New research from pet portrait specialists, Purr & Mutt, has found that UK pet owners are spending an average of £378 a year on their furry friends - that’s a national total of £4.5 billion every 12 months.
Unsurprisingly, dogs (67%) and cats (46%) are still the most popular pets in the UK, however perhaps more shocking is that pet birds (5%) now outnumber guinea pigs and hamsters (2%). This is especially true in Liverpool, which has the highest percentage of pet birds in the UK.
Average annual spend by pet is as follows:
Despite snakes making up less than 1% of all pets owned, that still accounts for around 48,0002 households keeping snakes as pets in the UK. On average, snakes are the most expensive pets to own at £420 a year.
Aside from necessities such as food, drink and insurance, gifts for pets also seem to be a priority, as 57% of owners said they’ll be buying their pet a gift this Christmas, with dog owners most likely to purchase a present.
Purr & Mutt have a great range of portraits available for Christmas - the perfect gift if you want to treat a family member (furry or not).