Future Pets: Millennials and Pets
Are Your Fur-Kids Your Baby?

Our relationship with our animal companions may be changing. They are no longer mere ‘pets’. Instead they have become ‘fur-kids’, with millennials giving more importance to their pets than any generation before. Read on…

Future Pets: Millennials and Pets. A review of Gen Y young adults and their relationship with companion animals

Who are Millennials?

Millennials, sometimes known as Gen Ys, were born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s. Generally, they differ from previous generations by their familiarity and use of communications, media and digital technologies. On the negative side, however, they often start their working lives with debt and, due to this and increasing property values, are less likely to be homeowners, car owners or to be parents, when compared to previous generations.

What are the Millennials’ Pets?

Millennials have all sorts of pets. Together with the previous generation, Gen X, they are more likely to have birds, fish, reptiles, rabbits and other small pets than previous generations.

They still love cats and dogs. In fact, they love them more than their older cohorts or their parents, the Baby Boomers. They are now the largest segment of pet owners. In the U.S., three-quarters of Americans in the 30s have dogs and half have cats. Compare this to the entire population (Table 1) and you see how popular these traditional pets are in this generation.

% Pets	Overall population (%0	Pet owners in 30s (%)
Dogs	50	75
Cats	35	51

While small dogs were having boom time over the previous 10 years, now medium dogs are becoming more popular. And while we often think of pets as being more human female-oriented pursuits, men are catching up with women in pet-owning numbers.

And yes, Millennial men like cats!

The importance of pets to Millennials

Millennials are half as likely to be living with a partner as they were 50 years ago. So, pets become even more important to these 20-40 year olds.

And while most cannot afford to buy a home of their own, a third of millennials who had already purchased their first home said they were influenced by the need to have space – for their dog!

Human babies cost a lot, so pets may be a money-saving bonus when saving for a home. Pets can also be left at home while you work or go shopping.

Many Millennials, however, do not intend to ever have a human child. Their pet is their “fur-child”. For those who still intend to have babies one day, their pet is seen as a “practice” for the real thing. As many as 44% of Millennials in the USA think this way.

Pets are an important emotional part of the Millennials’ life. Not only are pets their fur child but Millennials often regard their animal companions as their best friends and their confidants too.

Milllennial pet pursuits

Millennials understand and enjoy digital technology and it’s no surprise that their pets feature in their communications. They may still take their dog for a walk but while doing so, they will be taking photos and posting them on Facebook or Instagram, to get that digital stamp of approval.

Many Millennial pet owners also use social media to discover new trends in pets and they may be influenced by pet influencers online.

Millennials celebrate their pet’s every milestone. If you are part of this generation, you’ve probably posted your pet’s arrival online, their graduation from puppy school, their cuddles and purrs with you. If you’re of an older generation looking on, you’ve probably shaken your head in disbelief at the personalised collars and bedding that your younger pet-loving counterparts have purchased and love to show-off to anyone who’ll visit or view online.

Most Millennials (76% of them) are more likely to splurge on a pet item – treats, a new custom-made bed – than they are to spend on themselves. Compare this to only 50% of Baby Boomer pet owners.

Future Pets: Millennials and Pets — *Congrats to Cookie on her graduation from puppy school @bizgals*

GenY making pet decisions

Millennial pet owners like to gather information before making informed decisions about their fur-kids’ lives. Online information features heavily, of course, but so does veterinary advice and not just from vets. Vet nurses and other animal professionals are consulted to gather as much information as possible before making any decisions.

Preventative medicine is important to Millennial pet owners. They don’t treat fleas once they’re on the pet, they prevent them arriving.

Unlike previous generations of pet owners, Millennials are more likely to be looking for particular brand voices. It’s not simply choosing the cheapest dog food or the largest cat-scratching tree. It’s about core values of companies and quality of products. Organic and natural products may feature heavily in their choices.

Once their decisions on pet products are made, Millennials pet owners are not afraid to spend on their pet. Convenience is king when it comes to Millennials and they like to have their pet products delivered right to their door. They may well prefer to have, where possible, veterinary and behaviour advice delivered directly to their home too.

While Millennials spend big on their pets, they like to see other companies spending big too. They may favour smaller, family-owned companies, whose messages are personal and pet-friendly and/or gravitate towards companies who give back to their communities – helping animal shelters, for example.

Future Pets – further predictions

Pet Problems Solved predicts that Millennials will be a driving force behind pets becoming a normal part of life, accompanying us in everything we do.

