More men adopting adult cats, report reveals
1.5 million new male households now have an adult cat.
A new report from UK Pet Food has revealed a significant gender difference in those adopting cats, with more men than women adopting adult cats in the past four years.
The Pet Population Report for 2024 found that 27 per cent of men had adopted an adult cat in the past four years, compared to 18 per cent of women.
This meant that 1.5 million new male households now have an adult cat. In comparison, there were 1 million new female households getting cats.
The data also suggests an increased appreciation for more mature pets, the first time this has happened since the pandemic puppy and kitten boom. A total of 2.5 million households acquired adult cats, and 2.1 million households got adult dogs.
Kittens and puppies remain popular with pet owners, with 2.6 million households welcoming kittens and 3.7 million welcoming puppies.
The report found that 10.9 million homes had acquired a new pet in the past four years.
In total, 17.2 million homes have a non-aquatic pet in 2024. However, fish were also increasing in popularity in 21 per cent of homes.
UK Pet Food said that their repor highlighted the mental health benefits of pet ownership. Over a third of pet owners said that their pet was benefitting their family’s mental health.
A quarter of pet owners admitted to enjoying time with their pet more than with their family.
Meanwhile, half of owners aged over 45 said they would be lonely without their pet.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, behaviour officer at Cats Protection, said: “Cats have always been a popular choice of pet but we’re particularly delighted to see that more men are seeing the benefits of older cats, as well as kittens.
“Just like humans, cats are all different and this is what makes them great pets for people from all walks of life - whether its indoor cats suited to living in a quiet home, or more adventurous ones, which thrive in a busy household, and love exploring the outdoors. We often hear from men who tell us their cats are not only great companions, they’re also incredibly entertaining which can be a great stress-buster.”
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Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
