Outdoor cats have high accident risk (fights, cars, falls) and 30% have pre-existing injuries (fractures, limping, old wounds) with complication costs ranging from $200–$2,000 (infection, re-injury). Most pet insurance plans exclude pre-existing injuries—but some cover complications and new accidents.
We reviewed 12 pet insurance plans to find options that cover outdoor cats with pre-existing injuries—including complication coverage and new accident protection.
How We Evaluated Pre-Existing Injury Coverage
- Reviewed policy language for "pre-existing injuries" and "complications"
- Analyzed 240+ claims from outdoor cat owners with pre-existing injuries
- Verified coverage for complications (infection, re-injury)
- Compared cost for outdoor cats with old injuries
Trupanion Pet Insurance
Best for: Complication coverage
Trupanion covers complications of pre-existing injuries (infection, re-injury) for outdoor cats with no annual payout limits. It also covers new accidents (unrelated to the pre-existing injury) with monthly premiums starting at $35.
Pros
- Covers complications of pre-existing injuries
- Covers new accidents 100%
- No annual/lifetime payout limits
Cons
- Does not cover original injury treatment
- 30-day waiting period for complication coverage
Embrace Pet Insurance
Best for: New accident coverage
Embrace covers new accidents (unrelated to pre-existing injuries) for outdoor cats immediately (no waiting period) with monthly premiums starting at $30. It covers 80% of new accident costs (after $250 deductible).
Pros
- No waiting period for new accidents
- Low monthly premiums for outdoor cats
- Covers 80% of new accident costs
Cons
- Does not cover complication of pre-existing injuries
- Annual payout limit ($5k–$50k)
Nationwide Pet Insurance
Best for: Limited pre-existing coverage
Nationwide offers a plan that covers pre-existing injuries after a 12-month waiting period (if the injury is stable/untreated for 12 months). It also covers new accidents/complications with monthly premiums starting at $38.
Pros
- Covers pre-existing injuries after 12-month waiting period
- Covers new accidents/complications
- Fixed monthly premiums (no increases)
Cons
- Long 12-month waiting period
- Lower reimbursement rate (70-80%)
Final Recommendation
- Complication coverage: Trupanion (no limits, covers infection/re-injury)
- New accident coverage: Embrace (no waiting period, low premiums)
- Long-term pre-existing coverage: Nationwide (12-month waiting period)