New research by Mars Petcare UK and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has revealed that eight out of 10 dog owners in the UK are planning to put their pet on top of their Christmas gift list this year.

With Christmas shopping season now well underway, Mars Petcare UK and Battersea teamed up to survey pet owners across the country to find out whether our spending habits will include treating our pets to a gift under the tree, too. The research comes as Mars Petcare UK and Battersea celebrate ten years of partnership, marking the occasion with a partnership with Tesco to raise £100,000 for the charity this Christmas.

Eighty one per cent of the 498 UK dog owners who celebrate Christmas questioned revealed they would be treating their four-legged friend this festive season with a gift, with 40% planning to spend over £10. Almost a quarter of the survey’s participants (24%) plan to splash the cash even further by spending up to £20 on a Christmas treat for their canine companion.

Cats, however, don’t get the same treatment, with only 17% of cat owners who celebrate Christmas saying they would spend over £10 on their pet, compared to 31% who claimed they would be spending nothing on their cat.

Gosia Faras, Corporate Affairs Director at Mars Petcare UK says: “The UK is renowned for being a nation of animal lovers, so it’s no surprise that people want to treat their pets at Christmas. Pets really are part of the family, with 64% of owners wanting to include their pet in their seasonal celebrations. But it’s not just pet owners – at Christmas 21% of pet seasonal sales are bought by non-pet owners who want to treat the pets of family and friends."