In this independent review, we take a look at pet insurance provider Scratch & Patch including the different pet insurance policies it offers, how much it costs and how it compares to alternative providers, Many Pets* and Animal Friends.
It is recommended that you read the review in full however you can skip to sections of the review using the following links:
- What is Scratch & Patch?
- Scratch & Patch pet insurance key features
- What does Scratch & Patch pet insurance cover?
- Scratch & Patch policy exclusions
- Scratch & Patch policy types
- Scratch & Patch policy excess
- How much does Scratch & Patch pet insurance cost?
- How to make a claim with Scratch & Patch pet insurance
- Scratch & Patch customer reviews
- Scratch & Patch pros and cons
- Alternatives to Scratch & Patch pet insurance
- Summary
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What is Scratch & Patch?
Scratch & Patch is a trading name of FCA-regulated Only Pets Cover Limited and policies opened from 1st January 2023 are underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd. Scratch & Patch was started in 2016 to try and compete with other pet insurance providers. Scratch & Patch says it has tried to simplify pet insurance so that pet owners can easily understand what pet insurance means and how it works.
Scratch & Patch pet insurance key features
- Pet insurance for cats and dogs
- 6 levels of cover to choose from
- 10% multi-pet discount
- 24/7 access to a vet helpline
- 94% of claims are paid (according to 2022 Scratch & Patch claims data)
- No compulsory co-payments on policies
- No 14-day waiting period for illnesses if you switch to Scratch & Patch as long as you have been covered elsewhere prior to the switch)
What does Scratch & Patch pet insurance cover?
Scratch & Patch has varying levels of cover across a range of policies. We highlight the different policies below:
Accident-only pet insurance
Accident-only pet insurance covers your pet for vet treatment due to injury but will not cover for any illnesses. Scratch & Patch describes this policy as its Bronze plan and it includes vet fee cover up to £2,250 per accident.
To find out more about accident-only pet insurance, read our article 'Accident-only pet insurance explained'.
Time-limited pet insurance
Time-limited pet insurance covers your pet for a set limit or for a set period of time (usually 12 months from the date of the treatment). Scratch & Patch calls its time-limited policy its Silver plan and it includes vet fee cover up to £3,000 per injury/illness. This means that you can claim up to £3,000 for an illness or injury for up to 12 months after the first treatment or until the claim limit is reached, whichever comes first.
Find out more about time-limited pet insurance in our article, 'Time-limited pet insurance explained'.
Maximum benefit pet insurance
Maximum benefit pet insurance covers your pet for veterinary fees up to a set limit per condition. Scratch & Patch refers to its Maximum benefit pet insurance as its Gold plan and it includes up to £4,000 of vet fee cover. For example, you can claim up to £4,000 for each condition for as long as the policy is in force, this means that you can claim more than once for the same condition as long as you have not yet met the limit. Once the limit is met the condition will be classified as pre-existing and will no longer be covered under this policy.
For more information on maximum benefit pet insurance, read our article 'Maximum benefit pet insurance explained'.
Lifetime Pet insurance
Lifetime pet insurance covers you for veterinary fees for the duration of your pet's life. Scratch & Patch has three lifetime policies (Prime, Premier, Premier Plus) with up to £8,000 of vet fee cover per year depending on the policy you choose. This means that you can claim up to £8,000 in veterinary fees each policy year, this limit then renews again the following policy year as long as you choose to renew your policy.
To find out more about lifetime pet insurance, read our article 'Lifetime pet insurance explained'.
Scratch & Patch policy exclusions
Every pet insurance provider will have a list of policy exclusions, these are the things that it will not pay out for in the event of a claim. Below we list some of the exclusions in a Scratch & Patch pet insurance policy. It is important to remember that this is not an extensive list and it may vary depending on the policy you choose. It is always best to check the policy documents before purchasing a policy so you know exactly what is covered.
