Multi Pet Insurance

Multi pet insurance covers two or more animals with one insurer, often on a single policy with one renewal date. Some insurers take money off for each extra pet, but each animal is still priced on its own age, breed and health.

Is a multi-pet policy right for your household?

A shared policy suits some homes better than others. Find the row that sounds like yours.

One shared policy or separate policies?

Putting your pets on one policy is simpler, but separate policies can give you more choice. Here is how the two weigh up.

Pros of one multi-pet policy

• One renewal date and one set of documents.
• A possible discount for each extra pet, depending on the insurer.
• One login and one claims team if two pets need the vet in the same year.

Cons of one multi-pet policy

• The insurer may not offer the best cover for every species you own.
• Moving one pet to another insurer later can mean splitting the policy.

Separate policies let you pick the right insurer for each animal, for example a specialist for a pedigree dog. The cost of extra admin is a second renewal to track.

How limits and excess work on multi-pet cover

On most multi-pet policies, each animal has its own vet fee limit, so one pet's claims don't use up another pet's cover. Insurers set this out in different ways, so check the schedule.

• Is the vet fee limit per pet, per condition, or per policy?
• Is the excess charged per pet, per condition or per claim?
• Can each pet have a different type of cover, such as lifetime for one and accident only for another?
• Does a claim for one pet change the renewal price for the whole policy?

A worked example: one home, three pets

Picture a household with a three-year-old Labrador, a nine-year-old cat and a new kitten. Here is how they might approach cover.

• The Labrador gets lifetime cover with third-party liability, as big dogs can run up big bills and the owner wants protection if the dog hurts someone.
• The older cat has a thyroid condition on record, so the owner checks whether it stays covered on the current policy before moving anything.
• The kitten is added as soon as it is collected, so fewer symptoms are on record when cover starts.

In this case, a shared policy only works if the cat's existing condition stays covered. If not, the owner could keep the cat where it is and insure the dog and kitten together.

Switching pets with existing conditions onto one policy

Think twice before moving a pet with a known condition onto a new multi-pet policy. The Financial Ombudsman Service says a new lifetime policy with a different insurer is unlikely to cover conditions your pet already has.

The ombudsman also says insurers can't normally change a lifetime policy's basic cover except at renewal. If you are unhappy with how a claim or renewal was handled, complain to the insurer first, then to the ombudsman if needed.

Legal duties that apply to every pet

Each of your pets has its own legal requirements, however you insure them. GOV.UK sets out the microchip rules.

• Every dog in the UK must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old.
• In England, every cat must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old, indoor cats included.
• You can be fined up to £500 if a dog or cat is not chipped when it should be.

Dog owners also have a duty to keep their dog under control, which is one reason to check the third-party cover on your dog insurance.

What you need for a multi-pet quote

• Each pet's date of birth, species and breed.
• Each microchip number.
• What you paid for each pet, if you want theft or death cover.
• Neutering and vaccination records for each pet.
• Any vet visits for symptoms, pet by pet.
• The renewal dates of any policies you already have.

Comparing multi-pet insurance on Tiger.co.uk

Tiger.co.uk compares pet insurance from a panel of up to 35 providers. Tell us about each of your pets, then compare limits per pet, excess and price side by side.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk, says: "Check how the excess works before you look at the discount. A per-pet excess on every claim can add up quickly in a busy house."

Tiger.co.uk is a trading style of Big Cat Ventures Ltd, an introducer appointed representative of Seopa Ltd. Seopa Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 313860), which you can check on the FCA register.

Compare multi-pet insurance quotes with Tiger.co.uk and see your options for the whole household. Policies vary, so read each pet's cover before you buy. For one pet, start at the pet insurance hub or see cat insurance and rabbit insurance.

Two more things a busy pet household may need: contents insurance for your own belongings, and travel insurance for your trips away.

Is multi pet insurance cheaper than separate policies?

It can be, as some insurers give a discount for each extra pet. It is not always lower, though, so compare a shared policy with separate quotes for each animal.

Can I insure a dog and a cat on the same policy?

Yes, many insurers cover dogs and cats on one policy. Check that the dog still gets third-party liability and that each pet has a vet fee limit that suits it.