Pet rabbits cause damage costing almost £50 million to household fittings and furniture in Britain every year.

Though much loved by children, the animals are an expensive presence in many homes, munching their way through electric cables and soiling carpets.

Figures from a survey of pet owners reveal that the country’s one million families with bunnies spend £46.8 million annually covering the damage and paying cleaning bills – or almost £50 each.

Though much loved by children, the animals are an expensive presence in many homes, munching their way through electric cables and soiling carpets (stock image)

Dogs were the most destructive, with each canine companion costing its owner around £90 a year

Dogs were the most destructive, with each canine companion costing its owner around £90 a year. With an estimated 8.9 million dog owners in the UK, that adds up to £800 million.

For the nation’s 11.1million cat owners, the news was rather better with a £340 million annual bill for household damage. When asked if their pets had caused any damage to their home, 70 per cent of all pet owners admitted they had.

The most commonly-hit items were chair and table legs, with 82 per cent of those polled affected.

But as a nation of pet lovers, perhaps it should be no surprise that almost one in five owners – or 19 per cent – admitted that they had blamed someone else, with children and partners in the firing line.

The survey of 2,200 animal owners was conducted on behalf of furnishings supplier Thomas Sanderson.