Almost all pet owners in the United States (97%) consider their pets to be part of their family. In fact, half of pet owners (51%) go a step further, viewing their pets as just as much a part of their family as a human member, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Centre.
In the survey, the authors find that Women, individuals with lower family incomes, and urban residents are more likely to view their pets in this way. Dog ownership is slightly more prevalent than cat ownership, with 49% of pet owners having dogs only.
WOMEN AND LOWER-INCOME INDIVIDUALS
Among pet owners, 57% of women perceive their pets as equal family members, compared to 43% of men. Additionally, 64% of pet owners with lower family incomes consider their pets as integral to the family, in contrast to 46% of those with middle incomes and 43% of those with higher incomes.
URBAN RESIDENTS
61% of pet owners residing in urban areas believe their pets are as much a part of their family as human members, while the corresponding figures for rural areas and suburbs are 50% and 47%, respectively.
FAMILY SITUATION
Unmarried pet owners and those without children under 18 at home are most likely to consider their pets on par with human family members.
MOST LIKELY TO OWN PETS
White and Hispanic adults: 68% of White and 66% of Hispanic adults own pets, while the figures are 37% for Asian and 34% for Black adults.
Rural Americans: 71% of adults in rural areas are pet owners, with a higher likelihood of owning multiple pets compared to suburban and urban areas.
People living with a partner or married: 77% of partnered and 65% of married adults own pets, while the percentages drop to 55% for those who are divorced, separated, or widowed and 49% for those who have never been married.
Women and middle-income families: These groups also show a higher likelihood of pet ownership. Additionally, people under 65 are the most likely age group to own pets.
DOG VERSUS CAT OWNERSHIP
Although the difference is slight, individuals with dogs only (53%) are more inclined to view their pets in the same light as human family members compared to those with cats only (48%).
TREATMENT OF PETS
Roughly, 26% of Americans believe there is not enough emphasis on the well-being of pets, while an equal share believes there is too much emphasis. Approximately 48% of respondents believe there is an appropriate level of emphasis on pets’ well-being. Pet owners are twice as likely as non-pet owners to say there is not enough emphasis on pets’ well-being.