It’s National Pet Month and time for UK pet owners to come together to celebrate the many amazing benefits of pet ownership.

This year we’ll not only be focusing on the positive effects of pets on our mental and physical health, we’ll also be providing real, practical support for those who may be struggling with the financial cost of caring for a pet in these challenging times.

Look out for our pet food bank guide and advice on what to do if you can’t afford to see a vet, with links to organisations who can help.

From now until May 1 we’ll share the very latest pet care tips from leading vet and pet professionals across the country.

We’ll also be sharing your #PetPawsitivity stories and pics, as you tell us what you most love about sharing your home with an animal companion, and we’ll focus on the five key welfare needs of our pets – Companionship, Behaviour, Diet, Health and Environment.

Throughout April we’ll bring you blogs, social posts and livestreams on pet diet and nutrition, cat behaviour, the importance of vaccinations, the latest pet population figures, financial obstacles to pet health and how to seek support, plus loads more.

Join in our National Pet Month livestreams with NPM’s Asha Clearwater and a variety of guests, across Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Our next one will be tomorrow (Tuesday, April 2) at 3pm when we’ll be chatting about the positive impact of pets for people living on the streets with charity, StreetVet.

In other programmes, we’ll be showing you how to interpret feline body language, sharing top tips on how to give your pet medication and the importance of following instructions, plus provide advice on navigating the array of pet food options to suit your pet and your budget.

During #NPM24 we’d love to hear from you, so tell us what you love most about pet ownership and send us your pics and #petpawsitivity stories via our social channels.

We also want to highlight the incredible work of UK veterinary teams, so if you’d like to thank your local vet practice for their care, please tell us your story. #vetpawsitivity

Together let’s celebrate the positive power of pets and support each other.

Happy National Pet Month!

#NPM24 runs from April 1-May 1. www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk