GETTYIn 2012 we spent nearly £8million on animal accessories
Pets are the gift we simply cannot stop giving to every day of our lives. Pampering our pets is a national obsession.
Most of us tell our animals we love them at least twice a day and almost one in four owners share their beds with their cats or dogs.
Many of us trust them more than our partners.
When it comes to spoiling them, our generosity seems to hold no bounds.
In 2012 we lavished £779million on animal accessories and this fi gure is expected to rise to £884million over the next two years, according to a recent report from Pets at HomeTreating family animals to a toy or favourite nibble is not just a pursuit confined to the festive season.
Be it birthdays, high days or holidays, there is a vast market of goodies to suit all pockets and for all occasions.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, providing another reason for besotted owners to use all that cupboard love, I asked Amazon.co.uk if it could provide an overview of the nation’s spending habits on pet treats.
The overall headline statistic was incredible, with the company revealing that product sales have increased by 58 per cent year on year.
To help see who is buying what and where for their animals,Amazon has also drawn up a map which reveals a decidedly eastern bias for the nation’s most pampered pets.
Felines in Liverpool and Leeds should be among the most relaxed pets as owners purchase more massaging toys
Norwich leads the way followed by Colchester and Cambridge. Other towns and cities marked out for their devotion are Reading, Southampton, Peterborough, Doncaster, Bristol, Nottingham and Swindon.
Looking at sales in more detail, the citizens of Norwich top the spending league by spoiling their cats with all manner of goodiesmicrowaveable warm fleece blankets for the cold weather being a particular favourite.
The finding shows that felines in Liverpool and Leeds should be among the most relaxed pets as owners purchase more massaging toys for cats than any other city, while in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen they spend high on pet shampoos and conditioning products, meaning dogs north of the border should have the shiniest coats.
Owners in Manchester buy themost health supplements for their dogs, while in London dogs are also well catered for.
They tuck into dishes served up by the UK’s fastest growing pet food brand, Lily’s Kitchen, which spurns mass produced products.
Its bestsellers are Slow Cooked Lamb Hotpot for Dogs and Venison and Wild Rabbit Terrine for Dogs.Amazon, says: “Britain is well known for being a nation of animal lovers.
Up and down the country, our customers are seeking out the perfect way to spoil their four-legged friends, from luxury food to bedding and entertainment.”
It is a sentiment shared by Melis del Rey, pet supplies manager at Amazon.co.uk Ltd, who adds: “No longer are customers only treating the family pet at Christmas time.
“The nation’s dogs, cats and even goldfish are enjoying the very best of everything all year round. The luckiest pets can be found in the east of England, in towns and cities such as Norwich, Colchester and Cambridge.”
One thing about pouring affection on our pets is that it must be done responsibly.
Cuddles and kisses are very much human behaviour and there have been warnings about being too demonstrative towards animals, particularly cats as it can upset them.
As Claire Stallard, animal behaviourist at Blue Cross pet charity, explains: “We all love our pets and they are a huge part of our lives but it is important to remember that pets might not show affection the same way we do.
"Not all pets appreciate being cuddled, for example, and many pets will find you staring deep into their eyes quite intimidating.
“Pets might prefer to show their affection by bringing you a toy to play with or greeting you when you get home.”
Paws for thought
THE UK’S leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection, says the recent “kitty couture” fashion of dressing up pets and posting online pictures could cause them stress and injuries.
The trend, which originated abroad, was condemned by Cats Protection’s clinical veterinary officer Beth Skillings: “Forcing cats into clothes can be incredibly stressful.
It restricts movement and makes them less able to express their normal behaviour, such as grooming. More importantly, clothing can get caught on furniture or other household objects resulting in injury to the cat.”
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