Brits are choosing to get a new pet in place of starting a family, according to a new survey. A total of 37 per cent of people said they would get their broody partner a pet instead of having children, according to the research conducted by Petplan, the UK’s leading pet insurance provider. The decision to put family life on hold in favour of nurturing a four-legged friend was almost equally divided between men and women, a meagre one per cent majority of men preferring pet ownership to fatherhood.

One in 20 married couples surveyed admitted to having already purchased a cat or dog instead of starting a family while 17 per cent of people got a pet because they didn’t like coming home to an empty house. A dog was the most popular pet to have in place of children followed by a cat.

The survey also revealed that you can forget names like Rover, Buster and Fluffy, pets are more likely to be named Molly, Alfie and Charlie.

The popular human monikers have now become favourites among pet owners with eight of the top ten pet names more commonly used to name children.

A spokesman for animal insurance specialists Petplan, said: “This research shows that we are treating our pets more like members of our family than ever before, and we are even naming them as we would our children. Our records show, the way we name our pets often reflects what is happening in society at any given time. For example, we saw a sudden rise in the name ‘Alfie’ when Shane Richie’s character in Eastenders became popular. And just last week, we had a customer register two kittens named ‘Credit’ and ‘Crunch’!”

Further findings from the survey showed:

• Molly and Willow are the most popular names for a cat, while Molly is a common name for dogs, rabbits and reptiles. Oscar is the favourite name for a rodent such as a gerbil or hamster, and Holly, Bobby, Rocky and Sparky are among the top choices for birds;
• A worried 32 per cent of people practised calling possible pet names out loud before making a final decision to make sure the name wasn’t too embarrassing;
• Twenty-three per cent of people say their pet’s name was chosen by a combination of family members, while 18 per cent let the children decide what to call the animal;
• Forty-five per cent of people chose their pet because it was loving and 34 per cent said its faithfulness was the main reason for choosing it; and
• Eleven per cent of Brits named their pets after a food or drink.

Dogs or cats: it’s an emotive subject likely to start heated debates between cat and dog lovers nationwide. Tesco Pet Insurance conducted a survey to shed some light on the subject. In a recent poll of pet owners 58% said they would rather own a dog. While dogs were described as loyal and affectionate, cats are seen by respondents as being lazy and arrogant.

Unsurprisingly, when asked how individuals would choose to spoil their pets a majority said affection and food. When asked which pet they would most like to spoil, 56% of the poll said dog while a measly 24% preferred to spoil their cat. Amazingly 3% of pet owners would spoil their pets with clothing and holidays abroad and for once this wasn’t the opinion of WAGs as the 3% were mainly male respondents.

Janet Wickens, Cats Protection’s Director of Fundraising and Communications said: “According to the most recent figures published by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, the number of pet cats and dogs across the UK is very similar and as the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection is glad to hear that so many people understand and value the companionship and joy that both cats and dogs bring to millions of households.”

Allan Burns, Head of Tesco Pet Insurance says, “Our survey suggests that we really are a nation of dog-lovers, while cats unfortunately didn’t fare as well. This may be down to characters like Lassie contributing to the reputation of dogs, saving children from the bottom of wells and dragging the unconscious from train tracks. Cats on the other hand are famous for their evil owners such as Blofeld, and Dr. Evil. However, it was interesting to see the strength of responses, which goes to show how much as a nation we care about our pets.”

Sainsbury’s Finance has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it is to publish a code of conduct for cat and dog owners in the UK. Recent research by the Bank has revealed that pet obesity in particular is a real issue in the UK with more than four in 10 (43%)(1) of the cats and dogs seen by Britain’s vets considered to be overweight.

Sainsbury’s Finance warns that many medical conditions suffered by our cats and dogs are linked to or worsened by being overweight, and that allowing your pet to become overweight could put a strain on the purse strings because of the extra vet fees and medication costs. Furthermore, the Bank advises that those with pet insurance could be risking invalidating their claim as they could be found to have not taken proper care of their pet dog or cat.

