If you’ve been following what we’ve been up to over the past month, and we hope you have, you know we dedicated August to our favorite dating sidekicks… our pets! Our self-proclaimed Plenty of Pets month might be over now, but we’re still riding the high of the hype our furry friends have given us.
We’ve already said it but in case anyone forgot: pets can be a massive part of your dating life, and they should be! These adorable little family members can be our best wing-people, children, conversation starters, and dates themselves. We knew we weren’t the only ones obsessed, so we also turned to our members to give us the low-down on pets and dating. We surveyed over 3,400 U.S.-based Plenty of Fish users and here’s what we learned.
If You’ve Got It, (A Pet, That is) Flaunt It
If you’re looking through someone’s online dating profile and you come across a photo of them posing with a boat, a car, or something equally eye-roll-worthy, it usually cue’s Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much” in your head (or maybe that’s just me), and you might flip to the next profile. You come across a profile where someone’s posing with their pet on the other hand… now we’re talking.
Thirst traps aren’t always effective, but pet-related thirst traps are *chef’s kiss.* Turns out, 34% of singles are more likely to reach out to someone on a dating app if they have a picture of their pet in their profile. Plus, our Gen Z-ers are even more into your pet pics with just under half (48%) of them saying they’d be more likely to reach out. If you’re wondering how to post your perfect pet thirst-trap, 36% of Gen Z-ers want to see pet cuddles galore. Moral of the story? If your pet isn’t popping up on your Plenty of Fish profile yet, this is your sign.
Pets ARE Family Members, and Sometimes the Only Ones!
We all know those very involved pet-owners. You know, the ones who call their pets their children and celebrate dog mother and father’s day? You know what I’m talking about. I’ve made countless jokes over the past couple of years that for younger families, having kids is out and having pets is in and, apparently, I’ve been right all along!
Out of our surveyed members, pretty much everyone (97%) agreed their pet is a part of the family… duh! When it comes to pets over kids though, 47% of Gen Z would rather have pets than children versus 28% of Millennials, 24% of Gen X, and 24% of Boomers. There’s a lot of stress on the younger generation these days, so if all you want to do is live your pet-filled fantasy with three furry children, you’re definitely not alone. We’ll be here, patiently waiting for the pics.
They’re Not Just Certified Good Boys, They’re Also Certified Great Wing-People
Personally, I’ve never met a dog I didn’t want to pet. That means if you’re that dog’s owner, I will be approaching you. Pets are pretty much the most ideal conversation starter, which means for singles they’re the ultimate wing-person. One in five (21%) of pet owners have used their pet as a tactic to flirt, and to be honest… that number should be higher IMO. Use that pet people!
If you’re not convinced your fur-baby will work wonders on your dating life, nearly half (49%) of singles said a potential date owning a pet is a turn-on, and 61% of singles think pets are the best icebreaker when it comes to meeting someone new. I’m telling you, your pet has magic wing-person powers. If there was ever a shameless plus that’s really not so shameless, it’s saying you have a pet. Who needs a human wingman anyways?
Don’t be THAT Pet Owner
Sadly, not all pet owners are created equal. If you’re going to be flaunting your furry child, make sure you’re talking the talk and walking the walk, because 39% of singles say not picking up after your pet is the biggest turnoff when it comes to pet-owner behavior. Also, loving your pet is cool, but loving them too much? Not so cool according to 31% of singles who say kissing your pet on the mouth is a little too close for comfort.
If you’re out there thinking “Hey, I don’t have your typical cat or dog, what’s the vibe with my pet?” the reviews are, well, mixed. Sadly, if you’re an arachnid or reptile lover, a pet wing-person might not be in your future. 53% of singles think owning a snake is a no-go and 50% think a pet tarantula is just plain creepy. I’m not going to lie, they’re probably not alone, but for all the alternative pet-owners out there I say flaunt it anyways, your spider or snake-lover is out there!
Appreciating all your furry friends this past month has been the wholesome content we needed, and I hope you keep on showing ‘em off in the future, especially if they’re adopted because that’s sexy… and 52% of singles agree.
