Pet insurance: vet bills for dogs and cats

Pet insurance pays a share of your vet bills. Accident-only cover is the basic level; accident and illness adds conditions like infections and cancer; comprehensive adds routine care such as vaccinations and sterilisation. Most insurers accept dogs and cats up to 8 or 9 years old and exclude conditions your pet already has. Updated September 2026.

Get pet insurance quotes

Who it suits

Pet insurance suits owners who would struggle with a sudden R10 000 to R30 000 vet bill for surgery or a long illness. Cover costs least when a pet is young and healthy, and it is not available to most pets after 8 or 9, so it pays to decide early. Breeds prone to hereditary conditions carry higher premiums. If your pet is already being treated for something, say so on the form; that condition will be excluded, but everything else can still be covered.

What the insurer will ask, and why

These are the questions on our form for pet, with what the insurer does with each answer. Nothing here is optional guesswork: every question exists because a licensed insurer needs it to quote.

Type of pet
How many pets to insure?
Age of the oldest pet: Entry age limits (commonly 8–9 years) and age-banded premiums.
Breed (or 'mixed') (optional): Breed loadings for hereditary conditions.
Is your pet sterilised? (optional)
Any existing illness or ongoing treatment? (optional): Pre-existing conditions are excluded; sets expectations.
Cover level
Monthly budget per pet
Your date of birth: Age is the primary rating factor across every product.
Which province do you live in?: Regional risk and pricing tables.
Town or suburb (optional): Postal-code rating for short-term products; language and dialect hints for call centres.
What best describes your work situation?: Affordability and, for income products, insurability.
Do you have a bank account you can pay from by debit order?: Collection method.

Questions people ask

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

No. Anything diagnosed or treated before the policy starts is excluded across the market, which is the main reason to insure young.

Is there a waiting period?

Usually a short one for illness, often 30 days, and none for accidents. The insurer will confirm theirs.

Do I choose my own vet?

In most cases yes. You pay the vet, send the invoice, and the insurer reimburses you according to the plan.

Olvian is a marketing and lead-referral service. We are not a licensed financial services provider, we do not give advice, and we do not sell insurance.