Brits are barking mad about pets

British couples who own a pet are finding that the animal is literally coming between them according to research from Halifax Pet Insurance. 2.8 million Brits in relationships share their bed with the pet cat or dog often resulting in the four legged friend having a better night's sleep in the best spot on the bed. The attention lavished on our beloved pets doesn’t stop there either.

Over 1.1 million pet owners take the phrase 'the dinners in the dog' to a whole different level. These people go to the trouble of preparing fresh meals for their pets as they believe it is better than the tinned variety. Over 650,000 Brits admitted to cooking for their pet more often than they do for the family or partner.

Pets and singletons

Over 1 million Britons have acquired a pet as a substitute for having children or having a partner according to the new research giving the term 'puppy love' a literal meaning.

Dr Roger Mugford, Animal psychologist from ‘The Company of Animals’ in Surrey, commented:

“More and more people are waiting longer to settle down, get married and have children. Others are spending more time in virtual relationships conducted over the internet. But we still need to stimulate our base instincts to nurture, love and protect. Owning a pet allows them to re-establish that link. Truly, pets are family!”

Top cats and boss dogs

The research published by Halifax Pet Insurance reveals that 1.5 million British homes are ruled by top cats and boss dogs with their owners admitting the pet is the real ruler of the household. Barking mad pet owners will do anything to please their pets, allowing them to dictate everything from the time they eat their meals, the amount of exercise they take and even the time they go to bed.

Our pets are determining the timing and intensity of 2.3 million Britons’ exercise regimes, which revolve round the fitness needs of the animal and not the owner. Collapsing on a sofa to rest after 'walkies' may be difficult. Such a thing could potentially upset the family pet as over a quarter of all dogs and cats have a dedicated seat of their own on the family sofa.

Dog tired

Running the house around the family and pet can be tiring but getting a decent night sleep is dependant on what the pet has planned that evening. Insomniac and sleepy dogs and cats will prove a nightmare for the one-in-ten pet owners who allow their animal to dictate their sleeping patterns. These 2.1 million owners will schedule the time they go to bed and rise each morning around the sleeping patterns of their pet. If the pet is up, it seems so too are the owners.

Pet passports

Halifax Pet Insurance’s research reveals millions of pet owners cannot bear to be parted from their pet even for a short vacation each year. Over 2.4 million pet owners always book holidays that are pet friendly, refusing to go to a destination that will not allow their pet to stay with them. Over six hundred thousand pet owners suffer from what Halifax Pet Insurance has termed ‘Pet Separation Syndrome,’ where people become so attached to their animals that they will even call home to speak to their pets when they travel abroad on holiday.

62% of cat and dog owners who do feel they are able to leave their pet at home will ask family members or friends to look after them. This is because they wouldn’t be happy with going on holiday and leaving the pet in a strange place they weren’t familiar with, and being looked after by people the animal didn’t know.

Vicky Watson, Products Manager, Halifax Pet Insurance, said, “Pet owners are so dedicated to their animals they would do anything to ensure they are happy, involving them in all aspects of family life. It’s easy to see why the pet is regarded as just as important in the family as they can offer a great deal of companionship and affection.”