Pets can bring so much joy to our lives. Whether it’s taking the dog out for a walk through the countryside, curling up on the sofa with the cat, or letting the rabbits out for a hop around the garden, there are few things more satisfying than the loyal companionship of our furry friends.
There are numerous benefits to pet ownership and they become as much a part of the family as any immediate relations. But everyone has different rules in the home. Some owners are more lenient than others, so what exactly are our animals allowed to get away with?
To find out, fitted bedroom furniture specialists Hammonds conducted a survey of 2,000 people to see which behaviours we’re happy to turn a blind eye to.
How many pets are there in the UK?
Data from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association reveals that dogs were the most popular UK pets in 2021 with a total of 12.5 million, with 33% of households estimated to own one. In comparison, it’s believed there were 12.2m cats, in just over a quarter (27%) of homes. Rabbits and indoor birds were next on the list, owned by 2% of households with totals of 1.1m and 1.3m respectively.
What do we allow our pets to get away with?
The Hammonds study looked into ‘naughty’ behaviour and perhaps unsurprisingly, letting our pets sit on the sofa came out on top of the list. More than half (51%) of respondents admitted to letting that slide, while 41% would allow them to sleep in the bed.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (24%) would not tell their animal off if it begged for treats, and almost that many (22%) would even allow them to share a bit of their food.
Who’s softer with their pets, men or women?
The research shows that women tend to be softer with their pets. For example, 45% said they would allow their animal to share their bed, whereas only 34% of men would encourage that behaviour. That theme continues when it comes to letting pets sit on soft furnishings (58% vs 42%), while 16% of women admitted their pet was spoilt. In comparison, only 11% of men said the same.
Kirsty Oakes, Hammonds’ Head of Product and Marketing, said that the findings proved who was really in charge:
“What is most surprising is that so many of us turn a blind eye when it comes to our pets misbehaving; something that we are not prepared to do for other members of our household,” she said. “This appears to be the case even in extreme circumstances such as allowing pets to sleep in our bed or pinch our food. If anything, this research has really shown us who rules the roost at home.”
