Got home insurance for your PET? Dogs and cats spark thousands of claims but not all policies cover you

While many might think they only need pet insurance to protect their pooch, insurer Aviva has dealt with 6,000 claims over the last five years for damage to the home caused by four-legged friends.

From a dog smashing a window by headbutting it in fury at the sight of a neighbour's hound, to a pair of cats knocking over and smashing a television, pets have been causing carnage up and down the country.

In one case, a customer put in a claim for a smashed laptop screen caused by their dog jumping on a coffee table.

Another claim was made after an owner discovered her dog had eaten her rings.

Owners also regularly trip over their pets causing damage to their homes or belongings, analysis of Aviva's claims shows.

Some simply lose items while walking their dog. Mobile phones, earrings, bracelets and watches topped Aviva's list of lost items.

However, not all home insurance policies cover customers for these incidents, with accidental damage needed to allow a claim to be considered.

Including accidental damage cover with your buildings and contents home insurance adds around £50 to your annual premium, on average, NimbleFins research shows.

Erin Yurday, CEO and co-founder of NimbleFins, said: "It can really be worth the cost especially if you have a pet.

"Accidental damage cover protects against lots of other mishaps like red wine spilled on your carpet, a smashed window, a dropped TV, etc.

"Portable electronic equipment (e.g., a laptop) may be excluded, along with clothing, so be sure to read the fine print of your policy to know what is, and isn't, covered.

"If an item is excluded under accidental damage, it may be covered under personal belongings cover, so be sure to check that section as well."

Carpets, windows, sofas and electricals were the most common victims to a pet mishap, Aviva said.

Hazel Johnson, director of home and motor claims for Aviva, said: "While most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic animals, accidental damage cover for other incidents can be a valuable addition to standard home contents policies."

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