As England prepares to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final tonight, pet owners are being urged to consider how the excitement of match day—along with extra people and noise—could be impacting their furry friends. Millions of Brits are turning their homes into matchday hubs this summer, with over half (51%) tuning in to support their team with friends and family at home. But new research from Animal Friends Pet Insurance suggests that far fewer are thinking about how the excitement could affect their pets.
Pet Owners Overlook Furry Friends During Matchday Gatherings
Research from Animal Friends reveals that while 73% of pet owners hosting matchday gatherings make sure they have enough food and drink for guests, nearly one in four (24%) admit they give little or no thought to how their pet will cope with the additional noise, visitors and disruption that comes with hosting. The findings highlight a growing disconnect between how owners experience matchday excitement and how pets experience the same environment. More than half (57%) of pet owners say they have noticed their pet show signs of stress during social gatherings at home, suggesting the issue is already playing out in living rooms across the UK.
Multiple Stress Factors for Pets
Matchday hosting can introduce multiple pressure points for pets. In fact, 41% of pet owners admit to multiple disruptions to their normal household routines during matchday gatherings – including louder cheering and shouting (20%), televisions or music turned up (19%), more people in the home than usual (15%), doors and garden gates being opened more frequently (11%) and food or drink being left within reach (11%). While each change may seem minor in isolation, together they can create a far more unpredictable environment for pets.
Expert Advice: Small Adjustments Can Make a Big Difference
Jen Wormleighton, Head of Veterinary Services at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, said: “Major sporting moments bring people together, but they can also create environments that feel overwhelming and unpredictable for pets. It’s often the combination of factors - louder noise, unfamiliar faces and changes to routine - that can lead to stress. We know pet owners don’t set out to create these situations for their furry friends, but simple things like louder environments, more people in the home or food being left out can all have an impact. The key isn’t asking people to change how they enjoy matchday, but helping them make small, practical adjustments that ensure their pets feel safe and secure too.”
Animal Friends' GOAL Method for Pet Safety
To help owners navigate matchday at home, Animal Friends has created its World Pup Pet Safety Playbook, built around a simple ‘GOAL’ method: G – Give them space: Pets cope better when they feel in control of their environment. Ensuring they have access to a quiet, familiar area away from the main activity allows them to retreat when things become busy, rather than being confined to noise and unfamiliar activity. O – Offset unpredictability: It’s often sudden reactions such as cheering, shouting or bursts of noise that trigger stress responses. Creating distance from these moments, or maintaining a more consistent environment, can help pets feel more at ease. A – Avoid overload: Matchdays tend to introduce multiple changes at once, more people, louder households, disrupted routines and food being left out. Combined, these small shifts can quickly build into stress or increase the risk of issues such as scavenging or escape. L – Look for early signs: Early indicators of stress can be subtle, including pacing, withdrawal or changes in behaviour. Intervening early, by reducing stimulation or giving pets space, is far more effective than waiting until a pet is visibly distressed.
