As much as they love their animals, almost one in five pet owners admitted they have come close to re-homing their pet because of the damage they caused around the house. 43% of people interviewed said they had to repair or replace scratched or chewed sofas, whilst others complained of torn curtains, chewed cables and damaged carpets.
Our infographic shows that during its lifetime a typical pet can cause more than £650 worth of damage to its owner's home and belongings. Whilst some insurance companies will pay out on accidental damage by pets, some costs such as those arising from chewing, scratching or fouling may not be covered, so as a pet owner it is worthwhile checking your household policy.
However, many incidents probably could be avoided if these pets had been trained correctly and preventative measures had been taken as soon as an animal was acquired.
Deodorising products and deterrents are available from all pet stores, and many vets will give advice on how to deal with a puppy using a door as a teether, or a cat using your favourite chair as a scratching post.
63% of pets have scratched or chewed the carpets and nearly half of the people surveyed have suffered damage to their chairs.
Did you know research found that even though cats and dogs are to blame for the damage of our homes, guinea pigs and hamster are also capable of causing havoc and destruction! Our infographic has more useful suggestions to stop your pet causing damage in your home.