Key findings
Pet care perspectives
Despite the majority of respondents claiming to follow recommended veterinary advice (86%), many (54%) often worry about whether they are making the right decisions for their pet.
Pet parents play a crucial role in their pets' well-being. To better understand their perspectives, we set out to explore attitudes toward common challenges in pet ownership, assessing confidence in managing these responsibilities:
- Over half of pet parents (57%) believe that they could be feeding their pet a more nutritious and balanced diet and one in five (20%) strongly agree with this statement. The same amount of people (57%) believe that they could be doing more to ensure their pet receives enough exercise/enrichment.
- 42% of owners struggle to remember things that could be potentially harmful or poisonous to their pet, and one in ten (10%) strongly agree with this.
- More than half of our respondents (56%) state that they find knowing what to look for on pet food and care product labels confusing.
- 41% of people don't always check the ingredients before purchasing a new food for their pet and 22% never do so.
If you are feeling uncertain about specific elements of your pet’s care, speak to your vet or read a trusted resource to help you make informed decisions and boost your confidence. Our pet advice hub offers help and support for many pet care topics.
Positively, 60% of people say that they know how to give basic first aid to their pet while 70% would know what to do in an emergency. These are great skills to have as a pet owner and can help you do the best for your cat or dog when they need it most.
Following veterinary advice
Keeping your pets safe and healthy is essential for responsible pet ownership, making some of our findings especially important:
- Over a quarter (28%) of pet owners don't have a pet insurance policy in place, which leaves the risk of treatment cost in the case of an emergency.
- 24% of cats haven’t paid a visit to the vet in the last year while nearly one in ten pets (9%) aren’t being kept up to date with their vaccinations, putting them at risk of catching dangerous diseases.
- Just under half (48%) of people don't always check with their vet before making medical or dietary decisions relating to their pet, and a third (33%) never do so. While dietary decision-making can depend on the health of your pet, it is advisable to run any medical changes past a qualified professional.
Despite this, the majority of people (86%) believe that they follow the recommended veterinary advice for their cat or dog. While this appears to be true in some ways - 95% have registered their pet with a vet and 91% are keeping up to date with vaccinations - our findings show that there are still improvements to be made in other areas.
The data also shows a slight shift in attitudes toward veterinary care. 42% of those surveyed wouldn’t phone their vet for advice or request an appointment straight away if their pet appears unwell, while 16% say that they would be most likely to research the symptoms online and attempt to treat their pet at home. Additionally, over a third of pet owners (37%) prefer using holistic, natural or homoeopathic treatments over traditional medicine.
However, 14% of respondents did say that they would seek an online consultation with a veterinary professional, suggesting that people are more proactive in some areas of pet care when they can be made more convenient and flexible.
For those who would not seek veterinary assistance immediately, fortunately, 70% would do so within 24 hours. Even if you think you know what's wrong with your pet, many symptoms can have multiple causes. It's always best to consult a veterinary professional if your pet seems unwell.
Microchipping
In June 2024, the UK government made it a legal requirement in England for all cats over the age of 20 weeks to be microchipped and registered, no matter if they are indoor or outdoor pets. Dog owners across every region of the UK were already required to do this - dogs must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 8 weeks old.
- Just under one in five of our survey respondents (17%) told us that they don't yet have their pet microchipped, or have a plan to get them chipped in future if the pet is not yet old enough.
- Surprisingly, there is little difference in the number of cat owners (18%) versus dog owners (15%) who have not had their pet microchipped.
- Younger generations are less likely to have their pet microchipped - 26% of 18-24 year olds and 22% of 25-24 year olds say that they don't, compared to only 8% of 55-64 year olds and 10% of those 65+.
Pet owners in the East Midlands and South West are particularly compliant when it comes to microchipping, with 93% of owners reporting that they microchip their pets in these regions - 10% higher than the national average of 83%. Those in London however are significantly lower, at 66% which is a concern. This may be that more pets in London are kept indoors, but this doesn’t actually change the legal requirement of microchipping.
Microchipping your pet is a quick and effective way of identifying pets should they become lost or stolen. The UK government reports that dogs who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.
'Spending' habits
Spending time
Our survey found 7.49 hours to be the average amount of time that most people spend with their pets each day.
Considering the additional time needed for walks and enrichment activities, dog owners report spending just shy of two hours extra with their pets per day compared to cat parents (8.3 hours versus 6.6 hours).
Women were found to spend more time with their pets than the men we surveyed, spending a daily average of 8.2 hours compared to men’s 6.4 hours.
37% of respondents are spending less than five hours with their pets each day.
The amount of time recommended for engagement varies greatly depending on the type of pet, its breed, age and energy level. One sign that your dog is experiencing boredom is digging. Digging is usually something dogs just do for fun, but if your dog digs excessively it may be due to stress, boredom or separation anxiety.
When pet parents do have to leave their companions, our survey findings show that around a third (32%) are being left home alone. 12% state that this is with monitoring such as a pet camera, while 20% go without.
