Forget the ‘crazy cat lady’ stereotype! Research shows that MEN in Britain are much more likely to adopt cats

  • Research shows that cat adoption is clearly more popular among men than among women
  • In the past four years, 27% of men and 18% of women have adopted an adult cat

The “crazy cat lady” stereotype has been around for decades.

But it seems times are changing – research shows that cat adoption is clearly more popular among men than women.

A report conducted by UK Pet Food found that in the past four years, 27 percent of men have chosen to adopt an adult cat as a pet.

This compared to just 18 percent of women.

This translates to 1.5 million new male households benefiting from the addition of an adult cat, compared to about a million female households, they said.

The “crazy cat lady” stereotype has been around for decades. But it seems times are changing – research shows cat adoption is clearly more popular among men than women (stock image)

The Pet Population Report also shows that a quarter of owners admit they spend more time with their pets than their own family members.

About half of owners over the age of 45 said they would be lonely without their pet, while a fifth said they would like to see pets available on prescription.

Daniel Warren-Cummings, Behavior Officer at Cats Protection, said: ‘Cats have always been a popular pet choice, but we’re particularly pleased to see more and more men seeing the benefits of older cats, as well as kittens.

‘Just like people, cats are all different and this makes them great pets for people from all walks of life – whether they are indoor cats suited to living in a quiet home, or more adventurous cats, who thrive in a busy household, and love to explore the outdoors.

About half of owners over the age of 45 said they would be lonely without their pet, while a fifth said they would like pets to be available on prescription (stock image)

About half of owners over the age of 45 said they would be lonely without their pet, while a fifth said they would like pets to be available on prescription (stock image)

‘We often hear from men who tell us that their cats are not only great companions, but also incredibly entertaining, which can be a great stress buster.’

Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of UK Pet Food, added: ‘This year’s findings further prove the huge popularity of pets in Britain.

‘As an owner of an older cat, I was especially interested to see more and more men adopting older cats.

‘Pets play an important role in our homes; they help combat loneliness and can have a positive effect on our mental health.

‘We were pleasantly surprised to see that a fifth of respondents support the availability of pets on prescription. We completely agree with that.’

The research was based on a survey of almost 9,000 British households.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CAT? THE 13 SECRET SIGNALS THAT COTTONS GIVE TO THEIR OWNERS

Cats are often branded as aloof and lonely creatures who spend their days plotting the demise of their human owner, but such characterizations couldn’t be further from the truth.

Our feline friends are constantly communicating their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.

In her sensational new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin explains—with the help of animal behaviorists—how to interpret your pet’s movements.

Below are some of the most common behaviors and what they can signal.

Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it is through their whiskers, tail, face or body language

Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it is through their whiskers, tail, face or body language