Which Cat Insurance Do You Need in Germany? (2026)
The verdict
No Bundesland requires insurance for a cat, unlike for a dog. You are still strictly liable for what your cat damages under section 833 BGB, but that exposure normally sits inside your Privathaftpflicht rather than a separate cat policy. What is left is voluntary cat health cover, from EUR 204.84 a year.
Who is liable for the cat
Section 833 BGB makes an animal keeper liable without fault and does not distinguish by species. That exposure is normally carried by your Privathaftpflicht, which as a rule includes small domestic animals. It is in your policy wording; do not assume it.
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Cat Health Cover
2 policies in the catalogue publish an annual premium, cheapest first. All are quoted on a reference profile; your own premium depends on age and breed.
Sorted by annual premium, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
Sorted by notice period, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
★ Cheapest premium
Lassie
Lassie AB. Underwritten by Wakam; the carrier is named in your policy.
Pros
- Cheapest English cat full-health option
- Monthly cancellation
Cons
- Partner underwriter
Premium(1)
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
- Cover limit
Cover limit
The most the insurer pays for a single claim (Deckungssumme). Everything above it is yours, which is why liability policies carry limits in the millions.
- EUR 6,000
- Excess
Excess
The part of every claim you pay yourself (Selbstbeteiligung). A EUR 150 excess means the first EUR 150 of any claim is yours; premiums fall as the excess rises.
- None
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- 1 month
- Notice period
Notice period
How far ahead of the renewal date you must cancel in writing (Kündigungsfrist). Miss the window and the contract runs another full term.
- Cancellable daily
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Best for owners who want the lowest published premium on this page
Petolo
Petolo GmbH. Underwritten by HanseMerkur; the carrier is named in your policy.
Pros
- Published prices
- Separate OP product
Cons
- German only
Premium(1)
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
- Cover limit
Cover limit
The most the insurer pays for a single claim (Deckungssumme). Everything above it is yours, which is why liability policies carry limits in the millions.
- Set per policy
- Excess
Excess
The part of every claim you pay yourself (Selbstbeteiligung). A EUR 150 excess means the first EUR 150 of any claim is yours; premiums fall as the excess rises.
- None
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- 1 month
- Notice period
Notice period
How far ahead of the renewal date you must cancel in writing (Kündigungsfrist). Miss the window and the contract runs another full term.
- 3 months
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Best for owners who only want surgery covered, at a lower premium
What Does a Cat Actually Need?
For a cat the part that matters most for a dog simply falls away. There is no compulsory cat liability policy in any Bundesland. You are still liable: section 833 BGB makes an animal keeper liable without fault and does not distinguish by species.
That exposure is normally carried by your Privathaftpflicht, which as a rule includes small domestic animals. That is the line to check in your own policy wording rather than assume. What is left as a real decision is voluntary health cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cat insurance mandatory in Germany?
No. No Bundesland requires any insurance for a cat. That is the difference from a dog, for which seven Bundesländer require liability cover.
Who is liable when a cat causes damage?
You are, without fault: section 833 BGB makes an animal keeper liable for damage their animal causes and does not distinguish between a dog and a cat. German personal-liability policies commonly include small domestic animals, but check your own wording rather than assuming it.
Is cat health insurance worth it?
It is a cost bet rather than an obligation: the cheapest policy in this catalogue is EUR 204.84 a year, and a single operation can exceed that. The catalogue carries far fewer cat policies with a published price than dog policies, which is the market rather than a gap in the research.
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