2026 Comparison — Updated Regularly

Compare Cat Insurance

All 5 top providers side by side — premiums, limits, excess, co-payments, and full coverage breakdown.

Full Provider Comparison

⭐ Recommended
Feature
Annual Benefit LimitUp to $14,000Up to $15,000Up to $20,000Up to $25,000Up to $25,000
Excess (from)From $100$250From $0From $100From $200
Co-PaymentNone on most plans20% co-paymentNone — 100% reimbursementNone on top tierNone
Monthly Premium (from)$28$32$22$36$26
Coverage Details
Accidents & Emergency
Illness Cover
Cancer Treatment
Kidney/Chronic Disease
Dental IllnessPremium planPremium planMajor plan
Hereditary ConditionsPremium plan
Alternative TreatmentAdd-on
Direct Vet Billing
Boarding FeesAdd-on
Theft & Straying CoverAdd-on
Multi-Pet Discount
No Age Loadings
Monthly Payment Option
Online Claims
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* Coverage details based on publicly available policy information. Always read the full policy wording. Some coverage may require premium/comprehensive plan tier.

All Cat Insurance Providers

✦ FEATURED PROVIDER
Petcover

Petcover

4.8(2,340 reviews)
✦ Cat Specialist⭐ Top Rated NZ

Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award 2025 — NZ's top-rated cat insurer

$28
Per month
Up to $14,000
Annual limit
From $100
Excess

What's Covered

  • Up to $14,000 annual benefit limit
  • Vet consultation fees included
  • Optional: alternative/complementary treatment
  • Optional: boarding fees if owner hospitalised

Key Limitations

  • Pre-existing conditions excluded
  • Dental illness on premium plans only
  • Optional extras increase premiums
Co-payment: None on most plans
✦ FEATURED PROVIDER
Southern Cross Pet Insurance

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

4.7(3,120 reviews)
★ Most Comprehensive

Pet Easy-Claim lets your vet bill Southern Cross directly — no waiting for reimbursement

$32
Per month
Up to $15,000
Annual limit
$250
Excess

What's Covered

  • PetCare plans with $2,500–$15,000 annual limits
  • Pet Easy-Claim: vet bills insurer directly
  • Skin conditions, cancer & chronic diseases covered
  • Accidental injuries including broken bones

Key Limitations

  • $250 annual excess applies
  • 20% co-payment on all claims
  • Pre-existing conditions not covered
Co-payment: 20% co-payment
✦ FEATURED PROVIDER
PD Insurance

PD Insurance

4.6(1,870 reviews)
$ Best Value

NZ's only 100% reimbursement insurer — no co-payments, no age loadings on any plan

$22
Per month
Up to $20,000
Annual limit
From $0
Excess

What's Covered

  • True 100% reimbursement — zero co-payments
  • No age-based premium loadings
  • Monthly payment at no extra cost
  • Accident Plan from $10/month

Key Limitations

  • Newer insurer — smaller claims team
  • Dental illness not on base Accident plan
  • No direct vet billing (reimbursement model)
Co-payment: None — 100% reimbursement
SPCA Pet Insurance

SPCA Pet Insurance

4.5(980 reviews)
★ Most Comprehensive

Highest NZ annual limit ($25,000) — every policy supports SPCA animal welfare

$36
Per month
Up to $25,000
Annual limit
From $100
Excess

What's Covered

  • $25,000 annual benefit limit — highest in NZ
  • Up to 90% reimbursement on Total Cover tier
  • Designed for large, unexpected surgeries
  • 10% multi-pet discount

Key Limitations

  • Higher premiums on comprehensive plans
  • Co-payment on lower-tier plans
  • No direct vet billing
Co-payment: None on top tier
Cove Insurance

Cove Insurance

4.4(650 reviews)
$ Best Value

$25,000 limit with no restrictive per-condition caps — great for complex health cases

$26
Per month
Up to $25,000
Annual limit
From $200
Excess

What's Covered

  • Up to $25,000 annual policy limit
  • No restrictive per-condition limits
  • Competitive premiums for higher excess
  • Online-first — quick claims via app

Key Limitations

  • $200+ excess on most plans
  • Smaller insurer — less brand recognition
  • Dental cover on Major Plan only
Co-payment: None

Three Policy Types — Which Do You Need?

🚨
Accident Only
From $10/month
Covers injuries from sudden events — car accidents, falls, ingested objects. No illness. Best for tight budgets.
🩺
Accident & Illness
From $20/month
The most popular choice. Adds illness cover — cancer, infections, kidney disease. Recommended for most cat owners.
Comprehensive
From $30/month
Maximum cover including dental disease, hereditary conditions (on some plans), and alternative treatment add-ons.

Real Pricing Scenarios — 2026

Indicative monthly premiums for typical cats. Based on publicly available pricing, lowest excess option, accident and illness cover.

"Monty" — Young Domestic Cat
Neutered male tabby, 2 years old, indoor/outdoor, Auckland
PD Insurance
Classic
$28–32/mo
0% copay
Petcover
Standard
$30–35/mo
0% copay
Southern Cross
Essential
$32–38/mo
20% copay
SPCA
Standard
$28–34/mo
10% copay
Cove
Major
$35–42/mo
20% copay
"Luna" — Senior Cat
Spayed female domestic short hair, 9 years old, Wellington
PD Insurance
Classic
$42–50/mo
0% copay
Petcover
Standard
$45–55/mo
0% copay
Southern Cross
Essential
$50–62/mo
20% copay
SPCA
Standard
$44–54/mo
10% copay
Cove
N/A
Age restricted
"Biscuit" — Purebred Maine Coon
Male, 3 years old, Christchurch — hereditary condition risk (HCM)
PD Insurance
Classic
$38–48/mo
0% copay
Petcover
Premium · Hereditary cover
$52–65/mo
0% copay
Southern Cross
Comprehensive
$55–70/mo
20% copay
SPCA
Premium · Hereditary cover
$48–58/mo
10% copay
Cove
Major
$48–58/mo
20% copay

Prices are indicative. Get a personalised quote from each insurer for accurate premiums based on your cat's details.

Our Independent Assessment of Cat Insurance in 2026

New Zealand currently has five specialist cat insurance providers — Petcover, Southern Cross Pet Insurance, PD Insurance, SPCA Pet Insurance, and Cove — plus broader pet insurers like AA and Tower that include cat cover. This comparison focuses on the five dedicated providers, which consistently offer more competitive pricing and deeper coverage for cats.

The most important things to compare are not just monthly premiums. Annual benefit limits, co-payment percentages, excess options, and waiting periods all affect how much you actually receive back when you claim.

Our analysis found significant variation: on a $5,000 cancer treatment claim, a policyholder with PD Insurance (no co-payment, $150 excess) would receive $4,850 back, while the same claim with Southern Cross (20% co-payment, $250 excess) yields $3,800 — a $1,050 difference annually.

All information is based on publicly available policy documents and pricing as of April 2026. Premiums are indicative and depend on your cat's age, breed, and chosen excess. Always read the full policy wording before purchasing.

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