Pets Drive Everything About Millennial And Gen Z Spending
Dogs and cats rule our finances 🐶🐱💸
Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of news coverage about how adults, especially millennials and Gen Z, are completely obsessed with their pets. Couples are saying no to having kids, and adopting cats instead, or buying a house specifically so their dog can finally have his own yard. Many people might think that’s as deep as it goes, but it’s not.
The reality is that consumers are shaping their entire lives, and budgets, around their pets.
In a recent poll of 400 Dodo pet parents, 90 percent of respondents said that having a pet is one of the most important things in their lives. The majority of those respondents also said that having a pet influences the way they set up their house, impacts where and when they travel, and even affects their financial planning and which brands they buy.
Almost half of pet parents surveyed agreed that owning a pet is one of the first adult things they’ve ever done, which is why it’s so important to them to make sure that their pet has the best life possible.
It’s not just about buying the healthiest dog food or a luxury cat bed — pet parents are making all financial decisions with their pets in mind. Where to travel, where to live, what kind of house to buy, how to furnish that house, car choices, fitness regimens, even dining plans — the pets have a bigger say than their parents in big and small life decisions.
Dodo pet parents represent dog and cat moms and dads across the U.S. Some people are designing entire bedrooms, decked out with furniture and decor meant for kids, just so their dog can have a space of her own. They’re planning camping trips around what’s easiest for their cat, who is absolutely going with them. Pets are members of the family, and for many people, they’re the deciding factor for major life milestones.
Three out of four Dodo pet parents say that their pets even affect who they’re friends with and who they decide to love. Pets aren’t only part of the family — they’re ruling over every aspect of family life.