70% or 90% reimbursement
- First month free promotion through 31 July 2026
- 30-day waiting period (longer than PetSecur)
- Europe travel only, no worldwide
PetSecur
from €10.88/mo
- Worldwide vet coverage included (€1,250/year)
- Flexible deductibles from €0 to €150
- Shorter 14-day waiting period
- Promo code AFF235 = €5 off first premium
- €12,500/year maximum on Extra tier
- Age limit: 7 years at signup
InShared
Achmea-owned, fixed 80% reimbursement, three tiers up to €6,000/year. Cats up to 6 only. Add-ons for behaviour, oncology, dental. Refuses some breeds. Solid mid-market option for healthy young cats.
Visit InSharedOHRA
Part of NN Group. Fixed deductible (€30/yr cats), 80% reimbursement, Basis tier capped at €2,000/year. Has the highest claim-denial complaints on Trustpilot, especially on pre-existing exclusions. Currently offering 10% off first year through 30 July 2026. Read policy carefully before signing.
Indoor vs outdoor cats
Dutch insurers ask whether your cat is indoor-only, indoor-outdoor, or outdoor-only during signup. The answer slightly affects your premium and significantly affects which claims may be challenged later.
Outdoor cats face higher risks: traffic injuries, fights, FIV/FeLV exposure, ingesting toxic substances, parasite exposure. Premiums for outdoor cats are typically a few euros higher per month.
Indoor cats are flagged by insurers for obesity, lower urinary tract disease, dental issues, and behavioural anxiety. Premiums are typically slightly lower, but indoor cats are over-represented in expensive chronic conditions, especially in older age.
Critical: Always declare lifestyle honestly. If your cat is declared as indoor-only but is treated for an injury sustained outdoors, the insurer can deny the claim for misrepresentation, regardless of how the injury actually happened.
Kitten, adult, or senior cat?
Kittens (8 weeks to 1 year)
Insure as early as possible. Kittens become eligible at 7-8 weeks, before any congenital condition has had a chance to be diagnosed. Standard waiting periods apply (14 to 30 days for illness). Most insurers cover the first round of vaccinations only through a preventive care add-on (capped €75/year typically). Sterilisation at 5-6 months is rarely included; PetSecur's 5-year contract includes it, others charge it separately at €100-€250.
Adult cats (1 to 7 years)
All insurers accept adult cats up to 6 (InShared) or 7 (PetSecur, OHRA). Premiums are at their lowest during these years. This is also the easiest window to switch providers, as your cat has fewer documented conditions to be classified as pre-existing.
Senior cats (7+ years)
If your cat is not already insured at age 7, your options narrow to one: Figopet, the only mainstream Dutch insurer without an age cap. Senior cat premiums rise sharply (often doubling by age 12), and pre-existing exclusions become more meaningful as conditions accumulate. Expats adopting an older shelter cat or arriving in the Netherlands with a senior pet almost always choose Figopet for this reason.
Get a Figopet quote for an older catDental coverage: the weakest link
Dental is the most disappointing part of every Dutch cat insurance policy. Routine scaling is universally excluded. Medically necessary dental work (extractions, abscesses, resorptive lesions, fractures) is capped between €275 and €500 per year, often with 50% co-payment plus a separate deductible. A single dental cleaning under anaesthesia in the Netherlands costs €250-€500, so the annual cap is often reached in one visit.
Several insurers exclude dental entirely from the base policy and require a paid dental module. InShared and OHRA structure dental this way. PetSecur offers dental as an add-on. Figopet includes a limited dental allowance in its higher tiers.
For owners of older cats (where Feline Tooth Resorption is common and treatment can run €800-€1,500), the realistic strategy is to assume dental is mostly out-of-pocket, regardless of which insurer you pick. Budget €300-€500/year for dental health if your cat is over 8.
BSN, IBAN, and signup requirements
One of the most common forum questions: do I need a BSN to insure my cat in the Netherlands? The answer is no. Pet insurance is fundamentally different from human health insurance: it does not require a BSN. What you actually need:
- A Dutch residential address (rental contract or proof of address)
- A Dutch IBAN bank account for monthly direct debit
- Email address and phone number for confirmation
- Your cat's date of birth, breed, and health history
If you have just arrived in the Netherlands and do not yet have a Dutch IBAN, see our Dutch banking comparison. Bunq accepts new customers within 10 minutes online without a BSN, which is useful if you need an IBAN immediately for pet insurance signup.
Some expats report being asked for a BSN by Dutch-language phone support staff at OHRA and InShared, but this is not a legal or contractual requirement. Sign up via the online flow to avoid this confusion. Figopet and PetSecur are both fully online and never ask for a BSN during cat insurance signup.