Only 5% of pet owners surveyed seek professional care, such as a pet sitter or dog walker, when they are away from their animals. This can be a good option for those who may be leaving their pets for a longer period of time to ensure that they get the attention they need.
Office pals
Over a third (37%) of pet owners state that they bring their pets to work with them or choose to work from home to be with their pets.
This is a pattern that has emerged post-pandemic, with many offices having since become dog-friendly or allowed employees to work from home, proving to be an added benefit for Britain’s cats and dogs. While there are factors such as allergies or phobias to consider, a recent LinkedIn poll found that 73% of respondents would be happy to work in a dog-friendly office.
Those aged 25-34 are most likely to bring their pet to work with them or work at home to be with their pet at 46%.
Spending money
£73 is the average amount reportedly spent by pet parents each month on each of their pets, based on our survey findings. Respondents were told that this should include dietary expenses, grooming, vet visits etc.
- 25-34 year olds are likely to spend the most on their pet, at an average of £81, while 55-64 year olds are likely to spend the least at £59.6, nearly £15 a month under the national average.
- Cats are on average £13 cheaper per month with cat parents reporting an average spend of £61.70, compared to dogs’ expenses coming in at £74.60.
- Unsurprisingly, the most expensive place to be a pet owner is London, with respondents from the region claiming to spend an average of £92.60 each month, while the East Midlands is the cheapest at a monthly average of £60.90.
Although a smaller percentage of the population, more than one in ten people find themselves spending over £125 per month on their pet. Research shows that pet parents are also spending more money on their animals around holidays such as Christmas, claiming to spend more on their pets than their partners.
Celebrating pet birthdays is also a popular trend, with 10,000 UK search queries including “dog birthday” in the last month [accurate as of 28/08/2024], up 8% from the month prior. Interest in birthday-related queries is 23% higher for dogs than cats, suggesting that this trend is more common among dog owners.
Parasite protection
Parasite protection is an essential element of responsible pet ownership and so we reached out to pet owners to learn about their routines for helping to protect their cats and dogs free from fleas, ticks, and worms.
Fleas and ticks
When asked specifically about the flea and tick treatment they use on their pets, our survey respondents reported spot on flea treatment as the most popular choice, used by 39% of pet parents surveyed. Oral tablets and chews are also popular (17%), followed by flea sprays (12%) and vet-administered injections (11%).
Spot-on products are a clear favourite among cat parents with over half choosing to treat their pets this way (54%). Dog owners preferences, however, are more varied, with 32% opting for a spot on treatment, 22% opting for an oral tablet or chew and 13% opting for a flea spray.
39% of people are using a flea or tick treatment monthly on their pets, while 7% report never giving their pet a flea treatment, or only doing so when seeing a flea or tick on their coat.
Practising responsible usage helps to keep your pet protected. Flea problems can quickly escalate, causing our pets discomfort and being a real pain for us if they infest our homes, which is why it’s important for owners to treat pets according to their lifestyle, as their risk may vary.
Worming your pet
Most of the people we surveyed claim to worm their pets every one to three months (61%) which is positive to see as that is the frequency of treatment recommended by veterinary experts (ESCCAP No 1 Worm Control in Dogs and Cats 2021, Sixth Edition). It is always recommended to follow the dosage recommendations as advised by your vet, SQP (Suitably Qualified Person) at your local pet shop or the product packaging.
On the other hand, 8% of respondents report never worming their pets, or only doing so when their pet has worms, which could increase the risk of contracting these parasites.
Symptoms of worms in dogs can include weight loss, a bloated tummy, diarrhoea, vomiting and dogs scooting their bottoms along the ground. While signs of worms in cats can include a bloated tummy, diarrhoea, stomach upsets and a change in appetite. It is important to note that these signs are not specific to worm infections and can indicate other issues.
Cat versus dog owners
A proactive approach to dog ownership
Dog and cat parents can definitely agree on one thing - how much they love their pets! But what are the differences when it comes to pet care? Our survey results suggest a slightly more proactive approach in dog parents compared to those who own cats.
- Only three-quarters (76%) of cat owners surveyed have taken their pet to the vet within the last year. With an estimated 10.8 million cats in the UK, this representative sample would equate to 2.7 million cats not receiving regular veterinary care. In comparison, 11% more dogs have been to the vets in the last year at a total of 87%.
- 76% of dog owners have pet insurance set up, while only 62% of cat owners surveyed reported the same.
Even without illness or additional medical requirements, it’s recommended that all cats should be visiting their vets at least once per year for a regular check-up and vaccinations, and even more regularly so in some instances including those who are unwell, kittens and senior cats.
This proactive approach is mirrored in the everyday behaviours of dog owners:
- Cat owners would wait 2.6 hours longer, on average, than dog owners before calling the vets in an emergency (for those who wouldn’t call straight away, those with cats would wait 31.7 hours while those with dogs say that they would wait 29.1 hours).
- Dog owners are more likely to check ingredients before purchasing a new food for their pet - 51% of cat owners say that they don't always check, compared to 37% of dog owners.
