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Pet insurance statistics
A majority of Aussies have a pet in their home. So it figures that we would want some more figures on pets and pet insurance, to figure out...something. Anyway here are some pet and pet insurance statistics.
Aussies love pets, and Aussies love statistics. If they say they hate statistics, they just haven't discovered the joy in regression analysis. Most people don't love pet insurance. That's fine, but people should learn a bit more about it.
At Finder, we're obsessed with data about greyhounds. Also other animals, I guess. Below you'll find a tonne of statistics we've gathered about pets, pet ownership, and pet insurance.
Most of these data come from the Finder Consumer Sentiment Tracker. It's a nationally representative survey we run every single month. If the data aren't from there, I'll note where it comes from.
How many Australians own pets?
Pet ownership in Australia is one of the highest in the world, especially after the pandemic. This chart shows the number of Aussies with dogs, cats and other animals. Dogs come out ahead of cats because they are clearly superior.
How much will we spend to save our pet's life?
This one's a bit morbid, but important. When pets get sick or injured, Aussies say they'll spend an average of $2,965 before considering putting their pet down. Rough.
This is probably a good time to mention pet insurance. It's literally made for this, and when things go poorly (or pawly lol) it can be a literal lifesaver. Learn more about pet insurance here.
Generation
How much to save your pet?
Number of responses
Gen Y
$14,952
181
Gen Z
$7,235
157
Gen X
$5,113
188
Baby Boomers
$2,532
78
Based on a nationally representative survey of 1061 Australians, of which 602 are pet owners. Survey condeucted in March 2024. Learn more at Finder.com.au
How many times have Aussies taken their pet to the vet in the last 12 months?
What's the average amount people spend at the vet? (Last 12 months)
How many Australians have ever attended a pet birthday party
The average cost of pet insurance for cats and dogs
We crunched the numbers in Australia and checked 560 dog breeds and 99 cat breeds. Here are the average prices of pet insurance for a 5-year old dog and cat per month:
Most common pet insurance claims for 2019
Accident or illness
Average Claim Amount FY 2019
Multiple fractures
$2,066.31
Irish Wolfhound
$567
Cancer
$3,503.74
Gastroenteritis
$1,319.65
Tick paralysis
$1,156.87
Snake bite
$2,133.31
Pneumonia
$1,610.57
Arthritis
$688
Diabetes
$1,952.39
Ear infection
$883.38
Cataracts
$1,755.15
Dermatitis
$832.71
Urinary tract infection
$814.49
PetSure claims data (June 2018-July 2019), from RSPCA
Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the pet insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of pet insurance experts have researched and rated 25+ policies as part of the Finder Awards. We've produced guides on everything from the best policies to jargon-free explainers.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of pet insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2016, we've helped 110,000+ people find pet insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
Tim Bennett is a Finder insurance expert. For over 10 years he's reported on news, politics, finance and other topics as a journalist and radio presenter. Tim's roles have included radio news reader and breakfast at the ABC, news producer for SBS and producer for Fairfax Media. Tim regularly appears as a health insurance expert on programs like Sunrise and SBS news, as well as in the Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more.
Receive quotes for policies from Pet Insurance Australia and apply securely online. Choose from 3 levels of cover and pay nothing for the first 2 months.
Complete guide to finding the right pet insurance with a side-by-side comparison of major brands.
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