Southern Cross Pet Insurance is positioned for broad accident and illness cover; PetCover NZ is positioned for rabbits and less common pets. Neither is cheaper in every case — the deciding factors are your cat's breed risk, whether you want routine care included, and the payout cap. Run both quotes on the same reimbursement percentage and deductible before comparing prices.
Independent · not an insurer| Southern Cross Pet Insurance | PetCover NZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Broad accident and illness cover | Rabbits and less common pets |
| In their words | Accident and illness plans with up to 80% back on eligible vet bills; New Zealand's best-known pet insurer. | Cover for dogs, cats, rabbits and some exotics, with lifetime and accident-only tiers. |
| Stands out for | accident & illness cover | lifetime cover, accident-only option |
| Market | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Positioning is taken from each company's own public description. We do not hold either insurer's rate cards, so this page compares cover and fit, not quoted premiums.
Whichever you pick, this is the shape of a serious claim year in New Zealand.
| Big claim | Worst-case bill | You pay at 80% | You pay at 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Body Surgery | NZ$4,100 | NZ$1,150 | NZ$780 |
| Cancer Treatment | NZ$8,200 | NZ$1,970 | NZ$1,190 |
| Dental Extractions | NZ$985 | NZ$525 | NZ$465 |
Assumes a NZ$410 annual deductible, one claim year, NZD. Every insurer prices and excludes differently — check the policy wording.
1. What can you absorb in cash? If a NZ$3,360 bill would go on a credit card, the payout cap matters more than the monthly saving.
2. What is your breed prone to? Breed-specific conditions drive most claims. Our breed pages list the ones to expect.
3. How old is your cat today? Both insurers exclude pre-existing conditions, so the value of any policy peaks the week you bring the cat home.
Accident and illness plans with up to 80% back on eligible vet bills; New Zealand's best-known pet insurer.
Get a quote →Cover for dogs, cats, rabbits and some exotics, with lifetime and accident-only tiers.
Get a quote →Southern Cross Pet Insurance suits owners who want broad accident and illness cover. PetCover NZ suits owners who want rabbits and less common pets. For a high-risk breed the payout cap matters more than the monthly price.
Neither publishes a fixed price. Premiums in New Zealand move with breed, age, postcode and the reimbursement level you pick, so the only fair comparison is two quotes taken on the same day with the same settings.
The worst urinary blockage (male cat) bill we model is NZ$3,360. At 80% reimbursement after a NZ$410 deductible you would still be out roughly NZ$1,000.
No. Every mainstream pet insurer in every market we track excludes conditions that showed symptoms before the policy started or during the waiting period. This is the single biggest reason to insure early.
You can, but anything treated under the first policy usually becomes pre-existing under the new one. Switching is cheap for a healthy young pet and expensive for an older one.
Some insurer links are referral links, which never change your price. We are not paid to rank one insurer above another, and we do not have access to either company's internal pricing.