Half of UK couples buy a pet, then fall pregnant within a year
Nearly half (47%) of couples buy a pet before having a child, with a high proportion of them conceiving their first child within a year of buying the pet according to research released by The Co-operative Pet Insurance.
According to the survey pet paraphernalia is soon swapped for cots, bottles and prams with ‘peternal' instincts leading to ‘parental' instincts, with two fifths of couple's (40%) expecting their first baby within 12 months of taking on the responsibility of a pet.
Whilst 22% of these couples didn't feel ready to have a child when they bought their pet, over a fifth (14%) bought the pet because they couldn't afford to have a baby whilst 10% bought the pet to put their parenting skills to the test and to see if they could be responsible for something other than themselves.
More couples from the West Midlands (68%) fell pregnant within a year of buying their pet than any other region, with the least couples falling pregnant in Yorkshire and the Humber (11%).
In Wales, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are based with their new cocker spaniel puppy, Lupo, 16% of couples were expecting a baby before a year had passed from them initially buying their pet.
Animal owning celebrities who have recently given birth, or are due to, include Mariah Carey (Jack the Jack Russell), Hilary Duff (Lola the Chihuahua) and Jessica Simpson (Bentley the Airedale Terrier).
Falling pregnant so soon may have come as a surprise to many with the majority of couples who have a pet and are planning to have a baby believing that they will be expecting between one and two years of purchasing their pet, not within the first 12 months.
However for one in 20 (5%) looking after a pet has completely put them off ever having a child, whilst a fifth (20%) believing that pet ownership is enough of a responsibility for them and 14% feeling that they get enough love from their pet alone.
Lee Mooney, Head of Pet Insurance at The Co-operative Insurance, said: "Our findings show that for many couples pet ownership can be the first stage of starting a family.
"No doubt, having a pet leads to more responsibility and the findings show that this can lead couples to bring their baby plans forward or in some cases even abandon them completely!
"Who knows, we may be soon hearing a Royal pitter pattering of tiny feet soon with Kate and William recently welcoming a puppy into their home."
The Co-operative Insurance is offering customers the first two months pet cover for free when they take a policy out online before the end of March 2012. The Co-operative Pet Insurance is available online at co-operativeinsurance.co.uk.