Pet insurance in Ireland: what it costs
What a typical dog and cat policy costs in Ireland, how the size of the breed changes it, and what to check before you buy.
Checked 8 November 2026
Typical price
Dog
€10.83 a month, about €129.96 a year
Switcher.ie check (Irish Times, 17 Jul 2026) for a 1-year-old rescue (mixed) dog, higher tier, 4,000 EUR vet fees, 125 excess: 100-160 EUR/yr. AA Ireland (Feb 2026): from 8.33/month (2-yr Irish Terrier, Essential). Older pedigree dogs up to 50/month. source
Cat
€7 a month, about €84 a year
Entry-level prices: mixed-breed cats from 7 EUR/month (Switcher.ie via Farmers Journal, May 2024); AA Ireland (Feb 2026) from 6.21/month for a 6-month-old domestic cat, Essential cover; most policies 6.21-30/month. No mid-tier adult cat quote published. source
By size
| Size | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Toy | €7.15 | €85.77 |
| Small | €8.45 | €101.37 |
| Medium | €9.42 | €113.07 |
| Large | €12.02 | €144.26 |
| Giant | €16.25 | €194.94 |
Our estimate: the typical price scaled by the size of the dog. Real quotes depend on the breed, its age, the cover and the excess.
Check your breed
Estimates for popular breeds
| Breed | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | €10.72 | €129 |
| French Bulldog | €15.49 | €186 |
| German Shepherd Dog | €11.70 | €140 |
| Golden Retriever | €10.18 | €122 |
| Dachshund (Standard) | €8.77 | €105 |
| English Cocker Spaniel | €8.99 | €108 |
| Chihuahua | €6.82 | €82 |
| Border Collie | €8.77 | €105 |
| Mixed breed (dog) | €8.12 | €97 |
| Mixed breed (cat) | €5.95 | €71 |
| Maine Coon | €6.93 | €83 |
| British Shorthair | €6.58 | €79 |
| Ragdoll | €6.23 | €75 |
Before you buy
- New policies often have an age limit, so insuring young is cheaper and easier.
- There is usually a waiting period before illness cover starts.
- Conditions the animal already has are not covered.
- Check whether hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia are covered. Each breed page lists the ones to ask about.
- A higher excess or co-payment lowers the price but raises what you pay at the vet.
- Look at the yearly limit. One operation can cost more than a cheap policy pays out.
Rules and costs for dogs in Ireland → Pet insurance by country
Prices are typical published prices, not a quote. Pet Wiki is not an insurer or a broker.