Homes – Millennials may not own a home but they rent one and need to have their pets with them. Therefore, they will be the generation that insists landlords and property owners allow pets.
Work – Millennials want their pets to be part of everything they do, so they will campaign to bring them to work. Not just for a day but any day that they wish to.
Outdoors – When they go for coffee or to the shops, they want to bring their pet, especially dogs, with them. They will choose items on the menu for their pet.
Holiday – When they go on holiday, Millennials will take their pet with them. Hotels and Air BnBs need to prepare.
Home Alone – Pets don’t like to be alone and Millennials do not like to think of their pet being lonely, so they hire dog walkers and companions, they use daycare for pets.
Technology – this generation of digital natives will spy on their pet, who is home alone, from their phones, They will talk to their pet via technology and they will embrace anything that combines pets and tech. Be prepared for novelty and fun in the future!
Education – we must always take the welfare of our companion animals into account and this may become a more pressing issue. The Millennial generation may be more inclined to support animal organisations which help pets but they may not be aware of their own pet’s true needs. Education of all pet owners remains vital.

Millennials and Pets are important

If you are a Millennial, does this sounds like you? If you know a Millennial, does this sound like them? Perhaps this will help you understand other generations and their attitude differences from yours towards pets. Perhaps if you are a pet business or organisation it will help you understand pet owners a little more.

No matter what generation you belong to or what your particular interest in pets is, pets are important in our lives and we need to satisfy their needs and give them the lives they deserve. Love your pet!

More on pet lifestyles
How the modern Australian lifestyle has changed pet ownership
Pet ownership internationally. How does your country compare?

Furkids: Are you pets your babies?

Setting up home as a couple is fun but once you’ve chosen the furniture, cooked meals together and snuggled up on the sofa, what next? Many couples are not yet ready for the human baby or may have decided to opt out of baby-making altogether. The pet becomes an obvious choice for sharing your coupledom with.

We also know (see above) that Millennials are particularly likely to forego parenthood of the humankind, in favour of furry family friends. They may even forego partners, in favour of a more faithful feline or devoted doggy.

When you live alone, it is your choice how you interact with your pet but when you are a couple, you have the other human’s partner’s thoughts and feelings to consider. Some furkid parents can even become a little extreme in their levels of devotion and may worry if their relationship with their pet is not perfect.

Questions that furkids owners have:

Is it OK to let our pet sleep in bed, between us?
My partner does not want to leave the pet home alone, so we never go out together. Is this OK?
Is it OK that my partner kisses the dog more than he kisses me. Is this normal?
My cat does not like my partner as much as he likes me. How can I make my cat love him more?
Is it Ok to have sex in front of our pet? Will they be traumatised if we put them out of the bedroom?

Yes, as an animal behaviourist, I have been asked ALL of these questions!
As I see it, questions like these mean that owners have truly bonded with their pet. When their relationship with their partner is under threat, however, or when one partner begins to question the way their spouse treats their pet, this can create significant relationship discord.

The following tips should ensure that all relationships, human-to-human or human-to-pet, continue harmoniously:

Tips for human-pet relationships

Ensure your pet’s needs are taken care of. Bling outfits, for example, are not as important as a collar and name tag.
Set rules and boundaries together, as a couple. If you both want your pet to sleep on your bed, great. If only one does, then you may have to make compromises and have the pet by your side on the floor or only sleep with you when your partner is absent.
If your partner has a habit that you do not agree with, negotiate a workable solution. Allowing your dog to lick their hands may be more acceptable than doggy kisses.
Encourage your partner to feed and care for your pet more often if you need them to bond more closely.
Remember that not everyone is endeared to the term “furkids”.
Continue to work on your human relationship. Have nights out with your partner, perhaps leaving your pet with a pet sitter. And yes, your pet can be shut out of the bedroom or, at least, placed on the floor! Give them a toy or treat to occupy them.

Remember that it is ok to love your pet as much as you do. Although, not everyone loves your pet the way you do! Look after their needs and the needs of your partner and furkids are fun!

More about Couples and their pets
Pets at your wedding
Divorce and pets
Pet business: The travelling housesitters

About the author
Dr Jo Righetti is an animal behaviourist who helps people understand pets and their owners. Her business Pet Problems Solved consults with Governments, Universities, Not-for-profit organisations and Media. Dr Jo has written a series of pet behaviour books and is a regular radio guest with pet Q&A segments. More about Jo here.

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Future Pets: Millennials and PetsAre Your Fur-Kids Your Baby?