NYHAPPY - by Marie Haaland
New York office - 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
In an often turbulent and negative world, many Americans are getting through by focusing on what counts: watching cat videos on the internet.
A new survey found that the average cat owner “likes” 398 cat-related posts and looks at 725 cat pictures and videos in a year.
Cat lovers can’t seem to get enough of their furry friends, and the survey of 1,000 cat owners pinpointed the extent to which cat people worship their chosen animal.
Alongside the videos and posts, 81 percent of cat owners have a go-to meme or GIF that they use to regularly cheer themselves up.
Commissioned by Mars Petcare U.S., Inc. and conducted by OnePoll, the survey looked at the devotion people have for their pets, and found just how important cats are to their owners’ everyday lives.
More than just interacting with cat-themed internet posts, the average cat owner also has 13 cat-related items. This includes 44 percent who have a framed photo of their cat, 43 percent who own a cat stuffed animal and 38 percent of owners who own a cat calendar.
Forty-seven percent of owners report taking photos of their cats often, and it takes an average of three attempts to get the purr-fect photograph to frame.
When they aren’t posing their pets, cat owners spend more than three and a half hours a week talking with their cat and just over nine hours cuddling.
But cats don’t just laze around and sleep all the time – while 71 percent of cats enjoy lounging on the couch, 67 percent like to cuddle with family members and 51 percent like to bat toys around.
Due to all the time spent with their furry friends, the vast majority (93 percent) of cat owners report having a strong connection with their pet. In fact, these cat owners have such a strong connection that a majority (54 percent) say they have successfully trained their cat.
“Creating a positive reward system for training allows you to bond with your cat while having fun and learning,” said Jessa Paschke, pet behaviorist at Mars Petcare. “Training your cat to enter and exit a carrier and participate in their nail care will not only make trips and nail trims a breeze – it will also be less stressful for your furry friend. You can even train your cat to wear a harness and walk outside to offer them more safe exploration opportunities, as well as provide a fun interaction for you both.”
Six in 10 respondents say their cat has helped them through periods of loneliness, and 54 percent say their pet has been a supportive presence when they were stressed about work.
Cats have also helped their owners though friend and family troubles, bereavement and relationship troubles.
Yet for all the comfort and companionship that cats offer their owners, taking care of a cat isn’t without its challenges. Cat owners cite everything from cleaning the litter box to finding pet-friendly housing as challenges to caring for their cat.
“Cat owners agree that their cat has helped them through some of life’s difficult times, which makes it heartbreaking to hear that they also face challenges such as worrying about finding a pet-friendly place to live,” said Angel May, corporate citizenship lead at Mars Petcare. “That’s why we launched the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program, advocating for more places for cats – and dogs! – to live, visit and play. We’re working toward the day when pet owners no longer have to worry about a landlord not welcoming their fur-baby.”
Eighty-one percent of owners pay attention to their cats’ overall happiness and 69 percent watch to make sure their pet has healthy eating habits, but only 32 percent are very confident in knowing what dietary requirements their cat has.
Nineteen percent don’t know what food will give their beloved pets the nutrients they need – and less than one in five know that cats actually require more protein in their diets than dogs.
When it comes to their pet’s health, 21 percent of respondents think urinary tract health is the top concern for cats, followed by 20 percent who think fleas are the biggest problem and 17 percent who believe digestive issues top the list.
Oral care is actually the number one health issue cats face, but only 8 percent of respondents know that.
For all that cats do for their owners – providing support and someone to talk to – it’s important for owners to take equally good care of them.
YEARLY STATISTICS FOR THE AVERAGE CAT OWNER
Eight days spent talking to their cat
20 days spent cuddling with their cat
“Like” 398 cat-related posts
Look at 725 cat pictures and videos
TOP CAT CONCERNS OWNERS PAY ATTENTION TO
Their cats’ overall happiness
Eating habits and amount eaten
Quality of their coat
Energy levels
Moods/engagement level
BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHEN FEEDING CATS
Unaware of what food when give cats the nutrients they need
Unsure of how much protein they need
Can’t find a food tailored to meet their cat’s specific needs
TOP 10 MOST COMMON CAT-RELATED THINGS OWNERS HAVE
Framed picture of a cat
Cat stuffed animal
Cat calendar
Cat mug and/or plates
Cat socks
Cat-themed clothing
Cat jewelry
Cat keychain
Cat statue
Hello Kitty memorabilia
ENDS
