The number of American households with dogs has dropped 5 percent since 2019, while cat ownership has held relatively steady. Dogs still dominate America — roughly 71 million households have dogs compared with 53 million that own cats — but that is changing quickly...
Why the change?
Mostly, practicality. Cats are quieter, easier to leave by themselves and better at living in smaller spaces. A dog can turn your Saturday into a logistical exercise. A cat barely notices you’ve left the house....
The decline in dog ownership is also a product of the way people live and work post-pandemic. Americans have smaller households, are more likely to own apartments, travel more and incur higher costs....
This isn’t a story about cats replacing dogs. It’s about Americans becoming more like cats: living in smaller spaces, valuing independence and preferring to be left alone.
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84 comments:
Our cat notices we have left. It is very spoiled.
We have brought it in the car on a couple of extended vacations to see the family.
Usually one doesn’t own an apartment. One rents an apartment. And usually one rents because one can’t afford a house. And the price of housing has gone up be of the inflation the Dems gave us under Biden.
In Omaha, house prices spiked 20%. For the first time ever, more apartments are under construction than houses.
I wonder if Jason Furman ever told President Ron Klain that all that government spending was going to cause ruinous inflation. In any event, because of omertà we’ll never know.
Dog care industry $$ is out of control.
ai : "High inflation, veterinary consolidation, and the "humanization" of pets have combined to push the costs of dog ownership to historic highs, with total U.S. pet industry spending projected to reach $165 billion."
"Why the change?"
Take a dog to the "vet" for a "check-up."
Then you'll know.
Cats are easier. Having dogs is like having children. A lot more responsibility. I have had both. Love them all. But if you are working and family is out of town...you can't always bring the dog. Cats you can leave home with plenty of food and water, and a neighbor to check on them.
Has anyone thought this might be an unintended consequence of the proliferation of libtarded cat ladies?
There's a pretty good doc on Charles Grodin. His first marriage didn't last, even though (?) There was a kid. He says his first wife was like a married comic who didn't like coming home and finding someone living in his apartment. In this case, a cat is better than a dog.
You have to give a dog time and attention. You have to get up, go outside and take it for a walk. It's a social animal. It wants to interact with you. A cat doesn't care if you're looking at your screen.
All is proceeding according to plan. Soon cats will take over the world and rid it of dogs!!! Mooo-ha-ha. Oh, and our Islamic overlords say dogs are haram.
Whatever happened to all the dog pics that were posted by Meade? Are dogs no longer a "thing" for the AA household?
In the 50s and 60s the family dog was fine in the back yard, or even roaming the neighborhood. That sort of freedom is long gone.
What Danno wrote is accurate. More women are single and lonely, meeting the "cat lady" stereotype. This will only grow as white liberal women become more undatable.
I asked AI if cats are haram. It said, "cats are often treated with kindness in Muslim households"...which is nice.
I grew up with Dobermans and had five Golden Retrievers as an adult. Dogs are wonderful, but they are expensive. Of course, we had to provide them with premium food and healthcare and pet sitters when we went on vacation.
It is sad that people are less inclined to go to the trouble of acquiring and raising dogs. Maybe that is an indication of out changing culture.
There are a lot of cats up for adoption. The cat populations are high. Please spay and neuter your cats.
It's gotten so expensive, dogs have healthcare insurance now.
The notion that only crazy cat ladies like cats is a rather tired notion. Men like cats too. Also, cats are non-political.
Some people like both cats and dogs.
Asked for her comment, my Soni replied “meow.” We can’t replace our beagle until we move into a house.
do stray cats that sit on you porch, watching you while you make breakfast count?
because That's NOT MY CAT!
no excuse me, while i get rid of this extra milk
"no excuse me, while i get rid of this extra milk"
Do not give milk to cats. It's bad for them. Water only.
Private Equity has consolidated many of the Vet practices around here. Prices have shot up ( they discovered pet care demand inelasticity). I couldn't get out of our dogs' annual checkup for less than $600.
When she passed away in June, the wife and I agreed, no more dogs. The last cat lives on.
2036: For the first time since they've been counting, more Americans have bunnies than have kitties.
2046: For the first time since they've been counting, more Americans have hamsters than have bunnies.
2056: For the first time since they've been counting, more Americans have hermit crabs than have hamsters.
2066: For the first time since they've been counting, more Americans have slugs than have hermit crabs.
2076...
"A cat doesn't care if you're looking at your screen."
Nailed it.
The Vet who euthanized our last dog commented that she saw two types of dog owners.
The first believes the dog is a family member, and will spend thousands to prolong its life with surgeries and procedures, and mourn its passing with intense and extended grief.
The second is ready to say "Well, its been a great run. Goodbye Sparky" and then get a new puppy in a week or two.
I had to say goodbye to Spike. 20 years old. He wasn't the most cuddely cat, but he was Mr. Chill. Good pheromones and loved all the other animals, and they loved him.
Parking Lot Pete is now the man of the house. I trapped him behind Pica's and the pot shops. Long story. He and his siblings were probably dumped as unwanted. So cruel. There's a Humane Society nearby.
