If you own a dog, you’re less likely to cheat on a partner than if you own a cat.

So claims Illicit Encounters, the dating site for married people and self-styled “leading authority on infidelity”, which recently surveyed 700 its own members to find out what pets they own.

They found that just 10 per cent of those surveyed were dog owners, while 25 per cent owned cats.

“There has already been a plethora of scientific studies that claim that owning a dog, or dogs, makes you happier and healthier, and now you can add loyalty to that list,” said spokesman Christian Grant.

“It’s an interesting, if not unexpected result. Man’s best friend is the UK’s most popular pet, and has been for a very long time, but not among this particular community it seems.