Our dogs and cats are no longer just “pets.” They’re our friends, family members, and confidantes. They give us unconditional love and supportive companionship. We play and cuddle with them and let them sleep on our beds. We also give them gifts and even celebrate their birthdays and “gotcha” days.
As confirmation, YouGov conducted a survey that highlights our deep emotional bond with dogs and cats. Here are some key findings:
- 77% of dog parents and 61% of cat parents say their animals know them very well.
- 22% of dog parents and 17% of cat parents believe their animals know them better than their friends and family do.
- 10% of dog parents and 7% of cat parents say the loss of an animal companion caused them more grief than losing a person close to them.
- Nearly 50% of dog parents have celebrated their dogs’ birthdays or adoption days.
Our emotional bond with dogs and cats enriches our lives in so many ways. If you include yourself in any of these statistics, you’re in good company!
Our friends and companions
Survey participants also selected words that best describe their relationships with their dogs and cats. Here’s how they responded:
Dogs
Companion — 49%
Best friend — 46%
Owner — 46%
Parent — 39%
Cats
Companion — 43%
Friend — 41%
Owner — 38%
Parent — 37%
