London named Europe’s most pet-friendly city

London has been named Europe’s most pet-friendly city, according to the ‘Pet-Friendly Cities Report’ by money.co.uk.

The report scored the continent’s most densely populated cities based on the ability to travel on public transport, pet-friendly rents and options for veterinary treatment.

London scored 82.5 out of 100 in the report, due to its wealth of parks and pet shops, while Paris and Rome scored 71 and 57.5, respectively.

Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “Our pets are part of the family. They provide us with endless amounts of companionship and help reduce our stress levels and increase our social activities.

“But before making the commitment to care for a pet, you must factor in the costs of owning one. Factoring in the lifetime cost of a cat or dog will set you back on average between £16,000 and £33,000.”

She added: “These figures include the cost of food, toys, bedding, pet insurance, vet bills, grooming, and flea and worming. For cats and dogs, the average cost of food per year is between £200 and £400.

“Large dog breeds will cost more to feed and the price of food differs based on the quality. Whereas, hamsters, mice, and other small pets cost significantly less to feed.”