M&S offers tips if buying a cat or dog this Christmas

As many parents consider buying a cat or dog for their child this Christmas, M&S Pet Insurance is offering tips to potential pet owners.

According to research commissioned by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), nearly a third of people would consider giving a pet as a Christmas present.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: ‘Becoming a pet owner can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.

‘However owning a dog or cat requires a serious time and financial commitment. Unfortunately many people are not aware of this commitment, contributing to thousands of cats and dogs being abandoned in the UK each year.

‘Potential pet owners need to give careful consideration to how a dog or cat might impact on their lifestyles and pockets before deciding on a new animal addition to the family.'

There are a variety of benefits to taking out pet insurance, including cover for veterinary fees if a pet is injured or becomes ill.  M&S Premier Pet Insurance offers up to £7,000 a year in vets' fees for illness and injury

Other key features of M&S Pet Insurance include:

Cover from eight weeks with no upper age limit;

No time limit on treatment as long as your policy is in force;

Unlimited telephone access to a Vet Nurse 24/7 with Vetfone;

M&S Pet Insurance Premier Cover has been five-star rated for features and benefits by Defaqto, an independent research company.

M&S Pet Insurance tips when looking to give a home to a cat or dog:

Pick the right lifestyle pet - research has shown that one of the most popular reasons for owning a cat is that they are easy to maintain. A person with a busy schedule and less time to offer, should consider owning a cat as they are more independent and less demanding of time than a dog

Healthcare - vet bills can be costly and some breeds are more prone to illnesses than others. Before adopting a pet, it is worth researching which breeds are prone to potentially costly conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. By putting adequate pet insurance in place pet owners can safeguard against these costs.

Breed - the larger the dog, the larger the investment required in terms of exercise time and feeding costs on an ongoing basis.

Age - puppies will require more training time than an older dog. They may also require a greater upfront investment in terms of paying for vaccinations and spaying costs.

For more information about M&S Pet Insurance or to apply, customers can visit marksandspencer.com/petinsurance.