Shocking Stats About Cat Owners
The December 2013 issue of Vanity Fair featured a poll about pet parents which shocked me. I’d long known the stats about dogs receiving more frequent veterinary visits than cats but seeing the top percentage saddened me. In response to the question: If your favorite pet needed surgery in order to live, what is the most you’d spend?
20% of cat owners would spend no more than $100
24% ” ” ” $500
19% ” ” ” $1000
6% ” ” ” $3000
7% ” ” ” $5,000
12% ” ” ” $10,000
How would you respond?
Most of us have pondered the question: What would you save if your house was on fire. I don’t know any cat lover who wouldn’t mention their cats. Here’s a shocking twist.
In the above poll respondents were asked: If your house were on fire, would you go back inside to save your favorite pet?
81% of dog owners said YES while only 71% of cat owners said YES. In other words,
13% of dog owners said NO and 23% of cat owners said NO.
How would you respond?
The poll was conducted on behalf of CBS News by Social Science Research Solutions of Media, Pennsylvania, among a random sample of 1,006 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone September 11–15, 2013.
33 Comments
Judy & C.A.T.S
I would definitely go back in for my cats. They are my children.
Oui Oui
Sadly, we aren’t suprised. Many cats don’t even receive a yearly physical. But it is shocking 1 in 5 wouldn’t spend $100. We bet if they were going to do something they like to do, they’d drop that amount and more in a heart beat.
When the mom was still married, one of her cats developed diabetes and she spent more than $1500 trying to get his blood sugar under control. Because she handled all the finances, hubby didn’t know how much was spent, but if he did, we would have needed a new roof too.
Cathy Keisha
TW wouldn’t evacuate when we had the CO scare because I wouldn’t let her put me in the PTU and the one time there was a small fire in an apartment on our floor, she begged the fireman to let her up to get me. I don’t know how much they’d spend on me, they spent thousands of dollars when Chizzy needed surgery and he was Gramma’s cat.
Heather
How could you not try to go back into the house for your cat? She is the first thing I think about in an emergency situation now. We live in tornado alley and my Ellie is as much a part of that plan as I am. The amount for surgery would depend on what kind of quality of life is she going to have after the surgery. It would not really be a matter of cost to me but more how much is she going to be able to enjoy life after
Texas, a cat in... Austin
I would spend all that I can spend to save my cats if it is possible. I can understand not to have the money… but not to want to save your cat friend? No, never!
Same with the house on fire. It would take a very strong firefighter to stop me from going back to get my cats! In fact, I sometimes think about it and am scared they would freak out and hide in a place I can’t access.
Carine
(Texas’ human)
meowmeowmans
There is NO way we’d even leave the house in a fire without our cats. And if the surgery would give our kitties a good quality of life, we would do it in a heartbeat.
Karen Jo
This is sad. I would spend whatever I could to save any of my kitties. I would not leave a burning house without getting them out first. There is a difference in that they are my only dependents, so there isn’t anyone else to worry about.
Sue Brandes
Between my 3 kitties that have gotten sick I have spend a bunch. And I would do it again if need be. I would do whatever I had to to save my kitties if we had a fire or anything like that.
Brian
That surprises us too, and makes us sad. We just spent $8K on sister Gracie and we think it is the best deal ever!
The Creative Cat
Here’s the question? How many people did they ask and where did they find them? Still, only 20 years ago when I was designing a brochure and forms for a large veterinary hospital, the owner of the hospital said he’d go farther for his dogs than his cats. His cats were adopted when left behind at the hospital, but he bought his dogs. Guess money talks.
Flynn
Those are surprising and shocking statistics. I would pay whatever it cost if Flynn or any pet of mine needed life saving surgery. Also I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I left a pet to die in a fire without trying to save them. God forbid it ever happens.
Connie Marie
Thankfully my cats don’t hide from me, I have a plan and less I was unconscious, never would I leave them or my son.
Yes, you can always get another cat but it never replaces one you’ve lost.
Penelope
Wow! That amazes me!
Too many people think of cats as disposable.
Dorothy
I would send as much as I could to save my cat’s life. Sadly, unlike people, animals don’t get care regardless of their ability to pay. As for going back in to a burning building? My first impulse was to say yes, but going back in to a burning building is stupid. Would I put my love for my cats ahead of my love for my son and risk my life? I guess it would depend on how big the risk. There’s a huge difference in a small stove fire and a fully involved second story. And with cats you have know where they’d hide. So, as much as it saddens me, I cannot say that I would, without a doubt, run in to a burning building to save my cat. I hope that everyone would look into the eyes of their family and give the same answer.
