Modern life has no time for family pets

Family pets are becoming less popular despite recent growth in the pet food and petcare market, according to a new report.

The study, carried out by consumer monitors Mintel, has concluded that changes in traditional family life with fewer children, an increasing number of single-person households and households with two full-time earners is leaving many of us with little spare time to care for a pet.

The percentage of British households with a pet has fallen from almost 55 per cent in 1999 to fewer than half (48 per cent) today, reveals the report.

Mintel's senior retail analyst Katy Child said: "The falling number of children has contributed to this decline in pet ownership, as they are often the driving force behind buying a pet.?

Ms Child added: "What is more, even in those families that do have children, the demand for pets may not be as strong as it once was, since many kids now prefer to immerse themselves in the world of computer games and TV programmes.?

Despite these concerns, the value of the pet food and petcare market has continued to rise over the last five years.

Between 2000 and 2005, the market is expected to have increased by 24 per cent to reach an estimated £3.6 billion.