A Scratch & Patch policy will not pay out for the following:
- The policy excess
- Pets less than 5 weeks old
- Pre-existing conditions
- Conditions that your pet suffers from in the first 14 days of the policy (unless you have switched from another provider and had an existing pet insurance policy with them)
- Routine treatments such as worming and vaccinations
- Dental treatment (not as a result of accident or injury)
- Check-up appointments and any complications associated with pregnancy and birth
- Death, euthanasia and loss of pet cover for dogs over the age of 8 and cats over the age of 10
- Dogs used for guarding, racing and in any trade or profession (excluding assistant dogs)
- Dogs registered in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Scratch & Patch policy types
Scratch & Patch has a vast range of policies to choose from and we summarise the policies in the below comparison table. In its pet insurance policies, Scratch & Patch has some limits (also known as an inner limit) on how much you can claim for certain conditions. For example, you can only claim up to £2,000 for cruciate ligament injuries on a Premier Plus policy. More information on the inner limits of your Scratch and Patch pet insurance policy can be found in your policy documents.
A comparison of the Scratch & Patch policies
(scroll to see the full table)
| Policy Name | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Prime | Premier | Premier Plus |
| Policy Type | Accident-Only | Time-limited | Maximum Benefit | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Excess | Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
Dogs under 8 and cats under 10: £125
Dogs over 8 and cats over 10: £275 |
| Voluntary co-payment | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| Vet fee cover^ | £2,250 | £3,000 | £4,000 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £8,000 |
| Death cover (From accident or illness) for dogs under 8 and cats under 10 | up to £250 (accidents only) | Up to £500 | up to £1,000 | up to £1,000 | up to £1,500 | up to £1,500 |
| Euthanasia | None | None | None | £100 | £100 | £150 |
| Third-party liability (dogs only) | £1 million | £1 million | £1.5 million | £1.5 million | £1.5 million | £2 million |
| Loss and recovery (including advertising and reward) for dogs under 8 and cats under 10 | £250 | £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Boarding fees | £250 | £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Holiday cancellation | None | £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,500 |
| Accidental damage | None | None | None | £250 | £500 | £750 |
^There are some inner limits to vet fee cover which are detailed in the table below
Inner limits of Scratch & Patch vet cover
| Policy Name | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Prime | Premier | Premier Plus |
| Cruciate ligament | £500 | £500 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| MRI/CT scan | None | £500 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| Alternative treatment | £250 | £300 | £400 | £400 | £750 | £1,000 |
| Dental (accident/injury) | £250 (accident only) | £3,000 | £4,000 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £8,000 |
| Diet food | None | £100 | £100 | £100 | £100 | £100 |
| Behavioural treatment | None | None | None | £100 | £250 | £500 |
What is the excess on a Scratch & Patch policy?
Scratch & Patch has two different types of fixed policy excess and they are as follows:
- £125 for dogs under 8 and cats under 10
- £275 for dogs over 8 and cats over 10
There is also the option to pay an additional 20% voluntary excess, where on top of the fixed excess you would also pay 20% towards the cost of each claim and Scratch and Patch would cover the remaining 80%. This is an option if you were looking to reduce your premium but you should bear in mind that the cost payable by you could end up being much greater if you need to make a claim.
Find the right Pet Insurance for you
Our partner Quotezone will compare quotes from over 15 UK pet insurance providers
- You could pay from £3.35 per month**
How much does Scratch & Patch pet insurance cost?
Below, we have compared the cost of a range of Scratch & Patch pet insurance policies. The cost of your pet insurance premium will vary on the age, breed and type of pet you wish to insure. The quotes are based on a 1-year-old mixed-breed cat and dog with no underlying health conditions and living in a South East postcode.