Microchip rules and the 2026 chipplicht
Cat microchipping is currently voluntary in the Netherlands, in contrast to dogs (where chipping has been mandatory since April 2013). The Dutch government has announced a mandatory cat chipping rule (kattenchipplicht) to come into force during 2026. The exact effective date and implementation details have not been finalised in published regulations as of mid-2026. Expect the obligation to apply to new cat owners first, with transition periods for existing cats.
Microchipping at a Dutch vet costs €25-€55, typically done during a routine appointment. After chipping, register the chip on a national registry (Stichting Chip via stichtingchip.nl, or NDG). Without registration, the chip number cannot be linked to you if your cat is found.
A chip is mandatory for EU travel and any insurance "lost pet" add-on. If you plan to travel with your cat or move out of the Netherlands eventually, chip now. From 1 January 2026, owning or breeding naked cats and Scottish Fold cats (fold-eared cats) is also banned in the Netherlands. Existing cats are protected by a transition rule.
How to apply step by step
- 1Gather information. Have your cat's date of birth, breed, current weight, indoor/outdoor status, and a summary of any past vet visits. Confirm your Dutch address and IBAN.
- 2Pick a tier. Decide between Basic (50% reimbursement, lowest cost) and Comfort (90% reimbursement, higher cost but lower exposure on big claims). For most expats, the higher tier is worth €5-€10 extra per month.
- 3Get an online quote. Visit Figopet or PetSecur. Enter your cat's profile. The quote takes 2-3 minutes.
- 4Apply promo code (PetSecur). If you choose PetSecur, enter code AFF235 at checkout for €5 off your first premium.
- 5Honest declaration. Declare every past condition, even minor ones. Hiding history is a fast route to a denied claim later.
- 6Wait out the waiting period. Plan no elective vet visits in the first 14 (PetSecur) to 30 (Figopet) days. The waiting period is non-negotiable.
- 7Submit claims via the app. Both Figopet and PetSecur process claims through their app. Photograph the vet invoice and submit within 30 days. Most claims pay out within 7-14 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is cat insurance actually worth it in the Netherlands?
It depends on your cash buffer. A standard cat policy costs €7-€25/month (€84-€300/year). A single emergency like a blocked urinary tract or orthopaedic surgery typically runs €1,500-€3,000 at Dutch vets, and regular surgeries are €400-€2,000. Insurance pays off the moment one bill exceeds a year of premiums plus your deductible. If you could not absorb a sudden €2,000+ vet bill in cash, insurance makes sense. If you can, many Dutch owners self-insure by saving €30-€50/month into a dedicated emergency account instead.
Do I need a BSN to get cat insurance in the Netherlands?
No. Unlike Dutch health insurance for humans, pet insurance does not require a BSN. You need a Dutch residential address and a Dutch IBAN for direct debit (incasso). Figopet, PetSecur, OHRA, and InShared can onboard new customers with just an address and bank account. This means you can insure your cat in your first week in the country, even before your BSN comes through. Some expats report being asked for a BSN by Dutch-only support channels, but it is not a legal requirement for pet insurance.
Do indoor cats pay less than outdoor cats for insurance?
Slightly. Dutch insurers factor lifestyle into the risk profile. Outdoor cats face higher risk of traffic injuries, fights, and FIV exposure. Indoor cats are flagged for obesity, urinary issues, and dental problems. The premium difference is typically modest (a few euros per month), not dramatic. You must declare lifestyle honestly when applying. If your insurer later determines an outdoor injury occurred to a cat declared as indoor-only, the claim can be denied for misrepresentation.
Is there a maximum age to insure my cat?
Most Dutch insurers cap new signups at age 7 (PetSecur) or 6 (InShared). Figopet is the only mainstream Dutch pet insurer with no upper age limit at signup, which is why it dominates the market for senior cats and for expats arriving in the Netherlands with older animals. Once a cat is insured, all providers continue coverage for life as long as you renew on time, but premiums escalate from around age 10. For a 12-year-old cat with no prior insurance, Figopet is effectively the only option.
Does Dutch cat insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No Dutch insurer covers pre-existing conditions, ever. Any illness, injury, or symptom documented before the policy start date (or during the waiting period) is permanently excluded from coverage. This is the single biggest cause of denied claims, especially with OHRA. If your cat had a mild allergy two years ago and develops kidney disease now, the insurer may argue the kidney issue relates to the prior allergy. Always declare the full history at signup and get a baseline vet exam before activating coverage.
Do I need to microchip and register my cat in the Netherlands?
Cat microchipping is currently voluntary, but the Dutch government announced a mandatory cat chipping rule (chipplicht) to come into force during 2026. The exact effective date has not been finalised in published regulations as of mid-2026. Microchipping costs €25-€55 at a Dutch vet. Registration via Stichting Chip or NDG is voluntary but strongly recommended by the Dierenbescherming. A chip is mandatory if you want an EU pet passport for travel, and some insurance lost-pet add-ons require it.
