Indoor pets vs. outdoor pets: how does their insurance coverage differ?
When finding the right pet insurance policy, one factor to consider is whether your furry friend will mainly live indoors or have access to the outdoors. The differences between insuring primarily indoor pets compared to outdoor pets are important to understand when choosing coverage.
In this article, we’ll explore how indoor versus outdoor lifestyles can impact your pet insurance options and premiums.
Common indoor pets
Typically, cats and smaller dog breeds are kept mainly inside. Common indoor pets include:
- Cats
- Small dogs like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles
- Bulldog breeds with respiratory sensitivities
- Brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs like Pugs or Shih Tzus
- Rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, small birds
- Reptiles, amphibians, small fish
These pets are usually unable or disinclined to spend significant time outdoors unsupervised. They rely on owners to meet their exercise needs with indoor play, training, or leashed walks.
Premiums for indoor cats and dogs are lower compared to outdoor pets because they face fewer risks overall when kept safely inside, and are less likely to damage somebody’s property, for which you could be liable.
Common outdoor pets
Larger, active dog breeds that require more space and exercise are more often outdoor pets, including:
- Sporting dogs like Retrievers, Spaniels, Pointers
- Herding breeds like Collies, Cattle dogs, Sheepdogs
- Sled dog breeds like Huskies, Malamutes
- Working dogs like Boxers, Dobermans, Rottweilers
- Hunting dogs like terriers, hounds, gun dogs
- Livestock guardian breeds like Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds
These dogs thrive with access to a garden or yard where they can play, run, and explore supervised or unsupervised.
As a result, premiums are higher for outdoor dogs given their increased exposure to risks. Such an active lifestyle for an outdoor pet could potentially trigger or exacerbate breed-specific conditions, like hip dysplasia for Retrievers.
Risks for outdoor pets
The main reason insuring outdoor pets costs more is because they face hazards that indoor animals are shielded from. Common risks include:
Accidents and injuries:
Outdoors, pets can injure themselves in various ways. Running at high speeds, altercations with other animals, falls, and cuts can all lead to wounds or even broken bones that require veterinary treatment.
Illness and disease:
Outdoor pets come into contact with more potential sources of illness, from parasites like ticks to infectious diseases spread by wildlife or stagnant water. This increases claims for conditions like Lyme disease, parvovirus, leptospirosis, or kennel cough.
Poisonings and ingestion:
Outside, curious pets are prone to eat or chew on potentially toxic substances, like poisonous plants, garden chemicals, garbage, or bait. This can cause serious gastrointestinal issues or poisoning requiring emergency care. Common flowers like the daffodil can be poisonous to dogs.
Theft or loss:
Doors or gates left open allow outdoor pets to potentially escape and become injured, lost, or stolen. This may incur significant costs if your pet needs to be treated or plenty of grief knowing that your precious companion is lost or stolen.
Nuisances and liability:
Unruly outdoor pets may damage neighbouring property, harass wildlife, bark excessively, or dirty other people’s gardens. This can create legal and insurance headaches for owners, so make sure you do not compromise on training, or making sure your pet cannot be a nuisance.
How to reduce risks
Pet owners can take steps to minimise risks for outdoor pets and secure more affordable premiums:
- Fence in your garden securely to prevent roaming
- Train your pet well and supervise playtime
- Walk your dog on a leash in public
- Microchip your pet in case they get lost
- Remove poisonous plants and toxins from your garden
- Use tick and flea control/repellent regularly
- Keep vaccinations and deworming up to date
- Ensure your home insurance covers dog bites or damage
Choosing the right cover
When picking pet insurance for indoor or outdoor animals, look for a policy suited to your pet’s lifestyle and potential risks. Indoor pets generally require lower benefit limits for a more affordable premium, but outdoor pets need robust coverage given their greater chance of illness or injury.
Key policy features to compare include:
- Annual benefit limits
- Per condition limits
- Coverage of chronic issues
- Illness and accident coverage
- Dental treatment
- Advertising/reward costs if lost
- Third-party liability cover
Knowing which insurance provider and coverage to choose can be difficult, since you don’t have any experience of their services and don’t know who will be most effective in the time of need. That’s why our pet insurance comparison tool compares customer reviews, so you can understand how others in your position see the service, allowing you to make a better-informed decision.
Try our pet insurance comparison tool today, and get your pet the coverage it needs for your peace of mind.