The findings, which come from a survey of veterinary surgeons across the country(1), reveal that they are seeing more overweight dogs than cats, with almost half (47%) of all dogs seen by vets being described as overweight. More than one in four (26%) dogs were considered obese, with 21% being described as slightly overweight. There is also a weight problem amongst cats however, with 19% of them being classified as obese, and 20% considered slightly overweight, giving a total of 39% who are overweight.

Neal Devine, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager said: “A code of conduct may seem daft to some, but we and the vets we interviewed for our research are seeing the effects of poor pet care first hand. A worryingly high proportion of cats and dogs are being taken to the vet because of issues linked to their weight. People often think they are being kind to their pet by giving it treats, but being overweight can influence and worsen many medical conditions in pets, such as osteoarthritis and respiratory disorders.”

In addition to the issue of obesity, over the last year, Sainsbury’s Finance has seen a 28%(2) increase in the number of claims linked to behavioural problems, which it believes may be in part due to owners not paying enough attention to the specific needs of their pets, such as how much attention they require or whether they are happy being exposed to other animals.

Sainsbury’s Finance’s Pet Insurance includes up to £250 a year for treatment of behavioural problems.

(1) Based on independent telephone market research of 100 veterinary surgeons in July 2008
(2) Based on analysis of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance data

Despite recession, a specialist pet insurer, Animal Friends Insurance, is reporting a 40 percent increase in pet owners purchasing insurance policies to care for the health and wellbeing of their pets.

A startling fact found in research done by Sainsbury’s Finance in September, shows that 1.6 million pet owners have had to put down at least one pet dog or cat in the last five years because of not being able to cover a vet bill. To avoid this unnecessary heartache many are looking into getting lifetime policies for their pets.

As budgets tighten in the recession, families are cutting back on meals out, luxury food items and next year’s holiday. However, it seems that these same
families are making a big effort to purchase pet insurance as a precaution.

Elaine Fairfax, Founder and MD of Animal Friends, commented: “More claims are made for pet related illness rather than accidents. Similarly, insurers are reporting that they find claim ratios are 1 in 4 and often as high as 1 in 3 for pets requiring veterinary treatment each year. Another important fact is that veterinary fees are rising faster than inflation and pet insurance claims are made more frequently than other household or car insurance claims.”

“With Christmas just around the corner there will be many new pet owners and it is even more important at a time like this that the annual message gets across:
there is a cost to caring for pets. People wanting impartial advice on pet insurance can visit www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cut-pet-insurance-
costs,” added Elaine.

Animal Friends are unique in the pet insurance sector as they are a not-for-profit company. All their net profits made from the sale of pet insurance policies go directly to charities which help animals in need. The charities that they provide aid to are worldwide and include Animal Asia, The Born Free Foundation, donkey and horse sanctuaries in Israel and the Gambia along with many others including smaller charities such as Somerset and Dorset Rescue and Woodlands Animal Sanctuary.

The company offers several levels of cover ranging from just a few pounds per month to comprehensive full lifetime policies to help protect pet owners against
unforeseen medical expenses for ongoing conditions such as arthritis and to give them peace of mind.

In a recession charitable donations are hit hard too. In response to this, Animal Friends has teamed up with The Mayhew Animal Home, one of the busiest animal sanctuaries in London, rescuing thousands of animals from cruelty and neglect each year.

To help the Mayhew’s important work, Animal Friends Insurance will be donating £5 for every policy sold when a pet insurance purchase is made right until the end of December 08, a buyer just has to give the promotional code MAY1 at the time of purchase to trigger the donation. So whether you phone Animal Friends Insurance to buy a policy - or buy online - mention the promotional code MAY1 and Animal Friends will earmark £5 towards this worthy cause on your behalf. The web site can be found at
www.animalfriends.org.uk.

