Cat and dog owners’ top 25 pet peeves include the animals stealing food, howling in the night, and walking across the kitchen counter.
A quarter of the 1,000 pet owners polled admitted they find their furry friends frustrating, at least some of the time, but 82 percent put the antics down to their cheeky character, while 7 in 10 find their misbehavior “endearing.”
It also emerged that 59 percent enjoy telling friends when their pets have been up to no good, including when they walk across their laptop while working and begging for food from the table.
Other quirky habits included the human-like habits of refusing to go out in the rain and making strange noises in their sleep.
“Like humans, pets have strong personalities, and for many they are a key companion and member of the family, especially if they’ve been by our side for a while, like my dogs Barney and Spiderman,” said Helen Skelton, a TV presenter and spokesperson for insurance provider Petplan, which commissioned the research.
“Lots of our pet friends have quirky traits; mine are quite different. One is forever disappearing into the garden with a shoe and our lab is no stranger to helping himself to the fruit bowl either, including bringing in a special ‘present’ or pinching sausages from the barbecue.
“Living on a farm surrounded by animals means that funny antics are a common occurrence – my dogs have been keeping me on my toes since day one, but like any other family member, that’s just their personality.”
The study also found 24 percent have had to deal with a “gift” of live animals being brought into the house, while 14 percent have had their buttered toast licked behind their back.
A fifth have watched in frustration as their pet totally ignored a brand-new toy – and chewed the rest of the house instead.
Despite this, 74 percent have a good relationship with their pet, while 8 in 10 believe that even when their pets are a cause of frustration, they wouldn’t change them in any way.
