Sainsburys Bank has conducted a study into the cost of pet ownership to tie in with the pet insurance they offer. Findings show that owning a dog can take up around GBP9,000.
The figure quoted is the lifetime cost of ownership which includes the initial purchase of the dog as well as food, accessories vet bills and pet insurance. Sainsburys Bank also looked at the cost of owning a cat, which came in slightly lower at just over GBP7,000.
The survey also showed that pet insurance can actually reduce the overall cost of keeping a pet, since the survey included those without it who had to pay all vet bills themselves. Sainsburys Bank want all pet owners to consider the cost aspect of keeping an animal before going ahead to ensure both pet and owner have a long and pleasant relationship.
Such is the love that the UK population has for its pets that they actually have more pet insurance policies than health cover for themselves according to a new Tesco Finance study.
23 percent of pets in the UK had pet insurance cover bought for them last year said Tesco Finance, compared with just over 12 percent of people buying health cover. This means that nearly twice as many pets are covered than people and puts the UK in at number two in the table for the best pet care.
To further appeal to pet owners Tesco Finance pet insurance is being discounted by 20 percent for online purchases, with another 5 percent discount if more than one animal is covered.
A spokesperson from Hastings Direct has been talking about the importance of buying a quality pet insurance policy that focuses on the level of cover provided for injury and illness, and not the cheapest priced deal. Pet owners should try and buy the very best cover they can afford for their pet. Not all pet insurance policies are the same and they do offer vet treatment cover per incident at a capped fee or a lifetime policy that offers treatment for the rest of the pets life. Life time pet insurance is more expensive but provides better level of cover. It must be stated that regular health checks for your pet is not included in most pet insurance policies. Without insurance for your pet you run the risk of expensive medical bills if your pet becomes injured or ill and it needs medical treatment. There is no NHS for dogs and cats so consider getting an insurance policy to protect you financially if the worst should happen. See our pet insurance comparison table for the latest offers. Plus, reading our guides and tips pages can offer consumers more detailed information and money saving hints.
