- 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)
‘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.