Pet Insurance Research Reveals Missing Animal Trends

Research sponsored by Sainsbury’s on pet insurance explores the incidents of lost companion animals and the methods that owners use to search. About 12% of cats and 4% of dogs were reported missing over the last five years; 55% never returned home. The method most frequent search method employed is a personal search of the neighborhood.

According to this research, owners are most likely to use the following methods to search for a lost cat or dog:

• Personal search of the neighborhood (68%)
• Quiz neighbors for details (65%)
• Search RSPCA or local cats’ and dogs’ homes/shelters (40%)
• Informing police (15%)
• Offering rewards (13%)
• Placing ads in the local newspaper (8%)

Approximately 12% of cat owners and 4% of dog owners have had a missing animal in the past 5 years, which is about 3.8 million people in the U.K.; 55% of these people did not see their companion animal again.

Of those who had lost a companion animal, 6% were adamant in their belief that the animal was stolen while 14% believed there was a “significant likelihood” that their companion animal was stolen.

Separate research conducted by Sainsbury’s found that 12% of cats and dogs under the age of three suffer from medical conditions that recur or lead to other illnesses later in life.