Markerstudy Broking’s Purely Pets, a leading UK pet insurance specialist, has called on owners to make sure their pets are properly protected – after uncovering an increase in the number of cats and dogs swallowing objects that they really shouldn’t have during lockdown.
Statistics for a period of lockdown (April 2020-March 2021) show a 44% surge in claims for pets wolfing down ‘foreign’ objects, compared to the same time in the previous year.
Items ingested by Purely policyholders’ pets include: bones, Christmas tinsel, tennis balls, toys, socks, kebab skewers and even facemasks.
It’s thought that the surge in these types of claims may be a direct result of so many people working from home during lockdown – meaning they are more likely to witness their cat or dog getting into difficulty. In some cases, affected pets have faced surgery to have offending items removed.
Ross Hallifax, Affinity Director at Markerstudy Broking, said: “This clear upsurge in cats and dogs swallowing foreign objects could be down to the fact that families have spent more time at home for work and leisure over the last year which has resulted in more objects being present alongside a greater chance of witnessing these incidents.
“Our statistics highlight a worrying trend and we would call on all cat and dog owners to make sure their pet is covered. That way, they can have some peace of mind should their furry friend swallow something unwise, which could mean a hefty vet bill.”
Award-winning 5* Defaqto-rated Purely Pets, along with other Markerstudy Broking pet brands, recently celebrated its 100,000th policyholder.
