We are a nation of “pawrents”, with seven in ten who prioritize their pet over their partner, new research has revealed.
Young pet owners refer to their pet as their “pet,” and more than a third (36 percent) say their family isn’t complete without an animal living at home .
Ninety-seven percent of 18- to 35-year-old pet owners surveyed said they love their pet as if it were their own child, while seven in 10 say they prefer spending time with their beloved pet than his partner.
A sixth (15 percent) like snuggling with their little one so much that they canceled plans with friends and family, and three quarters (76 percent) even canceled a party or special occasion because their animal was not well.
Most pet parents insure their pets, but one in five (19 percent) don’t, according to Post Office research.
Common reasons for not taking out pet coverage include the high cost (42 percent), not feeling the need to take out pet health insurance (33 percent) and their pet is currently healthy (25 percent).
Those without pet insurance spend an average of £632 a year on vet bills. Cat owners are less likely to have insurance (82 percent) compared to dog owners (84 percent).
The Post Office’s Paul Paddock said: “We’ve always known that the UK is a nation of pet lovers and it’s obvious from the research that being a pet is more important than ever to modern Britons.
“However, it is also clear that many underestimate how much it can cost to own and care for a pet, with more than half admitting that it is more expensive than they expected.”
The costs of keeping pets healthy are a concern for most pet parents. Three-quarters of pet owners (75%) say they panic about escalating pet bills, and 14% also choose not to take their pet to the vet when they’re sick, because they are concerned about the costs of growth.
A fifth (13 percent) admitted they regretted having a pet after seeing huge vet bills, while eight percent said rising costs had taken a toll on their mental health.
It’s no surprise that one in three (34 percent) say giving up a “fur child” you can’t afford is the most heartbreaking thing they can imagine.
The Post Office has created an online hub to help people calculate the cost of owning a pet. It can be found here.
