Spain is, without a doubt, a country of dogs. According to Statista, most of the Pets They have four legs, but they aren't felines. Even so, the cat is still the favorite pet in EuropeCurrently, their population surpasses that of dogs: more than 108 million feline replicas of Garfield have found homes. Back in our country, some of them have been adopted from specialized rescue centers.
Affinity Foundation It is estimated that, last year alone, 292.018 dogs and cats entered shelters and animal rescue centersThe latest development that caused quite a stir among pet owners in Spain was the Law 7/2023, of March 28, better known as Animal Welfare LawIt establishes the requirement for insurance for dogs. However, does the same apply to cats?
To answer this question, we will now explain exactly what insurance consists of. civil liability for cats and who might need to hire one.
Pet insurance that covers damages to third parties
A couple of years ago, the possibility of forcing owners to take out pet insuranceAt the time, there was also talk of training courses for owners, who would have to demonstrate their ability to properly care for their pets. It's now 2025, and the only thing we can point out is that, although the Animal Welfare Law has been drafted for some time, the regulations that would bring all its details into effect have not yet been published. In other words, those who decide No. Take out liability insurance for your dog or cat They would not yet face penalties for violating the regulations.
At this point, it is worth clarifying that the Animal Protection and Welfare CodeThe regulation, which the Government updated on October 10, does not state that civil liability insurance for cats is mandatory (not even when the regulation is drafted); this differs from insurance for dogs, regarding which it states the following: "In the case of dog ownership and throughout the animal's life, the owner must take out and maintain in force a third-party liability insurance, which includes in its coverage the persons responsible for the animal […]”. This same admonition applies to RAC centers, that is, those organizations that are dedicated to the “rescue, rehabilitation and search of pet adoption» who have been mistreated and/or abandoned.
Owners who are obligated
Therefore, dog owners, whether private individuals or registered dog shelters, would be obligated to have insurance once the regulations for the law are published. In the meantime, only those living in an autonomous community with regional regulations requiring it are obligated. For example, the Community of Madrid has required civil liability insurance for dogs since 2016. The same applies to... breeds considered PPP (In these cases, it is already mandatory at the national level).
However, for now, mandatory liability insurance does not affect cats or their owners; not even dogs that are not PPP (Potentially Dangerous Dogs) and live outside the communities where the regulations do require it.
Cat health insurance vs. liability insurance
Unlike liability insurance, cat health insurance policies include the veterinary care expenses resulting from illness or accident suffered by the insured's pet. liability insuranceHowever, it focuses on covering the assistance of the owner and/or the pet that our cat has harmed; that is, it focuses on the third party and not the insured. Nevertheless, this does not mean that liability insurance does not offer us any advantages from which we, as policyholders, can directly benefit. In the case of SantévetPolicies of this type include the legal defense (lawyers, experts…) when the kitten itself is responsible for the incident, but also, the claim when our cat is the victim. In those cases where the pet is unfairly held responsible or a third party has caused its poisoning voluntarily and knowingly, Santévet intervenes in the claim, in order to ensure that the owner of the affected kitten (the insured) obtains the compensation relevant.
Is it worth taking out insurance like this?
In principle, cats are domestic animals whose owners don't usually take them for walks as they would a dog. However, especially during mating season, they tend to escape from home. Furthermore, there are also those who decide to put a harness on them and take them out for walks. In all these cases, a liability insurance for cats This could be convenient. Those offered by Santévet, a French company... pet insurance With over twenty years in operation, they cover up to €200.000 when the damage is to third parties, that is, when our pet injures another person or animal. Taking Santévet as an example, fracture surgery in cats (which would cost between €500 and €1.000) would be fully covered by liability insurance. So, if our cat had caused such a fracture, instead of having to pay €1.000 that we hadn't initially budgeted for, we would only have to inform the veterinary insurance company, which would apply the terms of the policy.
Guaranteed protection for the price of a taxi ride
Santévet's liability insurance for cats only costs 6,31 € / month (You can also pay annually: €75,72 in total). For just the cost of taking a taxi to travel 5 km, we have a policy that includes up to maximum amount of €200.000, the next:
- bodily injury (bites, scratches and falls);
- material damage (objects belonging to third parties that the cat has broken, damage caused to vehicles…);
- criminal bail: amounts that judges sometimes set to ensure that the people involved will attend the trial to appear.