Besotted "parents" are raising a generation of spoilt, selfish and pampered pets, new research reveals today.
Besotted "parents" are raising a generation of spoilt, selfish and pampered pets, new research reveals today.
Cats and dogs are living the high life and costing their owners more than Ł7 billion a year to look after says the "Pampered Pets" research from Norwich Union.
The study shows that some owners are just unable to say no to their four-legged friends.
- Nearly one in six pets (14 per cent) dine on fresh meat rather than tinned food
- One in ten get birthday or Christmas presents
- Seven per cent have their own easy chair
- Eight per cent get into bed with their owners
Pets also get one-off treats. The research revealed cats and dogs that had been given christening gowns and self-portraits. Troubled pets also got psychiatric counselling.
More than two million people admit to taking more care over their beloved cat or dog than themselves. Nearly one in six (14 per cent) owners have forsaken buying clothes and 12 per cent have given up holidays to care for their pet.
Ian Bettridge, product development manager at Norwich Union, said: "It used to be Dad who had an armchair that no one else could sit in. Now, apparently, it's Rover.
"We seem to have grown from a nation of animal lovers to a nation of animal worshippers. And for a good percentage of pampered cats and dogs, life couldn’t be sweeter."
Norwich Union has launched its first pet insurance product, "Cats and Dogs", a policy aimed at helping Britain's 14 million cat and dog owners cope with the rising vet bills.
Norwich Union is offering people a choice of two cover options under "Cats and Dogs" – Essential Cover for those unexpected events for a maximum of 12 months* and Lifelong Cover, where each illness and injury can be covered for a lifetime.**
Premiums start at Ł8.30 per month for dogs and Ł4.69 per month for cats. Prices vary depending on location, age and breed of pet and level of cover taken.
The benefits of Norwich Union's "Cats and Dogs" policy include:
- Vet fees
- Third party liability for dogs
- Death by illness or injury
- Loss or theft
- Advertising and rewards if your cat or dog goes missing
- Holiday cancellation if cat or dog needs emergency treatment
Ian Bettridge added: "Unfortunately there is no free health service for animals, and with one in three pets needing to visit the vet each year, all too often owners have to make cutbacks to meet these costs.
"We've launched our 'Cats and Dogs' product to help take the worry out of pet ownership so people can rest assured knowing that if something goes wrong, their pet can get the best treatment it needs.
"The most common injury – a broken leg – can cost up to Ł300 for a cat and Ł1,000 for a dog."
For more details customers should contact Norwich Union Direct on 0800 107 0497 or visit the website at www.norwichuniondirect.co.uk.
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Media contacts:
Anick Purmessur or Matt Buchanan at QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424 or Lucy Haughey/David Ross at Norwich Union Press Office on 08703 66 68 67
Notes to Editors:
- Norwich Union commissioned Taylor Nelson Sofres to conduct research amongst 760 cat and dog owners across the UK during April 2003.
* Essential cover – provides cover for a set amount per injury or illness for 12 months only. If the monetary limit is used up before the 12 month period ends then there is no more cover for that condition. As it only covers for 12 months treatment from the date the injury happened, or the illness was first noticed, it doesn't offer long-term cover for chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer. ** Lifelong cover is an extensive policy that aims to provide cover for all conditions for the whole pet's life. Offering a maximum benefit for all claims made in any one policy year. Including chronic illnesses, the client can claim year after year, for the same condition, provided the policy remains in force. The limit in the policy is reinstated at renewal regardless of any claims in the previous year.
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer with a market share of around 16 per cent and is more than 1.5 times the size of its nearest rival. It is also the largest personal lines insurer.
- It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
- one in five households
- one in five motor vehicles
- more than 700,000 businesses
- Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com./media.
- An ISDN facility is available for studio quality broadcast. Call the press office on 08703 66 68 68.
- For all life & pensions media enquiries call 08703 66 68 73.
- For all other media enquiries call 08703 66 68 68.