Julia
Dorothy, that is exactly my thoughts!
Angel Abby
I would have hocked my house if I could have saved Abby. I would spend whatever it took to take care of my cats. And I would go back in to save any of my cats from a fire. I would also risk my life to bring out Abby’s ashes they are that precious to me. But the people who will respond to you will tell you that they will fall into the % of ppl who would do anything to save their cats. Like you I find it stunning, in a way, but I know of ppl who think that if one of their pets dies they can “get another” like they are replacing a sofa. It’s hard to understand.
Sometimes, Cats Herd You
This is sad, and so symptomatic of the raft of misconceptions about cats that lead to the attitude that the family cat is of less value than the family dog. We are crossing our paws that education will help people see that isn’t true.
Skeeter and Izzy
Hey we are a “No Cat Left Behind” household! These guys are my kids and I would not hesitate to try to save any one of them or any one else’s animal. Thats the way God made me. The Vet question is sadly like the human doctor for many. The cost is just so over the top at so many clinics that it deters many from the Vet. Due to some folks not paying their obligations most Vets also no longer allow “the payment plan” and that is probably the number one thing that keeps people with more limited income away. It is sad that a few make life so very hard for so many others. Thats why if I ever win a big lottery I WILL establish a FELINE ONLY FREE Clinic/Hospital. That is my dream.
Luvs Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig and Peanut and Romeo >^..^<
Layla Morgan Wilde
I love your dream!
Sweet Purrfections
Mom Paula already sacrifices to make sure we’re taken care of so we know she’d try to save us from a burning building first and that she’d do whatever she could to pay for life saving surgery.
easy rider
I had to swallow hard while reading. I had no clue about this facts. But it’s sad. I would do all what I can for my pet, no matter if dog, cat or bird.
The Island Cats
These stats are surprising. We know our mom would do anything to save us if there was a fire. And as far as how much she would pay, well, of course there’s a lot of factors that need to be considered, but she would definitely do whatever was necessary. When the cat before us needed back surgery, she spent $5000 for him to have it. And she never regretted it.
Sammy
No question about it……Sammy will always be #1 for us – we adore him and intend to make his life as comfortable as we can for as long as we can. If the house was on fire, we’d be looking for him before we’d look for ANYTHING else to get out of the house. That poll makes me sad too…………
Hugs, Pam
Sparkle
Geez, who ARE these people?! Not only would my human spend thousands of dollars if any of us needed life-saving surgery, she would also consider donating a significant amount to save a kitty’s life that she never met! And probably over $100 if she actually knew the kitty or their human personally. And yeah, she’d die before leaving a burning house without making sure we were all safe.
Andrea and the Celestial Kitties
I would never leave without them, fire, tornado, earthquake, whatever. the problem with those polls is they say ‘cat owner’ not cat lover. some people own animals like they own shoes. Some people consider them part of the family. That’s the difference.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks for mentioning that important distinction to make.
Nerissa's Life
My peep would go to the ends of the Earth to save me. I just KNOW she would. She loves me too much to do anythin’ else.
Purrs,
Nissy
Mari Lwyd
My husband DID get the cat out when our house caught on fire and I wasn’t there! He was a real champ too and refused to let her go when she unleashed her claws upon his chest and back after the firetruck sirens terrified her.
I’m right with Katnip Lounge; I wouldn’t leave until I had my fur baby with me.
Cheysuli
The woman wants to know if someone is dragging her out because she’s unconscious. Otherwise that’s a no brainer…
Katnip Lounge
We wouldn’t LEAVE the house without them! Felix’s orthopedic surgery, ect on his knee was nearly $1500, and it was elective. We elected to give him a life free of later lameness and arthritis (hopefully). And Grayce was $600 for bladder stones, the very next month!
Kathryn
I would definitely try to save them in a fire.
Kathryn
My husband spent 1,800 last year to save Cheddar. I spent an equal amount on cat food for him and Mao after Ched’s hospitalization. Man, is it worth it.
In the 60s, the veterinarian book on cats was very thin and the vet book on dogs was huge. My parents worked in science and knew vets.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
I remember how awful that was for Cheddar. How is he now?