Anyway, at the same time/in the same area - I saw a small dead black kitten, killed by traffic.
Pete is all black and the most affectionate kitty. He loves to be loved, and is all love. Love and snuggles. It's as if he is grateful. Very smart and well behaved. I'm lucky.
Just more evidence of the pussyfication of America. And thus, its fate.
Houseplants for the win!
Nah - real pussies are grown men who complain about winter's shorter days.
Who is “they”?
I call bs.
Hasan Piker proudly electrocutes his dog on camera, for his cult followers.
"The first believes the dog is a family member, and will spend thousands to prolong its life with surgeries and procedures, and mourn its passing with intense and extended grief."
There's a rare and despicable third that won't let go, but either doesn't have the money or will to provide care or end it, and will let the dog suffer. It's low.
btw- it's not a competition. If you love animals, and you have pets and you have preferences - it's not some BS war that needs to be waged.
Reminds me of the immature idiots who like to fight over what Truck brand is best.
Same mentality follows our drop off in replacement rate of population. It requires more care and attention to own a dog. Many are not up for it. And don't want the responsibility. With a cat, you can still go out on the town for hours. With a dog, you're on the clock.
Also seeing a massive uptick in dog numbers in animal shelters. Meaning, those who thought they wanted a dog, change their minds and abandon them. Probably would do that to their kids, too, if we had kid shelters.
I've had both in my life and love both animals. A dog does require more work, but offers greater returns in companionship.
"And the price of housing has gone up be of the inflation the Dems gave us under Biden."
Yes, because Donnie Trump never caused any inflation himself, and now he's promising that if you vote for his guys, he will hand out a trillion or so dollars, that on top of another trillion for the "Department of War," starting a war that didn't need to be started for Israel that has raised diesel prices in an economy that is built on diesel fuel at a fundamental level.
I am not letting Biden off the hook, but come on, that $5,000 bucks, which he will never deliver, will be claimed back in inflation in pretty short order.
There is a lot of social pressure to "rescue" dogs too, and these dogs seem to be mostly pit bulls, which are not for everybody. A Labrador practically trains itself being so eager to please, pit bulls require serious attention.
"Whatever happened to all the dog pics that were posted by Meade?"
That was the neighbors' dog that Meade took on outings. The neighbors moved and then, too, the dog died.
A three cat night is nowhere close to a three dog night. Winter's coming...
Comedy is watching a massively overweight neighbor walk their golden from the handlebars of an e-bike, struggling to maintain balance as the animal varies the pace. Gold Jerry. Gold.
There was only one Zeus.
"A Labrador practically trains itself being so eager to please"
English Labs (I own two) are the Swiss army knives of dogs. The only breed possibly as versatile would be the Australian heeler IMO.
I love our dog, but she's really like having a little kid. Our cat is just self-contained and comes and goes as he pleases.
I love watching "Barney the cuckatoo" videos. But man what an investment. Parrots and those sort of birds can live to be 50 or more. And they bond with their owners and require constant companionship. Barney for example is mere 31. And might post a video 20 years from now on the death of his "dad".
Somebody told me that a dog prepares you for kids, but a cat prepares you for teenagers.
IM Tuq'r shows up to take a hot boring dump.
Zeus. He a was good boy.
Households in the US are getting smaller and smaller. Single old people and young unmarried becoming more numerous. Lots of people get a dog "for the kids". And our Immigrant neighbors are not into dog ownership.
Dogs have owners, cats have staff.
Labs are great but don't expect them to guard anything. They'll help the burgler load the truck. Cause they're "good boys".
I had a low energy bassett hound about 30 years ago. And she was the closest thng to a cat. Talk about low energy. A 30 minute walk and her day was done. Very affectionate though. And quite clever.
[start virtual italics]Somebody told me that a dog prepares you for kids, but a cat prepares you for teenagers.[end virtual italics]
LOLOLOL. Good one, crosse!
Lot o' truth to that one... .
"Labs are great but don't expect them to guard anything."
As with so much else, training dependent. Mine are more protective than Roman attack geese.
You're close, tcrosse. The dog definitely prepares you for kids, but the cat prepares you for the crazy ex-wife. Thus also the origin of the cat ladies.
You don’t have to walk cats when the weather is bad.
My Denver metro pals have a pit bull rescue. They rescued this dog off the street. He is very powerful. Loves his owners/saviors, but wow - is this dog powerful. Only the big dude of the house can manage walking him. They cannot have cats. That dog would kill kitty immediately.
Curious George said...
.."Do not give milk to cats. It's bad for them. Water only.."
i just discussed this, with the stray cat (again NOT MY CAT!)
and he said:
a) there's Plenty of water in the ditch..
b) milk is WAY MORE delicious than Not eating today (like yesterday)
but again; IT'S NOT MY CAT!
Two dogs, two cats, raised together since they were about 7 and 5 weeks old, respectively. All female. One pack with shared cross-species habits, the cats come on walks and the dogs lick their paws to clear their face.
'...Americans have smaller households, are more likely to own apartments,...'
I don't believe any of this. 'They said, without evidence'.
