Pet insurance statistics (2026)
Data reviewed October 1, 2026
Quick answer
The key numbers
6.98M
insured pets in the U.S.
A 9.0% increase over 2024: 5.23 million dogs and 1.75 million cats.
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 (2025)
$5.7B
total U.S. pet insurance premiums
In-force gross written premium, up 19.7% from 2024.
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 (2025)
$836/yr
average accident & illness premium for dogs
About $70 per month, up 11.5% from 2024.
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 (2025)
$435/yr
average accident & illness premium for cats
About $36 per month, up 12.6% from 2024.
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 (2025)
75 / 25
share of insured pets that are dogs vs. cats
Dogs 74.9%, cats 25.1%. The insured cat share has risen every year since 2020.
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 (2025)
1982
year the first U.S. pet insurance policy was written, for TV's Lassie
Source: Insurance Information Institute (1982)
The adoption gap is the story
Compare the two headline numbers: roughly 95 million U.S. households own a pet, but only 6.98 million pets carry insurance. Even after years of double-digit growth, the U.S. insures just 4.27% of its pets, far below mature markets like the UK and Sweden where the product has existed for decades. That gap is why premium volume keeps compounding: the market is growing into an under-penetrated base, not fighting over a saturated one.
What insurance actually costs
| Policy type | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Accident & illness (average annual premium) | $836 ($70/mo) | $435 ($36/mo) |
| Share of insured pets | 74.9% | 25.1% |
Premiums vary widely by breed and zip code. A young mixed-breed in a low-cost state can run under $25 per month, while a French Bulldog in New York City can exceed $100. See our insurer comparison for how the major carriers differ, or start with a quick quote from Lemonade.
Frequently asked questions
How many pets are insured in the United States?
6.98 million pets were insured as of NAPHIA's 2026 State of the Industry report, covering year-end 2025, a 9% increase over the prior year. Dogs make up 74.9% of insured pets.
How much does pet insurance cost per month?
The national average for accident and illness coverage is about $70 per month for dogs and $36 per month for cats, per NAPHIA. Breed, age, and location move real quotes substantially.
Is pet insurance worth it?
It depends on your emergency fund. The average premium is $836 per year for dogs, while a single emergency surgery like bloat or an IVDD repair commonly runs $3,000 to $12,000. Insurance converts a rare catastrophic bill into a predictable monthly cost.
When was pet insurance invented?
The first U.S. pet insurance policy was written in 1982 for the TV dog Lassie, per the Insurance Information Institute.
Sources
- NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2026 · published June 2026, covering year-end 2025
- Insurance Information Institute: Facts + Statistics, Pet Ownership and Insurance
We only publish numbers we can attribute. How we build estimates: methodology.