Fat-cat insurers lick their lips

Fat-cat insurers lick their lips

Britain's obesity epidemic has spread to the country's pets, with the UK becoming a nation of fat cats and porky pooches, according to supermarket group Asda.

Four out of five vets now describe obesity as a significant problem for British pets, according to the Asda research, with two-thirds saying that they are treating record numbers of overweight moggies and doggies.

Figures show that the number of pet insurance claims related to obesity in 2003 was double the total made in 2000.

Many of the vets say that around a quarter of the cases they now treat are for obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis, breathing difficulties and diabetes.

While the NHS buckles un der the pressure of human diseases triggered by obesity, the average pet owner is now forking out between £150 and £200 for a visit to the vet with an overweight animal.

Instead of filling its shelves with a new range of Atkins-compliant cat chow or diet dog food, Asda is instead encouraging pet owners to take out insurance to cover the rising costs of treating overweight pets.

It is offering a policy with £1,500 of cover for vet bills for each illness or injury.

The supermarket has also jumped on the bandwagon of fad diets by publishing its own "Catkins" diet - a list of dietary and exercise guidelines to help keep pets healthy.

Pet insurance has become big business. Other supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's.....continued below

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and Marks & Spencer have been pushing products, as have a number of more established insurers and banks.

There are 14 million cat and dog owners nationwide. Pet insurance has become the third most common type of cover after car and home insurance.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003