Pet owners witness behavioural problems in cats and dogs

Some 3.35 million cat and dog owners have witnessed behavioural problems in their pet over the past 12 months, according to research from Sainsbury's Finance. This equates to some 18% of the nation's cats or dogs suffering from some kind of behavioural problem. The biggest problem seen by owners was damage caused to furniture by a troubled cat or dog, which was cited by 1.3 million pet owners.

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance Manager, said: "The current economic climate is placing a lot of people under increased stress, and unfortunately this anxiety can have an adverse effect on the household's pets. Cats and dogs can be very sensitive to their owner's feelings and behaviour so changes in mood such as irritability, distress or remoteness could be sensed and leave the animal themselves, agitated or depressed."

The bank's findings also revealed that cats and dogs suffer from a number of other behavioural conditions, including moodiness (5%), aggression (2%) and loss of appetite (2%). Depression was also cited by 1% of Britain's pet owners.

Sainsbury's Pet Insurance provides up to £7,500 per condition for veterinary treatments, including up to £250 a year for behavioural problems, and is offering 12 months for the price of 9 on all policies purchased online before 4th August 2009.

From a regional perspective, cats and dogs residing in the Yorkshire & Humberside region would appear to be suffering most from behavioural problems, with a quarter (24%) of owners citing their pets as demonstrating at least one problem. The least affected cats and dogs are to be found in the Eastern region, with only 9% of owners saying that their pets were suffering from adverse behavioural traits.

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