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, Animal Friends and Petgevity*.
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
What is Scratch & Patch?
Scratch & Patch is a trading name of FCA-regulated Only Pets Cover Limited and is 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
- 20% multi-pet discount
- 24/7 access to a vet helpline
- No compulsory co-payments on policies
- Continuous cover when switching from another provider as long as there is no break between policies
- No upper age limit when taking out a new policy
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. Scratch & Patch impose a 12 month time limit, so you can claim up to £2,250 per accident or up to 12 months from the first date of treatment, whichever comes first.
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
- Dogs used for guarding, racing and in any trade or profession (excluding assistant dogs)
- Dogs registered in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as well as cross-breeds of the dogs in this list. You can see the full list of dog breeds that aren't covered here.
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 £4,000 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 the 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 | £2,500 | £2,500 |
| Accidental damage | None | None | None | £250 | £500 | £750 |
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% of the remaining claim and Scratch and Patch would cover the other 80%. So if you made a claim for £1,000, you would pay £125 excess and then a further £175, meaning you would be liable for £300 for this £1,000 claim. 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.
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) | £6.25 | £9.14 | £9.75 | £10.30 | £13.15 | £18.25 |
| 1-year-old cat (monthly cost) | £6.25 | £8.79 | £9.13 | £10.74 | £14.83 | £20.22 |
(Quotes correct as of 27/04/26)
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 [email protected]. 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: [email protected]
- Post: Scratch & Patch Claims, Davies Building, PO Box 1392, PR2 0XE.
Scratch & Patch customer reviews
Scratch & Patch has a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 1,900 reviews. 77% rate it as 'Excellent' citing great customer service and a quick claims process. 12% of customers rate it as 'Bad' citing problems with claims being paid out, 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
- 20% 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
It is always best to shop around when purchasing pet insurance in order to understand the levels of cover available and to find the best cover for your pet. One easy way to shop around for pet insurance is via a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket*. Comparison sites allow you to compare multiple providers at once to get the best rate for your pet. One thing to consider though is that not all comparison sites are whole of market and you may get a better deal elsewhere. Also, some pet insurance providers such as Petplan do not feature on comparison sites so if you would like a quote from one of these providers you would need to visit the website directly.
Two alternatives to Scratch & Patch are Animal Friends & Petgevity*.
Animal Friends
Animal Friends offers every type of pet insurance with vet fee cover up to £18,000 per year and a range of excess options. There is no upper age limit for taking out new policies with Animal Friends, however there is a compulsory co-payment as your pet ages (20% when your dog turns 8 and your cat turns 10). Animal Friends do not cover pre-existing conditions nor offer a multi-pet discount. More information can be found in our independent Animal Friends pet insurance review.
Petgevity
Petgevity* pet insurance specialises in lifetime insurance and only offers annual limit lifetime insurance with vet fee cover from £2,000 up to £15,000 per year. It offers insurance for pre-existing conditions as long as these are declared and approved when obtaining your quote. Like Scratch & Patch, there is no upper age limit for taking out new policies and there is also no compulsory co-payment as your pet ages. Petgevity has a range of excess options (including no excess) as well as a choice of voluntary co-payments which allows you to cater your policy to suit your budget. They also offer multi-pet discount. More information can be found in our independent Petgevity pet insurance review.
Scratch & Patch vs Animal Friends vs Petgevity
| Scratch & Patch | Animal Friends | Petgevity* | |
| Policies offered | Accident only, time-limited, maximum benefit & lifetime (annual limit) | Accident only, time-limited, maximum benefit & lifetime (annual limit & annual limit per condition) | Lifetime |
| Covers pre-existing conditions | No | No | Yes |
| Option to pay no excess | No | No | Yes |
| Compulsory co-payment | No | 20% when dog turns 8 and cat turns 10 | No |
| Upper age limit when taking out a new policy | No | No | No |
| Vet video calls/helpline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offers multi- pet discount | Yes | No | Yes |
| Trustpilot score | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 |
| More information | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Petgevity pet insurance review |
Summary
Scratch & Patch has a range of policies with varying levels of cover on offer and I like that the veterinary excess fee is fixed and the co-payment is voluntary even when your pet gets older. 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, however the level of cover with the lifetime policies is considerably lower than many of their competitors. There is no waiting period for new customers that have existing pet insurance policies which is appealing if you are looking to switch providers. There is also a generous discount if you are insuring more than one pet.
Scratch & Patch do not offer insurance if your pet has a pre-existing conditions. If you are looking for insurance for a pet with a pre-existing condition then we suggest reading our article, 'Best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions'.
To see how Scratch & Patch compares to other pet insurance policies, read our article 'Best pet insurance in the UK'.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link, Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses or take advantage of any exclusive offers - MoneySuperMarket, Petgevity
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