Each pet comes with their own personality, no matter what type of animal they are. In fact, some can even cost more in house damages than actual children. A 2022 analysis by Compare The Market found that 34% of British pet owners have claimed their home insurance compared to only 15% of parents.
The most common damage pet owners have to deal with are stained carpets (42%), damaged sofas (38%), ruined walls and skirting boards (35%), and broken ornaments and fittings (31%). The average sum of claims was £225, with pet owners forking out an average of £261 in London, £269 in Birmingham, and even £300 in Leeds.
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We call them good boys and girls, but some of them are far from that. In fact, according to a 2024 survey by Lemonade, 66% of pet parents say their pets are mischievous. 58% even admit that their pet was acting up last week. Interestingly, mishaps like chewed-up couches, soiled rugs, or torn-up books happen more often for newbie pet owners.
Only 36% of those who have owned their pet for more than six years admit that their pet has done something bad lately. On the other hand, 54% of new owners say they've been victimized by their pet and their unruly behavior in the last few days. Sometimes, this even results in the pet getting injured and requiring vet's attention: 16% of owners said their furball got themselves into that kind of a pickle in the last two years.
Dogs and cats are the most common culprits of destructive shenanigans. According to research from Novuna Personal Finance, dogs are responsible for more than £348 million in damages. Cats, in turn, have caused £279 million worth of damages.
Yet research by furniture retailers Thomas Sanderson shows that other types of pets can be just as unruly and destructive. Every year, rabbits cost their owners around £57 million worth of property damage. Rodents like gerbils, hamsters, and guinea pigs are no better as their owners have to shell out £20 million in repairs every year.
We tend to think that only dog and cat owners deal with behavioral problems, but owners of birds, guinea pigs, and even snakes can deal with unwanted discipline challenges. Bird owners, for example, have to deal with issues like feather-plucking and aggression (70%), biting (40%), and screaming (35%). Some owners might blame it on the pet's character, but the most common reason for misbehaving is a lack of stimulation.
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A whopping 60% of pet birds don't sleep well enough because of light exposure. Most birds are used to 12-hour cycles: 12 hours of light, and then 12 hours of darkness. But, in many parts of the world, pet birds are exposed to more light than needed, whether that's because of longer summers or indoor lighting during fall and winter months. Owners need to address these issues properly by using positive reinforcement, respecting warning signs, and reducing triggers.
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Small rodents like rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets usually misbehave by being destructive, disobedient, aggressive, and soiling nearly every surface of the house with inappropriate toileting. According to animal behavior expert Zazie Todd, PhD, these behaviors stem from inadequate housing and lack of space.
