Millennials love their “fur babies” so much that 43 percent use the term for their pet and two-thirds occasionally make home-prepared meals for the animal.
The Trupanion Inc. survey of 1,250 U.S. and Canadian pet owners also found that 12 percent of Millennials have chosen their four-legged companion over a romantic partner.
“The aim of this study was to take a comprehensive look at how pet owners express their relationship with their cats and dogs,” said Margi Tooth, chief marketing officer at Trupanion, a Seattle pet health insurer. “Our research shows that pet owners today are placing an extra emphasis on the comfort, health and well-being of their cats and dogs.
“While we may express our relationships with our pets differently, the data is clear that we consider them part of the family now more than ever.”
Among other findings in Trupanion’s TruPoll:
- 40 percent of millennials moved into a new home or apartment because of a more pet-friendly environment.
- 57 percent of household “fur babies” are allowed on the owner’s pet.
- 13 percent of millennials deliver a home-cooked meal for their pet every day.
- 51 percent buy technical devices such as activity tracking collars, automated treat dispensers and location trackers.
- 30 percent frequent a restaurant or bar that allows pets.
- 5 percent have gotten a tattoo of their pet.
- 20 percent of baby boomers refer to their pet as a “fur baby,” less than half the rate of millennials.
The survey whitepaper is available at http://bit.ly/2jrn1iK.