Pampered Pets – How Much Do Brits Spend On Their Pets? [Infographic]

People adore pets in the UK, and nothing brings more warmth to people’s hearts than the love of a furry, feather or even scaly little pal. From being greeted at the door by a waggy tail and adoring eyes to cuddles on the sofa, pets bring so much joy to people’s lives that they have become almost as integral to our homes as our family members.

Even less-animated pets such as goldfish and guinea pigs are placed in surprisingly high esteem in British households. People base their routines around them, let them sleep in their beds, and celebrate special occasions such as birthdays with them. What’s more, the love they give their owner means so much to people that they just can’t stop themselves from pampering them in return – even, it seems, when it comes to buying them luxury items that they don’t understand the value of! But when they’re that cute, can you blame them?

While it’s understandable that people want to give something back to their animals for how happy they make them, it does raise the question of whether they’re taking their need to show affection just that little bit too far. As the below infographic from Capital One shows, among those with animals, the vast majority have been known to bestow extravagant gifts upon them, putting them in danger of becoming pampered pets rather than furry friends.

How Much Is Too Much?

Pets may enrich our lives – they make great companions, improve our fitness and wellbeing, and give us more responsibility – but they’re not cheap (and that’s without them being pampered). With things such as insurance, food and health check-ups, grooming, already making a considerable dent in our finances, it could be argued that extras such as expensive toys and personalized accessories are simply not necessary. It’s just that pampered icing on top of the cake.

However, if you’ve got the cash to spare and it makes you happy to treat your pet, then there’s no harm in the odd upmarket gift here and there. But the amount of money spent on luxury items for animals across the UK is far higher than you might expect – then there are the presents themselves, which range from the sublime (fur coats) to the truly ridiculous (doggy treadmills). It’s not unusual that animals get more pampered than the owner.

More Than Just Furry Friends

Owning a pet goes even further than showering them with cuddles and buying them toys – for lots of people, their animals are part of the family, which means they involve them in every aspect of their lives. If you think birthdays and Valentine’s Day are occasions only to be celebrated among humans, then think again. It seems that these dates, among others, are events Britons like to share with their pets as well, and the amount they splash out on gifts to mark these special occasions is more than you’d expect to be spent on most people.

Have you treated your pet to a luxury gift recently? How much is too much to spend on your animals? Check out the pampered pets infographic below to compare yourself with other pet owners in the UK and find out more fun facts!