Skip to content
Back to Insurance
Go to insurance
Back to Insurance menu
Car insurance Existing car insurance customers
Car insurance guides
Motorhome insurance
Back to Insurance menu
Home insurance Existing home insurance customers
Home insurance guides
Landlord insurance Existing landlord insurance customers
Back to Insurance menu
Travel insurance
Existing travel insurance customers
Back to Insurance menu
Health insurance Existing customers
Switching provider
Compare healthplans
Back to Insurance menu
Pet insurance
Caravan insurance
Back to Insurance Menu
SOS Personal alarm
Back to Holidays
Go to holidays
Back to Holidays menu
Europe
Africa
Asia
Australasia
North America
South America
Caribbean
Back to Holidays menu
Group Tours
Hotel Holidays
Tailor-Made Travel
Other holidays
Back to Holidays menu
Holiday offers
Back to Holidays menu
Planning your holiday
Book with confidence
Travelling with us
Back to Cruises
Go to Cruises
Back to Cruise menu
Ocean cruise destinations
River cruise destinations
Cruises from UK
Back to Cruise menu
Ocean cruises
River cruises
Back to Cruise menu
Our cruise ships
The Saga cruise experience
Why cruise with Saga?
Our river cruise ships
The river cruise experience
Why river cruise with Saga?
Back to Cruise menu
Our blogs
Ocean cruise blogs
River cruise blogs
Back to Cruise menu
Cruise offers
Back to Cruise menu
Travel updates
Book with confidence
FAQs
Back to Saga Money
Go to Saga Money
Back to Saga Money
Equity release
Here to help
Useful articles
Back to Saga Money
Savings products
Existing customers
Useful guides
Wider reading
Back to Saga Money
Legal services
Useful articles
Back to Saga Money
Mortgages
Useful guides and help
Wider reading
Back to Saga Money
Investing
Useful guides and help
Back to Saga Money
Money news
Useful articles
Wider reading
Back to Saga Magazine
Go to magazine
Back to Magazine
Saga Magazine
A dog laying down amongst the destroyed lining of a sofa

ACCIDENTAL PET DAMAGE AND HOME INSURANCE

Insure your home against damage caused by your four-legged friend

Get a quote Retrieve a quote

Make sure you’ve got the right level of home insurance to cover pet damage

We all love our pets – sometimes even more than we love humans! But no matter how well you’ve trained them, they can be a handful at times. All too often they get overexcited and wreak havoc on our homes – whether that’s a boisterous dog knocking over an expensive vase or a clawing cat shredding your sofa cushions to pieces.

Save yourself hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds of repairs to your home and possessions by making sure you’ve got the right level of home insurance to cover pet damage.

Is pet damage covered by home insurance?

It depends on your insurance policy. With Saga Plus home insurance, cover for pet damage is included as standard. That means if your furry friend damages your furniture, your valuables or even the house itself, you’ll be covered.

Most standard home insurance policies don’t include pet damage though. This is because animals can be a little unpredictable, so it’s difficult for insurers to know just how likely your pet is to cause damage. Make sure you check your policy documents to see where you stand.

Do you need to inform your insurance provider if you have pets?

If you aren’t sure whether your home insurance covers pets, get in touch with your provider to check. If you haven’t spoken to them about your pet, you may find you don’t have the correct cover in place when you go to make a claim.

Does accidental damage cover damage by pets?

Accidental damage cover is an optional add-on to your home contents insurance. It covers things like breakages and spills. But most accidental damage policies don’t cover pet damage. In fact, they tend to specifically exclude pet damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing, or fouling – so you need to make sure you have pet damage cover elsewhere.

Will my home insurance cover damage by other animals?

It’s not just pets that can damage your home. All sorts of animals, from rats and mice to insects and birds, can let themselves into your home and cause problems.

Different insurance policies will cover you for different things. Our accidental damage policy will cover you for one-off events like a large bird getting in through a window and causing damage, and our home emergency cover can cover you for ongoing issues like a rodent or insect infestation.

