More Pet Owners Than You Think Would Skip a Night Out With Friends to Stay Home With Their Animals
Becoming a pet owner impacts more of your life than you might realize
Sometime around 23,000 years ago, dogs made the jump from hanging out in the wild to hanging out in our living rooms. Not long after, cats made the leap from jungle creatures to lap-sitters. Today, our beloved cats and dogs are largely considered part of the family, which made us wonder, just how comfortable do pet parents aim to make their animals?
We surveyed 1,000 respondents to find out everything from their pet's sleeping arrangements to whether they would break up with a partner if their pet care philosophies didn’t match up. Read on to find out if the way you treat your pets is on par with other animal lovers in your community.
Key Takeaways
72.9% of pet owners would rather stay at home with their pets than go out with their friends.
87.8% of respondents considered their pet's happiness when looking for a home or apartment.
49.9% of pet owners would break up with their partner if they were not accepting of how their pet was treated in the household.
51% of pet parents we asked ranked their pet’s comfort in their home as extremely important.
Best Buddies
If your pet is your bestie, you’re not alone. It turns out that 72.9% of respondents would rather stay home with their pets than go out with their friends. While the conversation may not be as engaging, the snuggles are certainly worth it.
Pet parents don’t just prioritize their four-legged friends over their platonic relationships, either. Almost half (49.9% to be exact) would break up with a romantic partner if they were not accepting of how their pet was treated in their household, while 50.1% of respondents said they’d consider making some adjustments before ending a relationship.
Getting Comfortable at Home
With pets taking priority over a night out with buddies and, sometimes, even a relationship, it’s no surprise that pet parents are going out of their way to ensure their pets are comfortable. In fact, 77.6% of pet parents allow their furry friends to sleep in their bed, and nearly 85% let them hop on the couch or a favorite chair when afternoon nap time hits.
These pet lovers don’t always love the mess that comes with cats and dogs, though. Around 46% of pet owners wash their bed sheets once a week, while 29.6% wash them more frequently. Similarly, 57.5% are also committed to having clean couches, saying that they use a cover or protector before they let their pet hop up.
House Hunting with Pets in Mind
For many homeowners, home is where the dog (or cat) is, and they certainly wouldn't want their pet to be unhappy at home. In that spirit, 87.8% of respondents considered their pets’ happiness when looking for a home or apartment, with the most important happiness factors being:
The size of the yard
Having a fenced yard
Living near pet-friendly neighbors
The desire to make sure Fluffy is comfortable doesn't stop after move-in day, though. In fact, 51% of the pet parents we asked ranked their pet's comfort in their home as a 10 out of 10 in importance. Additionally, more than 92% ranked their pet's comfort as a 7 out of 10 or higher in importance.
Keeping It Clean
Having pets, while joyful, comes with a little extra work in the clean-up department. Almost 80% of pet owners have purchased specific cleaning products to help get the smell of cat or dog urine out of carpet or to clean up other messes their pets have left behind.
For some, the mess is too much to handle alone: 32.5% have hired a local house cleaning service to clean up after their pet in their home. Over 50% of pet owners vacuum one to two times per week to keep up with the pet hair, while 24.3% of respondents say they either vacuum or dust every single day for the sole purpose of picking up pet fur.
Many pet parents also keep parts of their home animal-free: 59.5% of pet owners say parts of their home are off-limits to their pups and kitties, with the kitchen and bathrooms being the rooms most likely to be off-limits.
Fine Dining With Furry Friends
Cooking a special meal at home is an excellent way to connect with our loved ones, for a lot of pet owners, this includes their animals. In our survey, 67.3% of respondents said they share their home-cooked food with their pets, with 21% even allowing their pets to eat off of their plate.
No matter if you let your pup sneak a piece of chicken from your dinner or would stay in on Friday night to hang with your cat, pets hold a special place in the hearts of all those who snuggle them, feed them, care for them and clean up after them day after day.
How We Got Our Data
Methodology: Between July 13 and July 16, 2022, we surveyed 1,000 United States-based pet owners about how they care for and cohabitate with their pets. All respondents had at least one pet, with 49.7% having dogs, 14.6% having cats, and 35.7% being both dog and cat owners. 50% of respondents identified as male, and 50% identified as female.