Britons ‘falling out of love with their pets’

From John Bull’s bulldog to Greyfriars Bobby, our fondness for dogs and cats has long been an essential British stereotype.

But the UK’s status as a nation of animal lovers could be coming to an end because of our ageing population and the boom in house prices, experts say. Retail analysts Mintel forecast a drop in sales of products such as pet food over the next five to 10 years as fewer people keep animals because of their personal circumstances.

More older people, a smaller proportion of children and a rise in families living in rented homes where pets are unwelcome may end Britain’s long attachment to animals, they say.