Cats are Pet of Choice for Many Millennials, Survey Says by BPT - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

Cats are Pet of Choice for Many Millennials, Survey Says

By BPT,
March 16, 2016 at 11:30am. Views: 41

(BPT) - Move over, Rover. While dogs have long been considered the most popular pet in the United States, cats are a pet of choice for many in the millennial generation, according to research conducted earlier this year by Nestlé Purina. Close to half of 1,000 survey respondents in the millennial age range (18 to 34) say they own cats, and many believe their cat is similar to themselves. Many millennials consider themselves independent, yet social. Fifty-seven percent of millennial cat owners say their cat is as important in their lives as their friends, two in five consider their cat to be their new "best friend" and nearly 50 percent say they tell their cat secrets no one else knows. According to the Pet Food Institute the U.S. pet cat population is more than 73 million - or two million more than the U.S. pet dog population. Perhaps it's true what Sigmund Freud once said, "Time spent with cats is never wasted." More than 80 percent of millennial cat owners agree one of the main reasons they own a cat is their cat fits in well with their current lifestyle, perhaps because two-thirds of their cats stay entirely indoors. "People like cats because they are great pets - they provide comfort to their owners and with appropriate socialization they can be warm and friendly," said Purina behaviorist Sandra Lyn. "In addition, they don't need to be taken on walks or for bathroom breaks and they're generally happy doing their own thing, though they do like attention and cuddling." Pet ownership may also fill a companionship gap left as millennials get married and have children later than baby boomers did, according to a Wakefield Research study. "The relationship between pets and people is continuing to evolve," noted Lyn. "Through research and personal experience, the bond between pets and people can be viewed as an important part of improving quality of life." It's unclear whether the preponderance of cat videos (and the popularity of "celebrity cats" such as Grumpy Cat) in digital media has affected the political correctness of being attached to one's cat, but nearly three in five millennial cat owners surveyed by Purina consider themselves as "cat ladies" or "cat men." Many also see their pets as a form of social currency through which they can share photos and stories on digital media, according to the Wakefield Research study. In fact, two in five millennial cat owners talk about their pets on social media, three in five have watched cat videos and half have shared cat memes. In general, those identifying as cat people are 11 percent more apt to have an "open" personality than dog people, meaning they tend to be curious, creative, artistic and more apt to be non-traditional thinkers, says research by WebMD. Further, Purina found 88 percent of millennial cat owners consider themselves similar to their cats. Forty percent describe their lifestyle as independent, and 72 percent see themselves as friendly - with 46 percent motivated to own cats because they're also friendly. For more information about the bond between pets and people, visit www.betterwithpets.com. Editor's note: Purina's online study about millennials was conducted among 1,000 subjects ages 18 to 34 in the United States between Oct. 16 and 22, 2015. The research firm was Penn Schoen Berland of Washington, D.C. Client asked to leave spokesman name blank for now.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 686

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1059

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2605

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 749

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1429

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 675

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 729

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1646

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 786

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 609

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 896

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 811

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->