- Less than a quarter of dogs (24%) spend time at home alone according to our survey findings, while dog owners also spend more time with their pets each day (an average of 8.6 hours compared to cat owners’ 6.6 hours).
Cats are independent at heart, which is likely to have influenced these results. But luckily, they still rely on us for many aspects of their care, which is why it is important to practise responsible ownership.
More cats are being spayed and neutered than dogs
Our findings show that 91% of cat owners surveyed have spayed or neutered their pets, or plan to do so when their pet is old enough.
Meanwhile, however, nearly a quarter of dog parents (23%) say that they haven’t neutered or spayed their pets and don’t plan to.
As well as preventing unwanted pregnancies, which can be stressful for your cat or dog to experience, castrating or spaying your pets also can have other benefits:
Source: Cats Protection, Dogs Trust.
Neutering your pets also helps to manage animal populations, with the RSPCA recently reporting its largest rehoming challenge to date, experiencing a 6% increase in the number of dogs taken into its care and a 4% increase in the number of cats between 2021 and 2022.
Pet care across the country
How do attitudes toward pet care differ between different areas of the UK? Well, we found some quite surprising contrasts in behaviours and opinions:
- Those in Wales are likely to wait the longest before calling the vets if their pet appears unwell (an average of 33.1 hours), while Scots would react the quickest, in fact over seven hours earlier (an average of 26 hours).
- The regions most likely to work alongside their pet are London (44%) and the North East (42%).
- Pet owners in Northern Ireland are found to be significantly less likely to have insurance for their pets. Only 55% of respondents from Northern Ireland report having a pet insurance policy in place, compared to the national average of 72%.
This data underscores the diverse landscape of pet care across the UK, suggesting that regionality plays a significant role in shaping pet owners' behaviours and practices. For instance, the variance in response times to pet health issues may reflect access to veterinary services or regional attitudes toward confidence in home remedies.
- 33% of Londoners were found to have not microchipped their pet and to have no plans to do so, despite this being a legal requirement within England.
- 81% believe they could feed their pets a better diet, while 77% feel that they could be giving their pet more in the way of exercise and enrichment – 20% above the national average.
- Londoners particularly find knowing what to look for on pet food and care product labels confusing at 68% and similarly, 45% struggle to remember things that are harmful or poisonous to their pet.
Positively, our survey results suggest that Londoners may rely on the experts more than anywhere else in the UK. The region was found to be the most likely to immediately phone the vet if their pet appears unwell and least likely to take to the internet for pet care advice.
This suggests that pet owners may be inclined to take advice from their regular vet which would be beneficial in light of some of these findings.
Generational shifts in pet care
Older generations were found to be more confident in their ownership. For instance, only 20% of those over the age of 65 believe that they could feed their pet a more nutritious diet, compared to 73% of those between ages 25-34 and 65% of those between ages 18-24.
More than twice as many young people also worry that they are making the right pet care decisions for their pets compared to those in the oldest age group surveyed (65+). Only 29% of respondents in this age group worry about their pet care decisions, compared to 63% of 25-34 year olds and 62% of 18-24 year olds.
Despite a lack of confidence, there are a lot of positives to report concerning the behaviours of young pet parents such as:
- Young people are more likely to have pet insurance, with 80% of the age groups 18-24 and 25-34 having a policy in place compared to 59% of those aged 56-64 and 56% of those over the age of 65.
- 25-34-year-olds are most likely to check pet food ingredients when purchasing a new product (69% do) while around half of those over the age of 45 report not doing so (49-50%).
- Younger generations also ensure that they know basic first aid for their pet. 66-67% of 18-34 year olds report that they know this, compared to less than half (49%) of those in the 65+ age group.
Overall, older generations exhibit greater confidence while younger pet owners show a proactive approach and high levels of engagement with important pet care practices.
Summary
Our pet parent survey provides valuable insights into the behaviours and attitudes of dog and cat owners across the country. The findings highlight key areas where pet owners feel confident, as well as those where they express concerns or uncertainties, such as diet, exercise, and veterinary care. Regional and generational differences also play a significant role in shaping these behaviours.
While most pet owners show high levels of dedication to their pets' well-being, our data does reveal room for improvement in some areas and validates the importance of continued education and support in responsible pet ownership.
Further reading
Knowing what’s right for your pet can be daunting, which is why we have a variety of tips, step-by-step guides and expert insights available within our pet advice hub, including:
Want to take a closer look at your cat or dog’s parasite protection? Browse our range of flea, tick and worming treatments to discover which product best suits you and your pet.
About our research
Our survey was conducted via 3Gem to their “double opt-in” panel of pre-recruited respondents. Fieldwork was conducted between the 21st and 27th of August 2024 and answered by a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults across the UK who own a dog, cat or both.
Commonly asked questions were analysed using UK data from the keyword research tool, AlsoAsked on 28th August 2024.
Search data was analysed using UK data from Google Trends and Glimpse on 28th August 2024.
All other sources have been linked or referenced where cited.