YouGov data shows that Germans are three times more likely to insure their dogs than their cats
Once worshipped as gods, feared as wicked omens, and revered as the beloved companions of religious prophets, cats have recently been associated with poor grammar, bird-killing, and musical theatre. In a further indignity, new YouGov data shows that cat owners are less likely to insure their pets than dog owners.
The disparity is most pronounced in Germany, where over two in five dog owners (43%) insure their pets compared to just 12% of those with feline companions. The difference is less stark in Great Britain, but still significant: dog owners are ten percentage points more likely to have pet insurance than cat owners (30% vs. 20%).
In our North American markets, pet insurance is a rarity among dog and cat owners. Just 6% of US dog owners hold insurance policies for their pets compared to 4% of cat owners, and it’s a similar story in Canada (dog owners 5%; cat owners 3%).
It’s not necessarily the case that cat owners have lower esteem for their furry friends than dog owners – although in Great Britain, cat owners are less likely to say animals should have equal rights to humans than dog owners (63% dog owners vs. 58% cat owners). Dogs are believed to be more expensive in terms of veterinary bills than their feline counterparts, and their owners may therefore be less able to absorb the costs of regular (or emergency) care than cat owners.
It’s also worth noting that, in each of these markets – save one – most pet owners don’t bother to insure their companions at all. The exception is Sweden, where just over half (53%) of dog owners have a pet insurance policy – though again, cat owners are less likely to cover their pets (46%).
Methodology
YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data from several sources, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data referenced is based on a sample of dog and cat owners in Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, Singapore, Canada, and the US. Profiles data is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.
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