Your Pets Daily - animals

Brits care more about their pet's welfare and comfort than their own

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:11:51 +0000

It comes as no surprise that the UK is a nation of pet lovers and a recent survey suggests that for many of us, they are the number one priority. Latest figures from PDSA reveal that there are 10.9 million cats and 9.9 million dogs living in UK households.

A study of 2,000 besotted cat and dog owners by Confused.com reveals the lengths brits go to to keep their beloved animal cosy. On average Brits are spending nearly £600m more on energy bills for their pets through leaving the TV, lighting, heating, and fans on just for them.

See the full breakdown of costs here:https://www.confused.com/gas-electricity/energy-for-pets

Key findings include:

Brits are spending nearly £600m more on energy bills to keep their furry friend cosy and comfortable at home.
Nearly one in 10 (8%) pet owners admitted to being unsure of how to save without sacrificing their animals’ comfort and happiness
22% of Brits are willing to spend more on energy bills to provide comfort for their pet, with 13% of pet owners admitting to powering up an electric heating source for their furry friend 3-7 times a week
More than half of Brits (55%) confessed that their pets being comfortable makes them happy
Dogs owners across the UK are spending £33.7 million on washing their four-legged friend in the bath
The study also reveals that dogs receive more luxuries than cats do, with 7% of dog owners cooking them food to give them something warm to eat, compared to just 3% of cat owners.
28% of pet owners put the radio on every day for their pets while 25% leave the television on every day
Cat owners use the most energy to keep their pets pampered at an average cost of £858 per cat over their lifespan while dog owners spend slightly less at £675
Pet owners in Oxford spend the most money on energy for their pets by a big margin, at an average of £296.02 per pet per year, followed by Worcester at £208.93

Reducing the energy we use

To help pet owners make savings, Confused.com has partnered with Caroline Wilkinson, certified animal behaviourist and founder of BarketPlace. Caroline has explained how people can reduce the energy they use for their pets, without sacrificing their comfort.

Here are some of her top tips:

Rely on natural light – pets are less accustomed to artificial light than us humans. By switching on a light, you may be disturbing their rest.
Reposition your pets’ bed – have your dog’s bed placed in a warm corner of the room where they’ll also get access to natural daylight.
Use layered blankets – if your pets’ bed is well insulated, you shouldn’t need to switch the heating on or use an electric heating source!
Opt for low-energy background noise – if your pets don’t react well to silence, use a radio or a low-energy white noise machine, instead of a TV.
Bath your pet on warm days – if you’re bathing your pet, ensure they’ll be able to dry naturally rather than using a blow-dryer.

Fur-ocious pets costing owners £500 with home mishaps

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:58:47 +0000

Having the responsibility of a pet has cost owners more than £500 in damage repairs, on average, new research reveals, as lockdown sees a surge in pet purchases.

And as the festive season fast approaches, more of us will consider adding a furry friend to our family. But you might be biting off more than you can chew, as more than one in five (22%) pet-parents admit their animals have caused damage to their home and possessions.

According to Confused.com research, pet owners have had to pay out a sum to the ‘jingle’ of £522, on average, to repair damages in the home, caused by their furry friends. Although for some the pay-out has been a lot higher, as one in fifteen (7%) have paid out up to £1000 for pet accidents in their home. Not so festive!

This hefty cost includes having to repair damages such as stained carpets, chewed skirting boards and flooring. Although in some cases the damage caused by pets is a lot more extreme.

The survey by Confused.com reveals one pet ate through the bottom of a door after being locked downstairs, while other pet-parents said their companions chewed through a main phone line and even blew the main fuse by chewing the wire for the television.

Meanwhile, one owner said that their pet ate an entire tree, after “Gnawing at it like a beaver” while another pet with razor-sharp teeth chewed the corner of the living room wall and an irrigation system. And, unfortunately for one owner, their pet smashed an irreplaceable antique heirloom – and ‘whoofps’ was not the word that sprang to mind.

Most common things that pets damage

Carpets 54%

Flooring 32%

Curtains 31%

Their Bed 29%

Skirting boards 25%

Sofa 21%

Wiring 20%

Thankfully for these mischievous animals, it seems that most of them would be let off the chain, as almost three quarters (73%) of pet-owners were able to successfully make a claim on their home insurance for the damage.

But surprisingly, only nearly a third (32%) of people tried to make a claim on their home insurance in the first place.

Perhaps that’s down to uncertainty around recuperating costs, as one in seven (14%) pet owners admit they’re confused about what pet damage is covered on their home insurance policy. Sometimes the best form of protection is prevention, but only two fifths (40%) of animal owners admit to pet-proofing their home in a bid to avoid damages.

So, Confused.com has put together a handy guide, clearing up how to prevent disaster and the steps to take if your furry companion faux-paws in the home.