Scratch & Patch policy quotes
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | Prime | Premier | Premier Plus | |
| Excess | £125 | £125 | £125 | £125 | £125 | £125 |
| Vet fee cover | £2,250 | £3,000 | £4,000 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £8,000 |
| 1-year-old dog (monthly cost) | £5.62 | £10.12 | £11.99 | £11.79 | £14.58 | £20.99 |
| 1-year-old cat (monthly cost) | £5.31 | £9.52 | £10.82 | £12.39 | £17.45 | £23.81 |
(Quotes correct as of 15/10/24)
How to make a claim with Scratch & Patch pet insurance
If you need to make a claim on your Scratch & Patch pet insurance policy you have various options. You can submit a claim online, you can call Scratch & Patch on 0330 102 6839 (option 3) or email them on claims@scratchandpatch.co.uk. Alternatively you can ask your vet to claim on your behalf. You have the option for Scratch & Patch to pay your vet directly for the claim.
You must have notified Scratch & Patch within 60 days of any incident or treatment you wish to claim for. Scratch & Patch will not pay out any claims for vet bills that are over 12 months old.
You will need the following information in order to fill out the claims form and make a claim:
- Your Scratch & Patch policy number
- Your pet's previous veterinary practice/s
- Your previous address
Scratch & Patch also need the form to be signed by you and your vet, as well as stamped by the veterinary practice and including any requested documentation and medical history.
If you are completing a manual claims for then your documents need to be sent to Scratch & Patch via:
- Email: claims@scratchandpatch.co.uk
- Post: Scratch & Patch Claims, Davies Building, PO Box 1392, PR2 0XE.
Scratch & Patch customer reviews
Scratch & Patch has a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 950 reviews. 74% rate it as 'Excellent' citing great customer service and a quick claims process. 14% of customers rate it as 'Bad' citing problems with inner limits on the policy, a long claims process and difficulty communicating. As with all pet insurance policies, you should thoroughly read your policy documents to ensure you know exactly what you are covered for and to ensure the policy is suitable for you and your pet.
Scratch & Patch pros and cons
Scratch & Patch pros
- Wide choice of policies
- 10% multi-pet discount
- 24/7 access to a vet helpline
- No co-payments on any policy unless you select to pay 20% voluntary excess
- No 14-day waiting period as long as you are an existing pet insurance policyholder
Scratch & Patch cons
- Excess increases to £275 for dogs over the age of 8 and cats over the age of 10
- Claim limits apply for certain conditions
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
Alternatives to Scratch & Patch pet insurance
Below, we compare the most comprehensive Scratch & Patch pet insurance policy to the most comprehensive policy offered by ManyPets* and Animal Friends. The quotes are based on a 1-year-old mixed breed dog and cat with no underlying health conditions and living in a South East postcode.
Another way to compare the cost of pet insurance is via comparison sites such as Quotezone* and MoneySuperMarket*. Comparison sites allow you to compare multiple policies at once to find the best insurance policy for your pet. One thing to consider, however, is that comparison sites are not always whole of market and therefore you may get a better deal elsewhere.
Scratch & Patch vs ManyPets vs Animal Friends
| Scratch & Patch | ManyPets* | Animal Friends | |
| Excess | £125 | £99 | £99 |
| Monthly Cost (1-year-old dog) | £20.99 | £42.35 | £55.87 |
| Monthly Cost (1-year-old cat) | £23.81 | £33.08 | £55.72 |
| Vet fee cover | £8,000 per year | £15,000 per year |
£18,000 per year
|
| Public liability | £2 million | £2 million | £2 million |
| Loss & theft | £1,500 | £6,000 | £3,000 |
| Death of pet cover (if pet dies through illness or injury) | £1,500 | £6,000 | £3,000 |
| Vet video calls/helpline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot score | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 15/10/24)
Summary
Scratch & Patch has a range of policies with varying levels of cover on offer. I like that the veterinary excess fee is fixed and it is clear throughout the website so you know how much you have to pay when you make a claim. The Scratch & Patch website is also clear and easy to navigate which makes it simple to understand for any pet owners that are new to pet insurance.
Scratch & Patch has a good level of veterinary fee cover and as there is no waiting period for new customers that have existing pet insurance policies it may be appealing to some. According to its website, Scratch & Patch paid 94% of claims submitted in 2022. To see how Scratch & Patch compares to other pet insurance policies, read our article 'Best pet insurance in the UK'.
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