Is there a cat tax (kattenbelasting) in the Netherlands?
No. Cats are completely exempt from municipal taxation in the Netherlands. The only pet tax is hondenbelasting (dog tax), which applies to dogs in some municipalities. You do not register cats with the gemeente, and you owe no annual tax on a cat. Cats only need a chip (becoming mandatory in 2026) and, for international travel, an EU pet passport with rabies vaccination.
What is covered when I adopt a kitten from Marktplaats or a breeder?
Insurance only covers conditions arising after the policy start date plus the waiting period. A reputable kitten leaves at minimum 8 weeks old, with first vaccinations (cat flu and enteritis, roughly €100 at Dutch vets), dewormed, and ideally chipped. Sterilisation typically happens at 5-6 months and is not covered by standard insurance (some policies include it as an add-on or under a multi-year contract). Any health issue already visible at handover becomes a pre-existing exclusion, so always get a vet check before activating the policy. Shelter cats from Dierenbescherming or De Poezenboot usually arrive already vaccinated, chipped, and sterilised.
Is dental work covered on Dutch cat insurance?
Dental is the weakest part of every Dutch cat policy. Standard plans cap medically necessary dental work at €275-€500 per year, often with 50% co-payment and a separate deductible. Routine cleaning is almost never covered. Resorptive lesions (FORL) and tooth extractions are common in older cats and frequently exceed the annual cap. Several insurers exclude dental entirely from the base policy and require you to buy a dental module. Read the policy schedule for the exact dental sub-limit before assuming you are covered for the next dental visit.
Am I covered if I travel within the EU with my cat?
Not always, and rarely worldwide. EU travel coverage is usually a paid add-on, with caps around €1,000-€1,250 per year for emergency vet care abroad. PetSecur includes worldwide coverage as standard up to €1,250/year. Figopet covers Europe (with conditions) up to €1,000/year. InShared and OHRA typically require an add-on. Your cat must also have a microchip, valid rabies vaccination administered 21+ days before travel, and an EU pet passport. These are EU entry requirements, not insurance terms.
How does the waiting period work on cat insurance?
After policy activation, illness claims are not covered for the first 30 days at most Dutch insurers including Figopet, OHRA, PetSecur (which is 14 days specifically), and InShared. Accident coverage and microchip placement typically apply from day one. If your cat develops symptoms during the waiting period, that condition is treated as pre-existing and permanently excluded. Multiple Trustpilot reviewers report being unaware of this rule, especially for Figopet. Read the policy schedule before any planned vet visit in your first month.
Do I get a discount for insuring multiple cats?
PetSecur offers a 5% multi-pet discount. Figopet also offers a 5% multi-pet discount. OHRA and InShared have inconsistent or unverified multi-pet discount structures as of 2026. For households with two or more cats, the more practical benefit of bundling with one provider is unified claims management rather than the small percentage saved. If one cat has a chronic condition, splitting providers may make sense.
What is a standard deductible and reimbursement percentage for cats?
Dutch cat policies typically offer annual deductible tiers of €0, €50, €100, or €150. Reimbursement runs from 50% (lowest cost tier) up to 90% (highest cost tier), with InShared fixed at 80% with no choice. Annual maximums range from €1,500 on budget tiers to €12,500 on PetSecur Extra. OHRA caps at around €2,000 on the basic tier. Higher deductibles lower your monthly premium but increase your out-of-pocket cost per claim. For most owners a €50-€100 deductible with 80-90% reimbursement is the realistic sweet spot.
How do Figopet, PetSecur, InShared, and OHRA compare for cats?
Figopet is the cheapest entry point at €6.91/month with no age limit, fully online signup, 50% to 90% reimbursement options, and €12,500/year maximum. PetSecur starts higher (around €10.88/month for cats on the basic tier) but includes worldwide coverage, flexible deductibles, and €12,500/year maximum on the Extra tier. InShared starts around €10-€12/month with a fixed 80% reimbursement and lower €3,000-€6,000 annual maximums, refusing cats older than 6. OHRA starts at about €12/month but has the worst claim-denial reputation of the four on Trustpilot, particularly aggressive on pre-existing exclusions.
What can I do if my cat insurance claim is denied?
First, submit a written appeal to the insurer with the original vet notes and the policy schedule. Most insurers give 4-6 weeks to respond. If unresolved, escalate to Kifid (Klachteninstituut Financiële Dienstverlening), the independent Dutch financial services complaints body, within 3 months of the final insurer position. Kifid offers free or low-cost rulings, some of which are binding. If Kifid does not resolve it, civil court remains open. Document everything in writing and keep copies of all vet records.
Official resources
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