According to the research, almost all pet-owners (95%) have paid out of their own money to repair damage caused by their companions at some point. But, for those that did make a successful claim on their home insurance, the average pay-out came in at £905, while one in six (17%) needed up to £5,000 to cover repairs.

That’s some serious damage! So, maybe now is the best time to get clued up. Especially as one in six (17%) people say they purchased a pet during the lockdown period, while almost a further one in six (16%) say they’ve bought a pet at Christmas.

It’s certainly worth thinking about the responsibility that comes with a pet before committing, as almost a third (31%) of pet owners found their pet to be more destructive than they were anticipating. Plus, nearly one in five (19%) said they find trying to train a pet confusing. And while the average spend on pet-proofing the home stands at £140, a staggering two thirds (61%) of animal owners said it didn’t stop their pets from damaging their home.

So, if you’ve just redecorated, it’s certainly worth thinking twice before welcoming a new furry friend into the home!

Jess Willock, Home expert at Confused.com, says: “Lockdown posed the perfect opportunity for many animal lovers to welcome a new pet into their home. And with Christmas just round the corner, it’s likely more people will consider a pet as a much-welcomed family addition.

”But sometimes, pets can come into our lives (and homes) like a whirlwind, causing damages that we weren’t prepared for – even though they mean no harm! Yet it can be confusing to know how to train your pet not to chew and even more confusing to know what’s covered on your home insurance when it comes to pet damage.

“Our handy guide clears up how to prevent your pet from chewing your home to pieces and how to go about claiming on your home insurance once the inevitable happens!”

Pugs Are The Most Tattooed Dog In The World

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:29:04 +0000

There’s no disputing the love we have for our four-legged friends, from a cuddly cockapoo to a loving labrador, they have definitely earned their place as a man's best friend. In fact, for many people their pooch means so much to them that they’ll have their favourite breed tattooed on them as a permanent symbol of their love.

Curious to discover which breed is the most popular in tattoo-form, pet insurance comparison site Money.co.uk analysed Google, Instagram and Pinterest data to discover the most searched for and posted dog tattoos to reveal which pooch is the most tattoo-worthy.

With nearly 25,000 Instagram posts alone, it’s the pug that is the most tattooed breed in the world. The small, wrinkled-nosed pooch has over 103% more tattoo-related posts than the French bulldog, who came in second place. Most famous for their wrinkly faces and cute curly tails, pugs are well-known for their playful and loving temperament, as well as being Queen Victoria’s favourite dog - she owned 38 in her reign. Interestingly, their small build is the complete opposite of many of four-legged friends in the top ten, such as a rottweiler and labrador.

Like the pug, the French bulldog, who takes second place, also shares the recognizable characteristics of a wrinkled face. Although the pug isn’t the smallest breed in the top ten – beaten by the Mexican-born chihuahua who comes in fourth place – it is much smaller in build than the likes of a Doberman pinscher who is third on the list and a rottweiler who ranks in the eighth position. You only have to look at the weights of our canine friends to understand the stark size difference of those appearing high up in the list; for example, an average-sized pug weighs around 8kg compared to a rottweiler who typically weighs 48kg.

Top 20 Most Tattooed Dog Breeds

Pug
French Bulldog
Doberman Pinscher
Chihuahua
Dachshund
Greyhound
Boston Terrier
Rottweiler
Poodle
Labrador
Beagle
Whippet
Schnauzer
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu
Jack Russell
Golden Retriever
Border Collie
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Chow Chow

Money.co.uk also analysed the popularity of popular pets to uncover the other animals we love enough to have permanently penned onto our skin. It’s surprising that the snake is the most popular species of choice when it comes to body art, beating cuter companions such as cats who were also found to rank above cute canines as a tattoo choice.

Most Tattooed Pets Overall

Snake
Cat
Bird
Dog
Fish
Turtle
Horse
Rabbit
Lizard
Tortoise

As a result of cats being transformed into tattoos more than dogs, Money.co.uk also looked into the specific breeds of felines that are most commonly tattooed onto our bodies. This research found that the number of sphynx cat tattoos is 820% larger than the next most popular breed of a Siamese cat. Famous for its furless skin, the sphynx cat originates from Ontario, Canada where they were developed through selective breeding in the 1960’s. The furless appearance is the complete opposite of the maine coon who is famously dubbed as ‘the gentle giant’ by Maine natives (of which it is the official state cat) due to its robust bone structure and abundance of fur.

Top 5 Most Tattooed Cat Breeds:

Sphynx
Siamese
Birman
Maine Coon
Persian

Your Pets Daily - animals

Brits care more about their pet's welfare and comfort than their own

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Fur-ocious pets costing owners £500 with home mishaps

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Pugs Are The Most Tattooed Dog In The World

Top 20 Most Tattooed Dog Breeds

Most Tattooed Pets Overall

Top 5 Most Tattooed Cat Breeds:

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