Do you speak to your dog or cat as if it were a human being? If your answer is yes, take heart. You are not alone. A survey carried out in Australia among dog and cat owners found that more than 90% talk to their pets as if they were simply another member of the family.
The poll of 1,000 Australians from pet insurer Budget Direct found that about 59% said they regularly talk to their pets like a human, while a further 34% said they did so ‘sometimes’. Only 7% said they never engaged with their dog or cat on a human level.
“We already knew how much Aussie families love their dog or cat. But the fact that more than nine out of 10 families speak to them like a real person shows how important they are to owners and families,” a Budget Direct spokesperson said. “We share such a special bond with our dogs and cats and this really shows just how much they are a part of the family unit and the companionship they provide. In the case of dogs, it turns out they really are our best friend.”
The reasons for conversing on a human level with a pet were varied. The top response was ‘My pet is part of my family’ with 72%. Another 36% said ‘My pet is like my child/best friend.’ A further 32% said ‘I’m sure they understand me’, while 28% said their dog or cat was a ‘great listener’.
To add to that special relationship, dogs and cats are often included in special occasions, with 37% getting birthday and Christmas gifts every year.
More than half the respondents in the survey were dog owners (54%), 28% were cat owners, and 18% had both. There were some pampered pets among them: 32% said their dog or cat slept in their bed, or in bed with somebody in the house, while 43% had their own bed or crate. About 60% of owners said their dog or cat was always allowed on the couch or furniture, while another 30% said ‘sometimes’.
Dog owners are thorough walkers, exercising their pooch at least once a day (41%) or every other day (26%), while a regular grooming regime was popular with most respondents, who groom their dog or cat weekly (30%), monthly (32%) or every few months (22%).
But love for the pets did not extend to taking them on holidays, probably because of transportation issues. Only 9% said they always took their dog or cat with them when they travelled, with 34% preferring to take them ‘occasionally when I can’. Most people, 40%, never took their dog or cat on holiday.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
