A new study of dog and cat owners across 20 countries, including India, carried out by global marketing research firm Ipsos, has found that more men than women are cat owners, and cat ownership has become more common than dog ownership. The results of the study, touted as the world’s largest pet ownership study and conducted on behalf of Mars, Inc., a global leader in pet care products and services and confectionery, snacking and food for humans, were revealed on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2.
Some of the primary findings of the study are:
- More than half (56%) of people across 20 countries surveyed are pet (dog and cat) owners, with almost half (47%) of these people being first-time owners
- More than a third (37%) of pet owners consider their pet the most important thing in their lives
- Cat ownership is more common than dog ownership globally, with more men (52%) than women (48%) being cat owners
With insights from over 20,000 cat and dog owners across 20 countries, in each of which at least 500 dog owners and 500 cat owners were surveyed, the Mars Global Pet Parent Study shows the significant influence of pets on human lives, and delves into the evolving needs of pet owners, including generational differences in ownership, the most common breeds, and fresh insights into the pain points pet owners around the world experience.
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With pet ownership on the rise and people considering pets among the important aspects of their lives, the results signal a new era of pet parent-centricity, where the emotional connection between an owner and their pet is stronger than ever.
The survey was conducted online in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Poland, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Cat and dog owners were defined as people aged 18-65 who are responsible for making decisions about or the care of their cat/dog, including its feeding, health, and well-being. This involves the commitment to provide for the pet’s needs throughout its life. The cat/dog had to be domestic or tamed and kept in a household primarily for non-commercial purposes. While the online sample included some rural coverage, the study is likely to be over-representative of an urban population. The field work was conducted between March 1 and April 4. Click here for more about the pet ownership study.
Ikdeep Singh, global president of Mars Pet Nutrition, said, “Almost half (47%) of those surveyed are first-time owners, signalling a new era of pet parents. We know that pet parents are evolving, and we need to evolve with them, which means embedding pet parent-centricity into our DNA to transform the experience and build lifelong relationships with the 455 million pets and pet parents we reach.”
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The study was launched in tandem with the first ever global Mars Pet Adoption Weekend in 12 countries across Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, to celebrate new pet owners and encourage more adoptions.
With over a billion pets globally, according to the latest data from Euromonitor, animals play a pivotal role in human lives now. Pet owners are clearly devoted to their pets, with more than a third (37%) of dog and cat owners considering their pets the most important thing in their lives. The percentage is higher among those born after 1995 (45%), or Generation Z, and among those born between 1981 and 1995 (40%), or Millennials.
The survey found a preference for kittens and puppies, too: 84% of dogs and cats are acquired before they are a year old. The most commonly owned dog breeds globally are Labrador (6%), Chihuahua (6%), and Golden Retriever (5%). The most commonly owned cat breeds globally are Persian (16%), British Shorthair (11%), and Siamese (9%).
Of those satisfied with their pets, defined as those who gave a satisfaction score of at least 7 out of 10 (95% for dogs and 94% for cats), dog owners appreciate unconditional love (50%) and family completeness (49%), while cat owners appreciate the entertainment (48%) and stress relief (44%) their four-legged friends bring.
However, being a pet owner also brings challenges: 32% feel guilty about leaving their dogs and cats alone, and only 42% find their neighbourhoods pet-friendly, with a further 26% of pet owners claiming they find the idea of travelling with their pets demanding or challenging.
Since launching the Better Cities for Pets programme in 2017, Mars has created a range of programmes around the world to help cities become certified as pet-friendly, so more people can enjoy the benefits of a life with pets. Earlier this year, the Mars brand Cesar partnered with Tripadvisor to launch a new pet travel hub in the U.S. to connect pet owners with the resources and guidance to travel with their pets.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
