Toronto, May 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Rover.com®, the largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers, released “The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People” report, which investigates how having a cat, a dog or both affects Canadians and the relationships we cultivate with our pets. The data revealed that cats and dogs occupy a familial role in pet parents’ lives, affecting purchasing and financial decisions like buying a home (42 per cent), buying a car (40 per cent) or choosing furniture (37 per cent).
Rover’s report also found that pet parents love their pets dearly, sometimes even more than family and friends. In fact, 50 per cent of cat people prefer to spend time with their cats versus people, and 76 per cent of dog people prefer to spend time with their dogs over people.
“Traditional family habits are shifting to cater to the family members we choose, our cats and dogs. Millennials are adopting pets as starter families and Baby Boomers are welcoming pets as extended family, and behaviour is adapting accordingly,” said Alison Rutty, Rover’s Director of Cats and New Business Lines. “Pet parents not only want their pet to be their best friend, but to be their pet’s best friend in return. So, it’s not surprising to see that's what the data tells us: we have conversations with our cats, comfort our dogs after they have nightmares, and consider all our pets in big life decisions.”
The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People: Report Findings
The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People report includes responses from more than 800 pet owners across Canada. The report included dog owners, cat owners, and those who own both. Overall, the data revealed that the human-dog relationships and human-cat relationships are different, but equally devoted.
Pet Parenting Secrets Revealed
- Dog people are 39 per cent more likely than cat people to admit they are bothered when their pet cuddles with other people.
- Cat people admit to talking to their pets 6-10 times a day, whereas dog people talk to their pets 1-5 times per day.
- Dog people love singing to their pets, with 88 per cent making up new songs all the time or singing to their pet at least sometimes.
- Cat and dog people love to take pictures of their pets and 75 per cent indicate that up to half of the photos on their phone are of their pets.
Furry Family Members
- The majority of both dog (84 per cent) and cat (72 per cent) people admit they say hello to their pet before their family when they get home.
- Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of cat and dog people said their pets are spoiled and always take over the couch or bed.
- Kitten cuddles: Cat people varied between 1-2 hours (42 per cent) and 3-7 hours (28 per cent) of cuddling per day, whereas dog people were firmly 1-2 hours a day (67 per cent).
Living with Cats & Dogs
- The majority (74 per cent) of both dog and cat people have 1-5 nicknames for their pet.
- Dog people have a much harder time sleeping in, with 74 per cent finding their dogs always wake them up in the morning, compared to just 36 per cent of cat people.
- Beware of shedding: Dog people take the lead (87 per cent) in owning lint rollers, followed by 69% of cat people.
- Meow-th Reader: 49 per cent of cat people claim to understand the meaning of the sounds their cat makes.
To view the comprehensive report findings and infographic, visit https://www.rover.com/blog/ca/secret-lives-cats-dogs/.
This new research on cat people comes on the heels of Rover’s introduction of a new booking experience for cat owners, which makes it easier for pet parents to book trusted care for their cat. While most cat owners don’t want to leave their pets alone while they travel, the cat care options currently available are limited. With Rover, cat owners will be able to find affordable, local pet care from providers who can offer in-home services, like drop-in visits or overnight sitting. Cat owners can now choose from more than 245,000 cat sitters on Rover in thousands of cities across Canada, the U.S and the UK.
For more information about Rover.com’s cat services, visit www.rover.com.ca/cat-sitting/.
About the Report
For “The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People”, Rover.com conducted a survey via PollFish in March 2019 among 832 Canadian adult dog and cat owners.
About Rover.com
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover.com® is the world’s largest and most trusted network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover connects dog and cat owners with pet care whenever they need it. Millions of services have been booked on Rover, including pet sitting, dog walking, in-home boarding, overnight sitting and doggy daycare.
Rover makes it easier for people to have pet love in their lives through the Rover Guarantee, 24/7 support, vet consultations, and GPS walk tracking. And by sharing expertise on TheDogPeople.com—one of the world’s top pet blogs—Rover provides tips and articles that delight, inform, and enhance the bond between people and their pets. To learn more about Rover, please visit http://www.rover.com/ca.
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