Our cats are a major factor in our lives. We make decisions based around them, and the same can be said for dogs and their owners. But how much do you think your cats influence your major life decisions? Things like vacations, cars, and homes have recently been shown in a study to be influenced by our feline friends.
“Our normal family habits are expanding to the families we choose, our cats and dogs. As Millennials adopt pets as starter families and Baby Boomers welcome pets as extended family,” says Alison Rutty, Rover’s director of cats and new business lines. “Pet parents not only want their pet to be their best friend, but to be their pet’s best friend in return. So we have conversations with our cats, comfort our dogs after they have nightmares, and consider all our pets in big life decisions.”
Rover.com conducted a survey via PollFish in March 2019 to take a deeper look in the phenomenon of a pet’s influence in the household.
They polled 1,261 adult dog and cat owners in the United States. The study is known as “The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People” and the report investigates “how having a cat, a dog or both affects humans and the relationships we cultivate with our pets.”
The line in the sand has been drawn for centuries concerning the stark contrasts between cat and dog owners. But it turns out that we both place significant importance on our four-legged friends well-being.
Let’s take a look and see how we measured up in the cat owners versus dog owners debate.
Based off the number polled, it was found that in the U.S., 60% of households have a dog and 47% have a cat.
The data revealed that cat people and dog people are more alike than different. For both, their pets occupy a familial role in pet parents’ lives. Their pets influence everything from furniture selection (35%), to purchasing a car (29%) or renting a home or apartment (26%).
Rover’s report found that pet parents are nearly unanimous in seeing their pets as family members. Most even preferring animal company to the human variety. Fifty-two percent of cat people prefer to spend time with their cats versus people. And 43% of dog people prefer to spend time with their dogs over people.
Pet Parenting Secrets Revealed
- Cat people are 16% more likely than dog people to admit they are bothered when their pet cuddles with other people.
- Dog people admit to talking to their pets so many times in a day they can’t even count. Whereas cat people talk to their cats 1-5 times per day.
- Cat people lead on singing to their cats with 70% making up new songs all the time or singing to their pet at least sometimes.
- Cat and dog people love to take pictures of their pets. With 84% indicating that up to half of the photos on their phone are of their pets.
Furry Family Members
- The majority of both dog (69%) and cat (67%) owners admit they say hello to their pet before their family when they get home.
- The majority (61%) of cat and dog people said their pets are spoiled. They regularly take over the couch or bed as their own.
- Cuddles are universal. Dog and cat people claim to spend 1-2 hours cuddling their pet a day.
Living with Cats & Dogs
- The majority (70%) of both dog and cat people have 1-5 nicknames for their pet. *We’re sure if your cats influence could affect these monikers, they would!
- Dog people are more likely to wake their pet from a dream than cat people.
- Cat people take the lead (66%) in owning lint rollers, but not far behind are 55% of dog people.
- Meow-th Reader: 91% of cat owners claim to understand the meaning of the sounds their cat makes.
Take a look at this pawsome little infographic below. It shares the data collected from those pet owners who were polled…
Did these findings ring true for you with your relationship with your feline friend? Are you under your cats influence? Leave us a comment and share!
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP; FOSTERING SAVES LIVES & SPAY AND NEUTER!
Related Story: New Study Shows That Cats Recognize The Sound Of Their Names–Even When Called By A Stranger
Related Story: New Study Suggest That Cats Mirror Their Owner’s Behavior–Both Good And Bad!
This study is spot-on, although I talk to my cat much more than 1-5 times a day.
Me 2
This study is very accurate and I agree with the nicknames for my cat Elaine. Have exactly five. Had not counted until I read this.
I had cats growing up & have had 2 as an adult. Cats are the Best.
I often tell Elaine 2 things when leaving & when getting home:
Leaving: You really need to get a job to contribute to the household!
Arriving home: I missed you & You are Always the best part of my day!
I love that someone finally did a survey and proved what I think we all knew – that our furry children are family and we live with them like family – not possessions. I agree with the previous poster – I talk to my kits WAY more than 1-5 times a day and I also have WAY more nicknames for them.
Yeah that is our family to to a T. But those nicknames Dad has fur me: Timbo, Timber, Timz, Oraange Fella, Nip Head, UGH! Well I do like the last one Hee Hee