Australian Cat Lovers

We Really Do Love Our Cats – Here’s How We Know

Are you a cat lover? Are you a cat owner? Has anyone ever called you a crazy cat person?

Let’s take the stereotypical “crazy cat person” and change this expression to what it really is – someone who is crazy in love with their cat or cats. Nothing wrong with that!

Research on cat owners

Research was conducted by Antenna research for Purina® Fancy Feast® to debunk the stereotypical cat lover and understand the crazy acts of love Australians do for their cat.

Here are some of the findings about us, cat lovers…

Australian cat owners are spending $873 million annually on caring for their cats

This includes all aspects of caring for cats including general care, vet fees, travel, treats, toys and accessories. A little bit of pampering never hurt a cat!

Almost one in four (23%) Australian cat owners spend more than $450 on caring for their cats every year. I know I’m one of them!

Almost half (46%) of all Australian cat owners have celebrated their cats’ birthday

I must admit, having rescue cats, I can never be sure of their birthdays, especially ones I have adopted as adults. But I never forget my cats at Christmas. Even if you cannot afford to buy your cat a present, you can always give them the boxes that your gifts come in. Cats love a box!

7 out of 10 cat owners talk to their cat

Not just talk to their cat but 71% of us talk to our feline friends as if they were human. Talking to your pets is normal in a healthy relationship and our pets probably understand more than we realise. Even if they don’t, they give us a listening ear and a non-judgemental acceptance, one of the many benefits of living with pets.

One in five (20%) of us meow back at their cat when they meow at us. This is the purpose of the cat’s meow – to get our attention. Especially that little solicitation purr or meow. the one with the upward inflection. We cannot resist that and when they meow at us, we pat them, we feed them, we love them.

How and why cats purr and meow

More than half of Australian cat owners admit that their cat completes them

Yes, 53% of us know that cats really are part of our family. In fact, one in ten (13%) love their cat more than their family or partner. This just proves that cats really have worked their way into our hearts and minds.

It’s ok if your cat is not your main life partner. We can love many people and animals within our family and friendship groups and in many different ways. And luckily for us, our cats probably even love us back!

Cats love us: 7 Signs of cat love and affection

Half of Aussie cat owners take photo of their cat at least once a week

Have you seen the number of cat photos on instagram, cat pages on facebook, cat videos on YouTube and cats themselves on twitter? I am surprised that it’s only half of us cat owners! If you could take a look at my phone – there are more cat photos on there than anything else!

One in 10 Australian cat owners share their bed with their cat

This one surprises me again. I though it would be more. If I share my bed with 2-3 cats every night, then why not everyone else?! My cats have a revolving night shift of sharing my bed. It tends to be first come, first served. Occasionally two have to tussle for the prime spot next to my chin but overall it’s peaceful, apart from Wildfire’s snores!

Almost one in five Australian cat owners admit to booking a cat-friendly hotel

So almost one in five (17%) Australian cat owners want to take their cat on holiday with them. I have to say that this is not something I normally do, as I think my cats like being at home. But I understand why travelling with your cat could be reassuring and fun!

Plus, I would love to stay in a hotel or accommodation that has resident cats. Then I might miss my own cats a little less.

So if you love your cat, this does not make you a crazy cat person. It makes you a person who is crazy in love with your cat.

Crazy cat men

So why is Fancy Feast® doing this research?

Fancy Feast®, in case you haven’t heard of them, is known for creating and crafting unique taste experiences for the cats of Australia to make mealtime moments even more special. Fancy Feast® is a brand of Purina and, as far as I’m concerned, their feline food sounds and looks so much nicer than anything I could ever create or bake at home!

Fancy Feast® would like to debunk the myth around the stereotypical profile the world has of crazy cat love. We are not crazy people! Instead we should celebrate Aussie cat lovers from all walks of life and how they express their love in extraordinary ways.

Check out the variety of recipes in the Fancy Feast® range.

What your cat wants you to know about their eating habits

What the cat lovers and cat experts say

Devoted cat owner and TV Presenter Sam Mac, is Fancy Feast® Ambassador and a former ‘catchelor’ i.e. cat batchelor!

And yours truly, Dr Jo Righetti, says…

And in case you were in doubt of how crazy in love with my cats, I am, take a look at my mask! Does it look a little like my cat Wildfire?!

Dr Jo Righetti is working with Purina Fancy Feast on this project, communicating the love between cats and their owners.

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