- 03
- Nov
Following recent media reports that there has been an outbreak of catnapping in Woolaston in the West Midlands, Sainsburys has urged people to consider pet cover to help get their animal back should it go missing.
According to the group, there has been a recent spate of reports of cats going missing from six streets in the Woolaston area, earning it the nickname of the Purrmuda Triangle. However, it reminded pet owners that the problem of animal theft is not limited to this area. As such, it iterated the need to make sure that they were protected against such an occurrence by taking out a comprehensive pet insurance policy which offers financial support in the event of an animal going missing.
For those who fail to do so, forking out for extensive advertising campaigns in an effort to get their animal back could result in people finding their finances are put under pressure. This in turn could make it difficult for them to keep up with electricity bills, credit cards and personal loan repayments.
Meanwhile, Sainsburys reminded people that when they are picking out their pet policy, it is important that the supplier offers support when it is most needed. It explained that around a quarter of insurance providers do not provide support in the event of an animal going missing or being stolen.
Taking out cover which does provide this type of assistance may be particularly important for the nations cat owners, after Sainsburys claimed that felines are seven times more likely to go missing than are their canine counterparts.
Among the reasons listed for the reported rise in the number of catnappings in the UK is that many have a strong resale value. The group explained that while Bengal cats have become more popular in recent years, they may be a prominent target for opportunistic thieves as they commonly sell from 500 pounds to several thousand pounds.
Commenting on the findings, Neal Devine, Sainsburys pet insurance manager, said: “It is clear that the problem is rife in Woolaston, we hope someone will soon step forward with some information that will help the police get to the bottom of what is happening to these animals. Our research shows that cats are almost seven times more likely to go missing than dogs, but its very difficult to know for sure if a missing cat has been stolen, lost or suffered an accident. The scale of the problem is also underestimated because its not always reported to the police - only 12 per cent of people who have lost their pet over the past five years actually notified them.”
For those who have lost an animal, be it a pedigree pooch or a common tomcat, taking out a loan may afford people the financial security to buy a new pet quickly, while leftover cash could be put towards a comprehensive insurance policy in an effort to reduce the likelihood of such an event occurring again.
While the current economic crisis may be driving up the number of pet thefts, Ray of Sunshine has pointed out that for many, the credit crunch has actually brought communities together, with 33 per cent of people saying that they have come to know the names of their neighbours pets as they spend more time with other residents in their area.
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