New research has revealed the lengths animal lovers in Britain will go to to keep their furry friends warm.
A study by npower shows that we may be spending more on energy than we think, with a shocking 73.4% of pet owners turning on electrical appliances just for their pets.
Researchers polled 2,000 British animal lovers to find the lengths they will go to to keep their furry family members warm and the most-used devices to keep them happy.
The research shows that protecting our pets from the cold goes much further than wrapping them in a blanket, adding extra hay into their bedding or buying a coat for their frosty walks.
The npower study shows that 41.05% of homeowners turn their heating on purely for their pet and nearly 8% run hot baths for them. This pampering adds up and could cost £2.30-£2.90 a day.
There seems to be a clear division in the treatment of cats and dogs, with dogs receiving 20% more electrical luxuries. Not only are dogs more likely to receive heating and baths but are also given higher quality entertainment, food and safety by their owners.
Dogs in the UK are also treated to warm meals more frequently than cats with their food being microwaved so that it tastes better. Over 8% of dog owners are heating up their dinners on these cooler nights versus just over 5% of cat owners.
If you worry that your pet will get lonely while you’re out, you’re not alone as 32% of dog owners leave the TV on for their canine pals, compared to just 15% of cat owners. They are also far more likely to leave a radio on for them at 38% against 22.56% of cat owners.
Dog owners were also nearly twice as likely to put their pet’s safety first by installing a carbon monoxide alarm than cat owners. Over 15% of dog owners admitted to installing the device for their dog against 8.69% of cat owners.
Even in the summer, pets across the UK are responsible for high electricity consumption with 25.3% of owners admitting they put a fan on to keep their pets cool.
With 29.92% of dog owners and 17.53% cat owners switching it on for their pets, it seems we’re more than willing to keep our furry friends cool despite the extra costs.
Although few people in the UK have air conditioning in their homes, 645% of those asked turned their air conditioning units on for their pets, with 7.48% of dog owners turning it on for them.
