Most cat owners know very little about their feline friends

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

HOW MUCH DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAT? ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY, MOST CAT OWNERS DON’T EVEN KNOW BASIC FACTS ABOUT THEIR FELINE.

THE POLL OF 2,000 CAT OWNERS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE CAT PARENT FORGETS TO FILL UP THEIR CAT’S WATER TWICE PER WEEK AND EVEN FORGETS TO FEED THEIR CATS THREE TIMES PER WEEK.

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF PETSAFE, ALMOST HALF SAID THEY DIDN’T KNOW THAT MANY CATS ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT (46%) — DEBUNKING THE POPULAR IMAGE OF A CAT ENJOYING A BOWL OF MILK.

THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY WERE UNAWARE THAT CATS PURR DUE TO BOTH PLEASURE AND DISTRESS (56%).

DESPITE THESE KNOWLEDGE GAPS, THE AVERAGE CAT OWNER GAVE THEMSELVES A FOUR OUT OF FIVE RATING FOR HOW WELL THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR CAT.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 American cat owners was commissioned by PetSafe between Mar. 22 and Mar. 30, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).