A little milk once in a while won't hurt. It's the sugar in milk that is bad for the cat. Cats should not have a steady diet of milk.
But mmmm milk is yummy. So is butter.
Damn Taylor Swift.
Cats are easier to prepare than dogs.
PE and the Street have figured out the people love their pets more than they love their children. Three results:
1. Higher vet bills.
2. Super expensive designer food for pets.
3. Pet insurance to pay for #1.
The Maine Coon Cat is a good compromise. It is a very dog-like cat.
If elected, I will give every family a box.
I hope this trend continues. Over the past 30 years that we have lived here, our neighborhood has gone from a handful of dog owners to majority dog owners with 2-3 dogs on average per family. Some of the owners are not very responsible - they let their dogs run freely in their neighbors yards. It makes it harder to walk the neighborhood without running into a dog ready to protect what it thinks is its territory.
I've had cats for most of my adult life. Don't have to walk 'em or pick up steaming piles of poop while doing so. There are, of course, other tradeoffs involved. None have been terribly aloof. I didn't want any more after the last pair left us, but then I was saddled with four 4-week-old foundlings and the Spousal Unit couldn't let them go.
There's a joke about cat vs dog people: Dog owners will say "I spent $6,000 for my labradoodeagel from a *very* reputable breeder" and cat owners will say "I found mine behind a dumpster."
(FWIW, the foundlings were found in the bottom of a boat that had been towed up from Waco)
Maine Coon's are delightful.
The black cat is ignored and left to grow old in the shelter.
Black cats are really mellow and loving. They are also loyal and easy. Bonus: Panther.
Spike used to WALK with me. Very dog like. He would stay right with me. Spike looked like he had a bit of Maine Coon in him.
WALK - not talk. typo.
Anthony - #### totally.
Pussy hats are a fashion accessory.
I love dogs and the love they give their masters (am I allowed to use that term today?). But they are expensive to own now (dogs used to eat table scraps and vet bills were low), and you cannot have the freedom to just get up and go when you have a doggie. But I HATE the dog owners who bring their non-service animals into retail stores, restaurants, and supermarkets. Not the dogs. Dislike cats. I am allergic to dander so there's that.
Dog ownership is a big thing in suburbia. Dog people are everywhere here. Sometimes I feel like they are a species of their own. If Americans aren't forming families and buying houses, but rather living single in cramped apartments then, yeah, cats will become more popular than dogs.
But you don't see people out walking their cats. Cat fancying is more of a furtive, solitary vice, like smoking, day drinking and some other things I won't mention.
“ For the first time since they've been counting, more American households have kittens than have puppies.
And it's because dog ownership is declining”
This happened just before the fall of Rome, too.
Dogs can become a stand-in for the unconditional acceptance we wish we all had. We get a lot of love from our two Papillons and a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Love them all, but the Paps are the best, one runs agility. Watch for us at Westminster next year!
People have dogs to satisfy their craving for adoration. Cats are poor substitutes.
We have two schnauzers they love us deeply but they don’t know why. Just a schnauzer thing.
You’d never know dog ownership was in decline, based on the population in SF. Dogs are everywhere, and it’s rather amazing because even those who own nice condos still have to contend with a small footprint in which the dog must live. That means endless walks, trips to the local park, etc. It’s less of an issue for those who live out at the beach, where there’s plenty of room to run and most places have a fenced in back yard big enough for a dog to play in. Most of the dogs and owners I see are local to the neighborhood. Honestly it’s not fair to keep a dog in a city apartment/condo/townhouse, especially in tight neighborhoods like Russian Hill or Pac Heights.
Cats are indifferent to you, and scornful. Like Sydney Sweeney is. She's popular now too.
I don’t think that a lot of people here understand the economic straits that young people are in. The median first time home buyer is well north of thirty, a couple of decades ago it was 28. 18 year olds got suckered into crushing debt that they didn’t understand. The price of housing keeps going up, stocks keep going up, and neither helps young people trying to start a family.
You guys try to scare people with “socialism” when capitalism has failed them, the constitution has been so subverted that one has to question whether it’s fit for service. The idea that you can tell the young black and Hispanic men that Trump won over with his anti-establishment and anti-war promises, “We know we lied, but isn’t socialism scary?” It’s nonsense.
“ Cats are indifferent to you, and scornful. Like Sydney Sweeney is.”
That’s a big part of their appeal.
I've always considered myself a 'dog' person. Always had dogs in our house growing up. Actually, couldn't stand cats.
That changed when my wife got one. We had one who lived to be 19 and have another one now who just turned 11 (who's
'my' cat). I'm glad I came around.
*Nah - real pussies are grown men who complain about winter's shorter days.*
Real pussies think the world revolves around them, and to hell with everybody else.
Our love for dogs will buttress our fight against radical Islam.
“From my cold dead arms…”
My cat E, an orange tabby, follows me everywhere for the most part. He will also play fetch. I toss the ring off a plastic milk jug and he'll go get it and bring it back. He used to wake me up in the middle of the night to play when he was younger,
We have both. IMHO- cats are much easier to care for. Nonetheless, we have both. And have had both for most of 48 years now.
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