Dearest dogs and costliest cats

You might think that owning a pet far outweighs the costs involved, but with the recession pushing up prices, a new survey has revealed that pet loving Brits spend £1.7 billion a year on cat & dog food alone.

The survey from M&S Money suggests that the princely sum was spent feeding the nation’s 14.5 million cats and dogs. And increasingly expensive tastes are partly to blame.

The report argues that consumers are becoming more concerned about what they feed their pets, with 90% of pet owners stating that they know that what they feed their pet affects its health and therefore they want to feed the best-quality food.

Pet owners who want to feed their cats and dogs a healthy diet but still keep costs down are increasingly turning to online pet stores. Bestpet, an online pet pharmacy and shop, has seen a 30% increase in sales of premium cat and dog food in the past year. The site sells pet medication and food costing up to 50% less than buying at the vets.

Charles Sweeney of Bestpet Pharmacy said:

“Obesity is an increasing problem among cats and dogs. Pets that carry too much weight can suffer from heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis.”

“Responsible pet owners who ensure their cats and dogs have a healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce expensive vet bills in the future.”