Cats and dogs to suffer master separation syndrome

This year, Sainsbury's Finance estimates that over 60,000 cats and dogs in Britain could suffer from "Master Separation Syndrome" - a term coined by the Bank to describe the mental trauma caused by their owners separating.

Sainsbury's Pet Insurance offers a range of benefits including up to £1,000 per condition for complementary treatments and £250 a year for behavioural problems. Over the last year, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance has seen a 28% increase in the number of claims linked to behavioural problems, the Bank believes that Master Separation Syndrome is one of the reasons for this.

Neal Devine, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance Manager said: "If a couple separating have pets, their animals can also suffer from the anguish and stress caused by the breakdown. Cats and dogs can be very susceptible to their owner's feelings and if they sense they are unhappy they can easily become agitated and depressed."

"Pet owners should be aware that good quality pet insurance doesn't just cover vet fees but will provide cover for behavioural issues as well.

"Also, if you suddenly become reliant on one income to look after a pet the need for pet insurance will usually be greater as it will help you to cope more easily with any large unexpected vet bills."

Sainsbury's Finance estimates that the cost of owning a pet is increasing by around 5% a year. Indeed, it has calculated that the lifetime cost of owning a dog bought today stands at around £9,000, while the corresponding figure for a cat is around £7,000.

Despite the rising costs of veterinary bills, its research shows that as many as 11 million British pet owners have no insurance cover for their pet cats and dogs.

Good quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive, good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around. Sainsbury's Pet Insurance is designed to offer some of the widest range of benefits available at a competitive price. For further information visit sainsburys.co.uk