NEW YORK — Two-thirds of Americans say their pet is the four-legged version of themselves. The survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners reveals that 65 percent believe they adopted themself in pet-form due to the overwhelming number of similarities they have with their furry companion.
Four in 10 (38%) think they share personality traits or hobbies — this includes enjoying long walks (67%), car rides (57%), and even a love of peanut butter (50%). Respondents and their pets also both dislike mornings (32%) and spend their time taking naps in patches of sunlight (24%).
A third (34%) believe they share physical characteristics with their pet as well — whether that’s the same eye color (61%), a similar overall size (54%), or the same hair and fur style (54%). Cat owners were slightly more likely to say they “adopted themselves in pet form,” compared to dog owners (70% vs. 63%).
Despite that, dog owners felt there were more noticeable similarities between them and their pets — both in terms of physical characteristics (36% vs. 29% for cat owners) and personality (42% vs. 35% for cat owners).
Conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Basepaws, the survey also found respondents and their pets are so similar, they have the same New Year’s resolutions for 2024. Almost half have created a resolution for themselves (44%) or their pets (46%) — of those with both (32%), the vast majority (90%) said it’ll be the same resolution for them and their furry friend.
Respondents and their pets will be focused on exercising more (71%), cutting back on treats (71%), and eating healthier (64%) in 2024. They’ll also work to spend more time outside (59%) and take better care of their health (58%) throughout this year.
“As we enter 2024, many people are thinking of ways to get healthier — so why shouldn’t we have the same goals for our four-legged friends?” says Anna Skaya, the CEO of Basepaws, in a statement. “Nutrition and exercise are just as important to a pet’s health as they are to your own, and they should be an area of focus well beyond Jan. 1. Resolutions are a great way to set some initial goals, but it’s important to stay on top of them throughout the year.”
When it comes to their health, 58 percent worry as much about their own health as they do their pet’s health — and 25 percent admitted they worry more about their pet’s health. This worry is because respondents know less about their pet’s family history than they do their own (63%), and they don’t know what diseases their pet might be susceptible to (62%).
Not only that, but half of pet owners surveyed don’t know what preventative care they should be giving their pet, while others know less about their pet’s health history than their own (39%). Another 26 percent don’t know how to spot early signs of different diseases in their four-legged friend.
Despite this, 72 percent wish there was more they could do to ensure their pet is living a healthy life — with cat owners slightly more likely to agree (77% vs. 70% of dog owners).
“This research further emphasizes the unbreakable bond between pets and their people. Humans are able to predict and prepare for certain health issues by understanding their DNA and the same goes for those with four legs,” Skaya adds. “Understanding your pet’s unique DNA is more than knowing what breed they are — it can give you insight into predispositions for certain health issues and help you to better care for them.”
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 American dog and cat owners was commissioned by Basepaws between Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
I’ve had plenty of chows….females are the best…..they never run off unless in heat….u need a good back yard for males….they must be inside on hot days…they love to play….if a criminal invades your house….it’s ON !
I do find it remarkable that when we are being told we have to consume less, we continue to entertain – let’s face it, manufactured – animals that are mostly of carnivorous predatory species. This does indeed say a lot about us, as well as our increasing trend to narcissism. This extends even to the most committed. I listened recently to a podcast between two highly regarded climate/environment experts in the USA, at the end of which they bonded over their dogs. In the UK, the eco-activist Chris Packham keeps two large dogs. At the same time, we agonise over the fact that wild invertebrates are being squeezed into a corner, now representing only 4% of invertebrate biomass. Dogs were once kept for hunting, herding and guarding. Now they are substituting for human company in an alienated society. They also substitute for children, as anyone can observe in any street as people cradle and coo over their stunted and disfigured pets. (Would you wish to be born as one of those? Every time I see one I think of that scene in Blade Runner with the bio/animatronic creations). However, even with the decline in fertility in ‘western’ countries, they hardly substitute materially, only emotionally. Everyone has a right to be emotionally satisfied. Everyone also has a right to be safe. Sadly, since the pet-buying spree in the Pandemic, attacks on people by unsuitably bred, poorly socialised, and possibly abused or mentally damaged dogs have increased – according to one clinician in the UK doubled. In a world increasingly under the pressure of human numbers and consumption, the methods we use to support our emotional wellbeing deserve examination.