Pets replace partners in our affections

Romance fans expecting a card from a secret admirer may be disappointed as Cupid’s arrow has singled out our pets over our partners as the object of Brits’ affections this Valentine’s Day.

Over a third (34%) of people admit they prefer to snuggle up on the sofa with their pet pooch or moggie than cuddle up with their partner according to the poll by swiftcover.com, the online insurance provider, indicating romance may not be on the cards for many couples on Wednesday.

When it comes to a relationship with long-term commitment, one in five pet owners (18%) would choose to share their home with their pet than their current partner. A further 34% of Brits simply can’t choose between living with their pet or their partner, with furry friends winning as big a place in our hearts as our significant ‘other’.

My ‘furry’ Valentine

The shops may well be full of Valentine’s Day cards, gifts and trinkets for would-be lovers, but one in eight pet owners (12%) plan to give a Valentine’s Day card to their pet!

Boyfriends and husbands are being pushed out of women’s affections by man’s best friend -the dog or cat. Nearly one in ten women (9%) would send a Valentine’s Day card to their pet. A further 42% of women would choose to snuggle up with their pet pooch than their boyfriend.

Animals are Magic for Southerners

Southerners place their pets highest in their affections, with one in five people in the region (20%) revealing they would rather share their home with their pet than their partner. People in the South West are the second biggest pet lovers, with 17% admitting they would prefer to share their home with their pooch than their partner.

Tina Shortle, Marketing Director, at swiftcover.com comments: “It seems some people’s pets may be more pampered than their partners this Valentine’s Day as traditional romance is replaced with spending quality time with our pets. Brits are well known for being animal lovers, but preferring to spend time cuddled up with the dog or cat over a partner reveals man’s best friend is the primary object of many people’s affections, with gifts and pampering sessions lavished on their pooches rather than their Valentine.”