I walked into my home studio and smelled ammonia. My cat had urinated on my powered pedalboard, frying a Line 6 Helix and three boutique pedals. Total damage: $2,500. I called my homeowners insurance. Denied. “Damage caused by domestic animals (pets) is excluded.”
Key Takeaways
- The “Domestic Animal” Exclusion: HO-3 (Homeowners) policies almost universally exclude damage caused by animals owned by the insured. (They cover wild animals entering, but not your pet).
- Electronics are Sensitive: Urine is acidic and conductive. It destroys PCBs instantly. It is rarely repairable.
- Specialized Policies Cover It: MusicPro and Heritage typically do cover damage by pets, as they are “All Risk” policies without the domestic animal exclusion.
- Business Use Denial: If you mentioned “home studio” and “recording clients,” the homeowner’s insurer would have denied you for “Business Use” anyway.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Predictable Behavior.”
Insurers view pets scratching sofas or peeing on rugs as inevitable ownership costs. They don’t insure against your pet being a pet.
However, for a musician, the gear is high-value specialized equipment.
Standard home insurance fails here twice: 1. Pet Exclusion. 2. Business Use Exclusion (if you make money).
The Investigation (My Analysis of “Catastrophes”)
I checked the specific pet clauses.
State Farm (Homeowners)
- Clause: “We do not insure for loss caused by… nesting, infestation, or discharge or release of waste products or secretions, by any animals.”
- Result: Denied.
MusicPro
- Clause: “All Risk of Physical Loss or Damage.”
- Exclusions: They exclude “vermin” (rats), but usually not domestic pets.
- Result: Likely Covered (subject to deductible).
Lemonade (Renters)
- Clause: Same pet exclusion as homeowners.
[IMAGE: Photo of a guitar pedalboard with visible liquid corrosion on the metal casing]
Comparison Table
| Scenario | Homeowners Policy | MusicPro / Heritage |
| Cat Pee | Denied | Covered |
| Dog Chewed Cable | Denied | Covered |
| Wild Raccoon Entry | Covered | Covered |
| Deductible | High ($500+) | Low ($100) |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Get Dedicated Insurance: Move your studio gear to a music-specific policy. It solves the pet issue and the business issue.
- Install a Door Lock: Keep the studio door closed. Physical barriers are the best insurance against cats.
- Cover the Gear: When not playing, throw a tarp or a “Decksaver” plastic cover over the pedalboard/synth.
- Clean Immediately: If it happens, unplug instantly. Use Isopropyl Alcohol (99%) to clean the PCB. You might save it.
FAQ
Does pet insurance cover this?
No. Pet insurance covers the cat’s vet bills, not the property the cat destroys.
Is urine considered “Water Damage”?
No. It is “Pollution” or “Animal Damage.”
What if a visiting dog did it?
That is the dog owner’s liability. You can make a claim against their liability insurance. The exclusion usually applies to your pets.