Pet insurance access significantly affects cat welfare outcomes by enabling owners to authorise appropriate treatment without financial constraint, though access inequalities persist.
Insurance changes the welfare decision landscape fundamentally: owners who would decline recommended treatment for financial reasons authorise it when insured. This translates directly into better welfare outcomes. However, insurance penetration gaps mean many cats miss beneficial treatment. Expanding insurance access through income-contingent schemes, employer benefits, and improved product design for lower-income households would extend welfare benefits more equitably.