PD Insurance's own NZ breed guide confirms there are two specific genetic conditions to watch for in this breed: polycystic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This is one of the few breeds where FurWise found a NZ pet insurer directly confirming genetic risk factors. PD Insurance NZ's guide to the breed states: "Like many cat breeds, British Shorthairs can be prone to certain health issues. Some common concerns include obesity, dental problems, and certain genetic conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart condition) and polycystic kidney disease."
Both conditions are chronic and typically require ongoing management rather than a single treatable event. PD's own guide flags obesity and dental problems as additional, non-genetic concerns worth watching for in this breed, on top of the two genetic conditions.
These are the conditions FurWise flags when you select British Shorthair in the comparison tool, so you can check whether each policy covers them. When 2 or more high-severity conditions apply, we highlight hereditary & congenital coverage and exclusions breadth for your comparison.
Hereditary and congenital conditions are handled very differently across NZ insurers Some treat them favourably (coverable if asymptomatic before the policy started), others use a flat age-of-pet cutoff, and a few don't address them as a defined term at all. See FurWise's hereditary conditions and congenital conditions explainers.
Any information shown on FurWise is not financial advice. FurWise is a features comparison tool. It's a helpful starting point so you can understand how pet insurance policies in New Zealand work. If you are still unsure about what might be right for you after using FurWise, we strongly recommend you seek independent advice from a financial adviser about your specific situation.