60 per cent of the nation’s pets will receive between one and three gifts this Christmas

Regions spoiling their pets the most include the North East of England and Scotland

Amazon Christmas Store has delivered some of the bestselling pet presents to animals looking for their forever home at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – video & images available

LONDON, 15 December 2017 - With Christmas just ten days away, it’s the nation’s beloved family dogs that are most looking forward to a visit from ‘Santa Paws’, with Amazon revealing that 74 per cent of all pet Christmas presents have been bought for our canine companions.

The UK’s love for its furry friends knows no bounds with 60 per cent of pets due to receive between one and three gifts each this Christmas, according to an independent survey commissioned by Amazon.

Owners plan to spend an average of £13 on their pampered pets’ presents perhaps because, according to the research, one in ten people in the UK think that their pets are more appreciative of their Christmas gifts than other family members.

From gourmet treats and accessories to grooming products and cosy bedding, the top five regions who are indulging their pets the most this festive season are:

  1. North East of England – 72 per cent of owners are buying between one andthree gifts per pet this Christmas
  2. Scotland – 69 per cent of owners are buying between one andthree gifts per pet this Christmas
  3. West Midlands – 64 per cent of owners are buying between one andthree gifts per pet this Christmas
  4. Wales – 56 per cent of owners are buying between one andthree gifts per pet this Christmas
  5. London – 55 per cent of owners are buying between one andthree gifts per pet this Christmas


The bestselling 2017 Christmas pet gifts reveal that dogs are in line for a sumptuous Christmas dinner, with Pawsley Succulent Pigs in Blankets set to feature on doggie dinner plates, alongside a Christmas dinner in a stocking, with salmon for starter, turkey for the main course and cheese biscuits for dessert. Canines will also be dressed to impress with dog bow ties and reindeer Christmas collars some of the most popular pet accessories this festive season. A rough and tumble sensory toy and KONG Air tennis balls, two of the most popular dog presents, will keep Fido’s tail wagging on Christmas Day.

Cats won’t be left out, however, especially in the capital. When compared with sales of products for dogs, 90 per cent of pet products bought by Londoners this Christmas are for their feline friends, making London the biggest region of cat lovers. Items including a Christmas dinner cat stocking will be filling the bowls of the nation’s moggies this December. Lucky felines will also be pampered with luxury gifts this year - a fresh water drinking fountain and a heated fleece pad are ‘pawfect’ presents for cats up and down the country. Stockings will be bursting with toys, such as catnip playthings as well as more modern motion activated toys featuring prominently in the bestsellers list.

To make sure that even those animals without a family home have a happy Christmas, Amazon has teamed up with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to deliver a Christmas donation plus some of the bestselling pet presents to its residents. A video and images which capture the dogs’ and cats’ reactions as they received their gifts, are available to download here.

“As a nation of animal lovers, owners up and down the country are making sure that their pets enjoy the same festive experience as the rest of the household. With advent calendars, stockings, presents and Christmas dinners available especially for them, we even have a searchable ‘pets’ category on our gift finder this year,” said Jo Langrish-Dixon, Christmas Store Manager, Amazon.co.uk. “However, there are a lot of animals out there – like those at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – who are still looking for a family, and we wanted to make sure that they got some presents too. Amazon wishes all creatures great and small, a very merry Christmas.”

“It’s no surprise to hear the nation’s pets will be waking up to a magical Christmas this year, with lots of presents waiting for them under their Christmas tree. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for the dogs and cats in our care – and the best present we could give them this year is a loving new home,” said Gemma Smith, Battersea’s Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisor. “For some animals, spending time in an unfamiliar environment can be stressful so our staff and volunteers do all they can to make their stay with us easier – this includes playing with fun games and puzzles to help keep the animals’ minds active.  We’re grateful to Amazon for kindly donating presents to help bring some festive cheer to our homeless dogs and cats looking for a family this Christmas.”

Find the perfect presents for pet owners, animal lovers and pets by visiting the Amazon Christmas Store and using the Gift Finder at Amazon.co.uk/Christmas. The Gift Finder is a new way to shop for Christmas gifts on Amazon, using a simple search tool which generates gift suggestions based on the interests of the person - or animal - you are shopping for.

Be sure to visit the Last Minute Christmas Deals event, running from Monday 11th December to Friday 22nd December 2017 with Deals of the Day and Lightning Deals on categories including Gifts for Kids, Gifts for Adults and Christmas Food and Drink.

Established in 1860, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found, no matter how long it takes. For further information on Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, please visit www.battersea.org.uk.
- Ends -

For further information, interviews, video content or imagery please contact: 
Kayleigh Williams at Mission 
T: +44(0)20 7845 7800 
E: kayleigh@thisismission.com

Notes to editors

All data based on sales of pet products on Amazon.co.uk from 1st November – 6th December 2017.

Survey commissioned by Amazon.co.uk
Survey conducted by OnePoll
Survey Sample Size: 2,000 
Survey Demographic: UK adults that give and receive Christmas presents

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