Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pet Owners Regarding Pet Insurance in Selangor, Malaysia

Pet insurance is a financial tool meant to provide financial support to pet owners for veterinary expenses. It was introduced to the Malaysian market in 2010 with several companies offering various subscription packages. However, public awareness of pet insurance has been low compared to other pet-related industries in Malaysia for the past five years. There is also a lack of research on the acceptance and adoption of pet insurance by pet owners in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to (i) assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of pet owners regarding pet insurance in Selangor, Malaysia, (ii) determine the associations of sociodemographic factors with the KAP levels, and (iii) determine the correlation between the levels of KAPs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Selangor, Malaysia, and 116 pet owners participated. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis statistics, followed by Chi-square tests of association and a Spearman correlation analysis, which were all performed using IBM SPSS Statistic version 27.0. The results showed that most of the respondents have poor knowledge of (n = 63, 54.3%), moderate attitudes towards (n = 63, 54.3%), and poor practices regarding (n = 87, 75.0%) pet insurance. Significant associations were indicated between income range per month and knowledge and practice (p < 0.05), highest education level and attitude (p < 0.05), and locality of residence and practice (p < 0.05). There is a significant correlation between total knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.649). The poor knowledge of insurance among pet owners in Selangor indicated the need to further increase the awareness of pet owners regarding the benefits of pet insurance through enhanced marketing and public education initiatives.