One study found that quite a few people would rather take pictures of their pets than of their loved ones.
A survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners by OnePoll revealed that over a third (35%) have more photos of their fur babies on their phones than of humans, while just 27% said they had mostly photos of their kids, and only 16% said they had the most pictures of their spouse or partner.
On average, pet parents snap more than 400 pictures of their pets each year.
Additionally, a quarter (25%) of respondents said they’ve shown their love for their pets by throwing them a party, and another 25% admitted to letting their fur babies kiss them on the mouth — that’s a lot of photo opportunities!
A surprising number have even tattooed their pets’ likenesses on themselves, with about one in six having gotten ink inspired by their furry friends.
Forty‑five percent said their pet sleeps in the bed with them, while others confessed their pets keep them company while cooking (38%) and working out (35%).
Another explanation for why pet parents can’t get enough of their animals is simple: they just can’t bear being apart. Half of respondents (52%) said they feel incomplete when they’re not near their cats or dogs.
Because of that strong attachment, three‑quarters (79%) have even brought their pets along on at least one vacation.
However, our love for cats should also be tempered with humility.
Another survey found that, even though nearly all cat owners (92%) believe they’re knowledgeable about felines, most don’t know the basics.
Only 17% knew that cats have 18 toes, and almost half (46%) didn’t realize that many cats are lactose intolerant, debunking the popular image of a cat happily lapping up a bowl of milk.
The survey also found that seven in ten (69%) cat owners believe they can tell what their cat is thinking, yet a majority (56%) didn’t realize that cats purr both when they’re happy and when they’re stressed.
Hopefully, taking pictures of your furry companion teaches you something new about them!
