If you’ve got a dog, cat or other pet in your household, you’ll already know the reasons that a pet can be good for your mental health. We’re a bunch of pet lovers over at The Breakdown, so when Beko published their research on the UK’s pet habits in 2021, we knew we had to take a look.
The UK’s favourite pets
- In third place, fish. 17% of survey respondents had a fish in their household. If you’ve ever watched fish swimming around a tank when you’ve been waiting for a medical appointment or even just at an aquarium, you’ll know how relaxing it can be.
- In second place, cats. Over half of UK households have a cat, at 57%. Whether you have a cuddly cat or a playful one, a feline friend can be a purrfect one. Mentalhealth.org.uk says “just by stroking, sitting next to or playing with a pet can gives owners a chance to relax and calm their minds”.
- In first place, dogs. We’re a nation of dog lovers, with 63% of households owning a canine pal. Labradors and Border Collies were the most popular breeds reported in the survey.
Are You Thinking About Getting A Pet?
Pet ownership increased throughout the recent lockdowns as more people were spending time at home, but there are some practical things to think through if you’re considering getting a pet.
The PDSA actually has a tool to help you choose a pet based on your own circumstances; you might find it helpful to take this quiz to understand the realities of pet ownership.
Beko also shared that it can take pet owners four times as long to keep their households clean each week. The national average is one hour of cleaning, but for pet owners, it’s four hours! The messiest pet traits reported were:
- Shedding pet hair on furnishings and carpets (41%)
- Getting mud everywhere (19%)
- Getting food everywhere (11%)
- Litter and toileting accidents (10%)
So despite pet ownership having its perks, it’s also worth being aware of this too. But sometimes the extra cleaning is worth it when you get to see a pet having so much fun.