What to know before getting a cat

What do I need to know before getting a cat?

What to consider when choosing a cat breed
Cat breed characteristics
Common conditions in cat breeds
Skin conditions
Ear conditions
Gastrointestinal problems
Eye conditions
Cat insurance
Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?
We're here to help

Looking for a furry friend that provides quality cuddles but can maintain a level of independence? A cat might be the perfect fit for you.

From their cute looks to quirky behaviour, cats are relatively low-maintenance pets and require a lot less upkeep compared to their canine friends.

While you don’t have to worry about exercising and grooming your feline as much, it’s still important to consider what breed is suitable for your environment and lifestyle. Another thing to consider is what health conditions certain cats are prone to, so you can pick insurance that suits you and your cats needs.

Whether you’re an experienced cat owner looking for another addition to the family or getting one for the very first time, here are some things you should know about different cat breeds and common conditions.

What to consider when choosing a cat breed

Cats get the wrap of being sassy and solitary creatures, but it’s a common misconception. Many breeds are loving, affectionate and rely heavily on their connection with their owner. If you’re planning on getting a cat because you lead a busy life, remember, cats can get stressed if they’re alone for an extended period of time.

Before picking a breed, ask yourself these questions:

What does my living situation look like?

Do you live in a house/ apartment/townhouse or rural area?

Will I keep my cat permanently indoors or allow it to go outside?

Can I afford the ongoing costs?

Regular checkups, desexing, food, and entertainment

If you live in a highly-populated area or an apartment, you might want to consider a breed you can keep indoors. Comparatively, if you live somewhere suburban or in a house with a large backyard, you may have more flexibility to let your cat roam outside. Long-haired cats tend to shed, so if your home is carpeted, a short-haired cat may be more suitable and less hassle to clean up after.

Once you’ve considered these things, it’s time to start looking for your perfect match. Take a look at our guide below to see what kind of cat breed might be best for you.

Cat breed characteristics

Cat Breed	Features	Personality	Suits	Lifespan
Ragdolls	Long-haired coat	Docile, relaxed and enjoys playing	Families with children	12 - 17 years
Bengal	Short-haired coat and muscular body	Energetic, loving, and high exercise needs	Suburban area, outdoors with backyard	10 - 16 years
Burmese	Short-haired, solid, and muscular body	Affectionate and intelligent	Families with children	10 - 16 years
Persian	Long-haired, tends to shed	Docile, elegant, and relaxed	Family environment or older, retired single owner	10 - 15 years
Russian Blue	Short-haired	Gentle and calm, but loves to play	Families with children	10 - 15 years
Exotic	Large	Vocal, playful, and calm	Active family	8 - 15 years
American Shorthair	Short-haired, easy to groom	Intelligent and kid-friendly	Loving household, families, singles or couples	15 - 20 years
Siamese Cat	Short-haired, muscular build	Affectionate and vocal	Family with children	8 - 15 years
Sphynx	Hairless, medium-sized	Energetic and adventurous	Families, couples, or singles	8 - 14 years
Balinese	Long-haired	Friendly and affectionate	Families	9 - 15 years

Common conditions in cat breeds

Now you know a little more about characteristics, let’s talk about common conditions that your feline can potentially face. Although it’s not guaranteed your cat will develop an illness over its life, it pays to understand the history and genetics of the breed you choose.

Regular veterinary checkups, a good diet, and exercise are all things that can help curb or alleviate the challenges of your pet falling sick. Most cats are prone to experiencing ear infections, ringworm, or worms at some point in time,but these conditions are often easily treatable with medication.

Another common (but more serious) condition that some cats experience is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. HCM causes thickening in the muscular walls of the heart, leading to a decrease in its efficiency. The condition is prevalent in Ragdoll and Persian breeds, but symptoms can be managed if identified early.

Take a look at some common conditions that different cat breeds are prone to below. Some of these conditions may be covered by pet insurance.^#

Skin conditions

Whether a result of allergies or bacterial infections, they should be treated as early as possible. Mange, ear mites and environmental allergies are common skin conditions seen in cats.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Ragdoll
Persian
Sphynx

Ear conditions

Ear conditions can appear in cats from allergies, bacterial infections, and yeast. Otitis externa and otitis media are common ear conditions seen in cats.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Persian
Sphynx

Gastrointestinal problems

Digestive problems can occur in cats from hairballs, stress and changes in diet. Diarrhea and worms are common gastrointestinal problems seen in cats.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Ragdoll
Sphynx

Eye conditions

If your cat’s eyes appear to be red/ irritated, they may have an eye condition. Dry eyes, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation are common eye conditions seen in cats.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Persian
Exotic
Himalayan

Cat insurance

There are so many great things about owning a pet, from unconditional love to companionship, but the ongoing costs can add up. If your cat unexpectedly falls sick or is injured, you could face vet bills that aren’t manageable. Pet insurance might help alleviate this burden and help keep your feline protected.

Everyday Pet Insurance offers a range of cover options for cats, such as Basic, Indoor Cat, Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus policies. All levels of cover come with free access to VetAssist, a service that connects you with credible vet advice 24/7.^†

Cover your cat today

Get a quote

Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?

Comprehensive Plus annual limit#

Claim up to $30,000 a year

Claim up to 80% back*

Get up to 80% back on eligible vet bills

Lifetime cover‡

Your pet is covered from 8 weeks old for life

Introducing GapOnly®

Claim your benefit on the spot and only pay the gap on eligible claims⁼

Important Information

text: ^#Policy Terms and Conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Benefit limit amounts vary by level of cover.

text: ^†Offer available to new Everyday Pet Insurance policyholders, and is limited to 1 membership per eligible policy. The free membership offer (valued at $199p.a) is from the date of your policy commencement, provided your Everyday Pet Insurance policy remains active. You are not eligible to redeem the free membership subscription for cash or credit. VetAssist is a separate subscription based service to the Everyday Pet Insurance product, and is provided independently by Everyday Insurance third party service provider, VetChat Services Pty Ltd (VetChat). Click here for full VetAssist Service terms and conditions. Everyday Insurance reserves the right to withdraw or extend this offer at anytime, without notice.

text: * Limits, waiting periods, exclusions and excesses may apply.

text: = The gap is defined as the difference between the vet's invoice and the claim benefit under your policy. Policy terms and conditions apply. GapOnly^® is only available at participating Vets. Please visit GapOnly^® to search for GapOnly^® enabled vets. GapOnly^® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure) (ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183).

text: ^‡ Cover is available for the life of your pet provided you renew your policy each year without any break, lapse or change in the level of Cover. This means once your pet is insured with us and as long as we continue to offer the product, you will be able to renew your policy for that pet for life and your cover level will not be reduced as your pet ages provided you continuously maintain the cover. Cover is subject to the terms and conditions of your renewing policy. See details in your PDS.

text: Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time prior to 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard), arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by Hollard’s Authorised Representative (AR) Woolworths Group Limited ABN 88 000 014 675, AR 245476 (Woolworths). Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time on or after 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s AR, Woolworths. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at insurance.everyday.com.au/pet-insurance.

What to know before buying or adopting a cat

What do I need to know before getting a cat?

What to consider when choosing a cat breed

Before picking a breed, ask yourself these questions:

Cat breed characteristics

Common conditions in cat breeds

Skin conditions

Ear conditions

Gastrointestinal problems

Eye conditions

Cat insurance

Cover your cat today

Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?

Comprehensive Plus annual limit#

Claim up to 80% back*

Lifetime cover‡

Introducing GapOnly®

Important Information

We're here to help