In a report in the Dereham Times of Norfolk, David Green, spokesman for the RSPCA said, “The vast majority of responsible pet owners do get insurance. But people often do not appreciate the cost of vet treatment. People are out of touch with what it can cost. Insurance is a relatively small outlay in comparison.”

Following news of the missing cat epidemic in just six streets nicknamed the ‘Purrmuda Triangle’ in Woolaston in the West Midlands, Sainsbury’s Finance whose Pet Insurance provides up to £1,000 towards the advertising costs for a lost dog or cat, is reminding pet owners that the problem is not just limited to this area.

Research from Sainsbury’s Finance(1) reveals that over 1 million UK residents believe that they have had a pet cat or dog stolen over the past five years. Unfortunately, the research also indicates that if you lose your animal, the chances of you being reunited are slim, as some 61% of people who have suffered from a pet cat or dog going missing never saw them again.

Neal Devine, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, said: “It is clear that the problem is rife in Woolaston, we hope someone will soon step forward with some information that will help the police get to the bottom of what is happening to these animals. Our research shows that cats are almost seven times more likely to go missing than dogs(1) but it’s very difficult to know for sure if a missing cat has been stolen, lost or suffered an accident. The scale of the problem is also underestimated because it’s not always reported to the police - only 12%(1) of people who have lost their pet over the past five years actually notified them.
“Many victims of lost or stolen cats and dogs may find that their pet insurance policy will offer little or no support towards the recovery of their pets. Around a quarter(2) of all pet insurance policies offer no reward for their return and will not provide financial assistance to owners who want to try and find their missing pet by placing advertisements. We think this should be covered as standard.”

Sainsbury’s Finance believes that there are three main reasons why pets are being stolen:

Resale price: Some pets are stolen because of their value. Bengal cats for example, are becoming increasingly popular with cat owners but they are very expensive to buy. Costs can vary from between £500 to thousands of pounds. Thieves stand to make a lot of money by stealing pedigree animals and selling them on.

Breeding: Pedigree animals can be stolen for breeding purposes. Puppies and kittens from certain breeds are sold for hundreds or thousands of pounds each.

Ransom: Some pets are stolen and then offered back to their owners for a ransom. In these cases criminals often demand thousands of pounds for the safe return of a pet.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance provides up to £1,000 towards the advertising costs for a lost dog or cat and up to £750 compensation if the pet is lost or stolen and not returned. Through a partnership with Missing Pets Bureau the bank also offers pet owners FREE pet ID tags that link to microchips and DNA identification.
In an attempt to secure the safe return of their pet, 71% of people who had their cat or dog go missing over the past five years, turned to their neighbours for help, 44% put up posters in their neighbourhood and 13% placed an advertisement in the local paper(1). Two in five (40%) informed the RSPCA or equivalent local dog or cat home of their lost pet, whilst only 12% contacted the police.

Sainsbury’s Finance offers the following tips on how to reduce the chances of your pet going missing or worse, being stolen:

• Ensure that your pet wears a collar and pet identification tag
• Have your pet micro-chipped. This takes seconds and is virtually painless. Consult your local vet for details
• Keep garden boundaries as secure as possible to prevent your dog from escaping and also to deter thieves from entering
• Always supervise your dog, whether it is in your own garden or in a public area
• Try to avoid tying your dog up outside a shop or leaving it unattended
• If you use a dog walker, make sure that they are reputable
• Vary your routes when walking your dog

Pet ID tags provided by Missing Pets Bureau and Sainsbury’s link to microchips and DNA identification(3). They give 24-hour ‘Petback Protect’ support, 365-days-a-year, to get lost and stolen pets back to their owners fast. The tags are secure because they display a freephone number for people to call if they find a missing pet, and a serial number that links to the owner’s personal details on Missing Pets Bureau’s database. This is important as without the owner’s personal details, their identity is protected and a criminal cannot hold their pet to ransom.