Back to Cat Report 2005

More Money Is Spent On Cat Care With Pet Pampering

Reprinted with Express Permission from Masterfoods.

www.whiskas.co.uk


Spending on pets is currently at an all time high!

Fast facts:

  • The UK spends a whopping £4 billion on its feline friends every year.
  • Cat owners in the UK spend around £476 each year on their cats.
  • £18.7 million was spent on pets last Christmas alone.
  • 77 percent of people treat their cats at some point during the year4


The average UK cat owner spends an average of £476 a year on their pet, which includes veterinary bills, food, bedding and toys, making a grand figure of around £4 billion being spent on the feline population of the UK each year.

There has been a recent surge in pet owners insuring their pets to cover veterinary bills, cattery costs and the expense of looking for lost pets if they disappear. The average cost of insuring a cat for a year is £865, giving owners peace of mind about their beloved feline friends.

Many pet owners go that little bit further and like to treat their cats with gifts and even buy their moggy mate a stocking full of presents at Christmas. A survey by Whiskas found that women are more likely to treat their pets and 50% of people buy their pets a stocking full of presents.

East Anglia is a region of big spenders, lavishing around £791 million on their moggy mates, spending more on their pets each week as a proportion of their weekly shopping bill.

Women are also spending 20% more on keeping their kitties happy than ten years ago, but spending on kitten heels has fallen by 46% over the same period!

Senior spending is at an all time high with owners doting on their golden oldies to provide them with the highest quality meals and healthcare to keep them younger for longer.

How much kitty cash we spend v our groceries!

Region Kittens Nppies Adult Cats Cleaning Products Senior Cats Soup
North £19m £3m £155m £61m £167m £10.9m
York & Humberside £16m £910,286 £135m £28m £145m £4.7m
East & West Midlands £26m £4m £212m £93m £229m £15m
South East & East Anglia £44m £7m £359m £161m £387m £25.4m
London £19m £1.6m £156m £32m £168m £5m
South West £17m £1.3m £143m £28m £154m £4.7m
Wales £7m £748,472 £61m £12m £66m £2.9m
Scotland £11m £625,586 £92m £18m £100m £4m


It seems that cats are now taking the place of children for young professionals and they are choosing to nurture and pamper their cats as they would their child.

This new social group unveiled by Whiskas is the KITTY (Kids In Ten or Twenty Years), women (or men!), aged 25 -35 who are:

  • Maternal but are not yet ready for kids.
  • Not wanting to be tied down and pride themselves on their independence.
  • Career focused.
  • Social life is a priority.
  • Enjoys having own place but doesn't want to be alone.


Due to a cat's independence, they can be the perfect low maintenance choice of pet for the Kitty man or woman to own. Having a cat allows the owner to enjoy a busy social life and career and enjoy reaping the rewards of unconditional love and companionship at home.

Back to Cat Report 2005

Return to top of page