More from Saga Home Insurance

Three women taking photos in a forest on a sunny day

Personal possessions insurance

A couple of cyclists relaxing next to a river in autumn

Bicycle insurance

A hole in a ceiling exposing pipework

Trace and access cover

Tips for preventing pet damage

Here are a few tips to help you prevent your pet from causing any damage to your home, meaning you’ll be less likely to have to make a claim on your home insurance:

Take your puppy to training classes

A professional trainer can help your dog to learn good habits early on. And even if your dog is older, professional behaviourists can help to address any problems and get them back on track.

Use a repellent spray

Spray your furniture with anti-chew and anti-clawing repellent sprays to deter pets from damaging particular items or areas of your home.

Get a scratching post

Cats love a good scratch – it’s a natural instinct for them – so give them a dedicated scratching spot so that they don’t make a beeline for your wallpaper or sofas.

Leave the radio on when they’re home alone

Anxiety can turn pets destructive, so leave the radio on to help calm and reassure them. Opt for a classical music channel or one with quiet, soothing voices to keep them at ease while you’re out the house.

Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise

If your pet is causing mayhem, chances are they have a lot of unspent energy. Make sure your dog is walked an appropriate amount for their breed and age. Give your pets plenty of toys to keep them busy.

Who are Saga's home insurance policies underwritten by?

Saga Home Insurance policies, exclusively for people over 50, are unique products designed specifically for our customers. They are underwritten by a number of carefully selected insurers that provide our high standards of quality and service.

Make sure you’re protected against accidental pet damage with Saga Plus home insurance

Get a quote Find out more

More from Saga Home Insurance

There's plenty to explore and learn about our home insurance cover.

A woman in her 30's standing in the middle of a messy room, looking in a box in front of her and holding picture frames in her hands.
Article

Lodger insurance

Are you considering renting out a room or part of your home to earn extra income? Make sure you’re secure with lodger insurance.

Paper wasp nest on triangular roof siding
Product information

Emergency cover

Get cover for home emergencies with a 24/7 emergency helpline, unlimited callouts and up to £2,000 per incident. Optionally include cover for your boiler & heating too.

Senior woman wearing headphones watching movie on laptop
Product information

Over 50s home insurance

Stay safe and protected in your home with dedicated home insurance for the over 50s and a 3-year fixed price option, if nothing changes.
A couple at home looking at their laptop
Product information

Contents insurance

Protect your favourite things against theft, fire and accident with up to £100,000 content cover at a 3-year fixed price.

Close up aerial view of a plumber using a plunger on a sink
Article

How to unblock a drain

We’ll guide you through spotting a blockage, unblocking a drain and preventing further mishaps to avoid any damage to your home.

A mature lady sat at home looking at her mobile phone
Product information

Additional home insurance cover options

Tailor your home insurance policy to suit your needs with optional extras such as Saga Home Emergency and Legal Expenses.

Two middle-aged men sharing a joke in the kitchen
Product information

Existing home insurance customers

Need to check your home insurance policy documents, make a claim, change your policy details or contact us? Find everything you need here.

A stylish mature man with a grey beard standing in front of his house
Product information

Buildings insurance

Protect your property with buildings insurance. We offer up to £1 million cover, three-year fixed price and no cancellation fee.

A couple of cyclists relaxing next to a river in autumn
Product information

Bicycle insurance

Enjoy your two-wheel adventures more when you get the right bike insurance.

View of Marlow Bridge and flooded Thames river
Product information

Flood re – Flood risk home insurance

Our home insurance with Flood Re can make it easier and more affordable to cover your home if it’s in a high-risk flooding area.

Two ladies enjoying the evening sunshine sat in their holiday home garden
Product information

Holiday home insurance

Insure your holiday home for peace of mind that it’s protected, even when you’re not there.

Senior man practising guitar at home in retro living room
Product information

Buildings and contents insurance

Keeping it simple to set up and manage, combined buildings and contents insurance offers great cover with less paperwork.

A plumber servicing a home boiler
Article

Boiler service tips

Keep your home toasty and fuel-efficient with a few simple boiler maintenance tips. Avoid costly callouts with the help of our boiler care year planner.

A house with a flat roof on a sunny day
Product information

Flat roof insurance

Having a flat roof can make your home more prone to weather damage. Keep your home protected with flat roof insurance.

A mature couple washing up at home in their flat
Article

Flat Insurance

Do you need buildings insurance for a leasehold flat? We explain how flat insurance works.