Cat and dog owners' top 25 pet peeves include their animals stealing food, howling in the night, and walking across the kitchen counter.
A quarter of the 1,000 pet owners polled admitted they find their furry friends frustrating at least some of the time.
But 82 per cent put the antics down to their cheeky character, while seven in 10 find their misbehaviour “endearing”.
It also emerged 59 per cent enjoy telling friends when their pets have been up to no good – including when they walk across their laptop while working, or beg for food from the table.
Other quirky habits included the human-like habits of refusing to go out in the rain, and making strange noises in their sleep.
Helen Skelton, TV presenter and spokeswoman for insurance provider Petplan, which commissioned the research, said: “Like humans, pets have strong personalities, and for many they are a key companion and member of the family – especially if they’ve been by our side for a while, like my dogs Barney and Spiderman.
“Lots of our pet friends have quirky traits, and mine are quite different – one is forever disappearing into the garden with a shoe, and our lab is no stranger to helping himself to the fruit bowl either, or bringing in a special 'present' or pinching sausages from the barbeque.
“Living on a farm surrounded by animals means that funny antics are a common occurrence.
"My dogs have been keeping me on my toes since day one, but like any other family member, that’s just their personality.”
The study also found that one in four (24 per cent) have had to deal with a “gift” of live animals being brought into the house, while 14 per cent have had their buttered toast licked behind their back.
And a fifth have watched in frustration as their pet totally ignored a brand-new toy – and chewed the rest of the house instead.
Despite this, three-quarters (74 per cent) have a good relationship with their pet – and eight in ten believe that even when their pets are a cause of frustration, they wouldn’t change them in any way.
Helen Skelton, who is working with Petplan to launch its 2022 Pet Awards, added: “Our “pet peeves” are part of the reason why we love our pets and consider them members of the family.
“What better way to celebrate our furry friends than entering them in the awards? With categories such as Rescue and Companion of the Year, now is the time to give our furry friends the recognition they deserve, and be in with a chance of some amazing pet-friendly prizes.”
UK Pets 25 most common antics:
- Being sick on the carpet
- Waiting by the door to be let out – then deciding against it when you open the door
- Leaving fur/hair everywhere
- Waking you up in the middle of the night
- Begging for food when you cook
- Making strange sounds in their sleep
- Refusing to go out in the rain
- Walking across your laptop when you're trying to work
- Knocking something off a shelf
- Bringing a live animal back into the house
- Stealing food
- Howling or meowing in the middle of the night
- Constantly trying to get into a cupboard or another area they have no need to go into
- Ignoring the toys you bought and chewing on everything they're not allowed to instead
- Stealing food from the countertop when your back is turned
- Jumping on you when covered in mud
- Walking muddy footprints across the kitchen counter
- Chewing a shoe or slipper
- Lying on your head when you're sleeping
- Rolling around in fox poo
- Licking the butter off your toast when your back is turned
- Deciding they want a walk late at night
- Pulling the duvet off you in the morning when they want feeding
- Using the human toilet
- Doing a poo in a shoe or a slipper
