Meet Generation Meow
New Purina Study Shows Nearly Half of Millennials Surveyed See Cats as a Purrfect Pet
• Purina study finds almost 50 percent of millennials surveyed own cats.
• Nearly 90 percent of millennial cat owners say they consider themselves similar to their pet.
• Nearly 3 in 5 millennial cat owners identify themselves as a “cat lady” or “cat man.” i
PR Newswire, ST. LOUIS (December 8, 2015) – Forget the stereotype of the pet-loving lady with a houseful of cats. Turns out many of today’s most-passionate cat owners are millennials – those active, independent, tech-savvy young adults, nearly half of whom surveyed have a cat at home.
To better understand the love affair between young Americans and felis catus, Purina surveyed millennials in the United States (age range 18-34) in October 2015 and found:
- 88 percent consider themselves similar to their cat, and nearly the same number say they’re “in sync” with their cat.
- 57 percent consider their feline friends as important as the friends in their lives, and 2 in 5 say that owning a cat means they have a new best friend.
- 86 percent consider their cats to be a loyal companion, and nearly 1 in 2 say they tell their cat secrets no one else knows.
“People like cats because they are great pets – they provide comfort to their owners and with appropriate socialization they can be warm and friendly,” said Purina behaviorist Sandra Lyn. “In addition, they don’t need to be taken on walks or for bathroom breaks and they’re generally happy doing their own thing, though they do like attention and cuddling. These personality traits could be a factor as to why cats are growing in popularity among millennials – cats are a great fit for their busy lifestyles.”
Further fueling millennial enthusiasm for cat ownership: social media. Nearly 60 percent of millennials watch cat videos online. And – reflecting this generation’s love of sharing – half have spread cat memes online, and nearly 2 in 5 talk about their cat(s) often on social media.
Though cats seem particularly well-suited for today’s lifestyles, many of the reasons millennials love them have remained constant for millennia:
“Living alone after college, getting a cat was one of the first things on my to-do list,” said Hayley Lynes, 23, of Chicago. “I wanted the comfort of a pet but also knew I didn’t have the lifestyle to take care of a dog. I have heard so many stereotypes that cats are ‘mean’ and ‘loners’ but my experience with my cat, Tilly, can’t be further from that – she loves to cuddle!”
For more information about formulas for each cat’s unique nutritional needs and products that fit every lifestyle, please visit www.purina.com.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premier global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
Media Contacts
Bill Etling
Nestlé Purina
314.982.4825
[email protected]
Allison Cory
Burson-Marsteller
312.596.3416
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iPenn Schoen Berland. Purina, Cats & Millennials Survey. 2015