October to March are the months known as cuffing season, with people wanting a short-term partner to share the colder weather and celebrate Christmas and Valentine’s Day with. To successfully secure a partner this cuffing season, Kitty Bingo has conducted a survey to reveal all about which animals are best to own if you’re looking to increase your chances of a love interest saying yes to a date.
Almost half of the UK population would prefer their partner or love interest to own a dog (43%) as a pet, followed by cats (31%). So, dog owners, you’re more likely to secure a date this cuffing season, and mentioning your furry companion in conversation or adding in a photo on your dating profile may be considered a green flag.
Whilst dogs and cats came in as the top pets to own, other animals included rabbits (7%), fish (7%), birds (4%) and horses (4%).
Top 5 pets which are considered a green flag by a partner/love interest:
- Dog – 43%
- Cat – 31%
- Rabbit – 7%
- Fish – 7%
- Bird – 4%
Females are especially favourable towards a love interest who owns a dog as a pet, with 47% saying they’d prefer their current or future partner to own a dog, compared to 39% of males. Also, 34–54-year-olds were found to be the most dog loving generation with almost half (47%) being favourable towards a partner/love interest owning a four-legged pooch.
As for cats, 34% of females and 27% of males said they would prefer a partner to own a cat, and the 25-34 age group (35%) are the most likely to be interested in a partner who owns a cat.
Glasgow has been found to be the most dog-living UK city, with 63% choosing dogs as their preference for a partner to own. The only UK city to prefer cats over dogs is Brighton with 41% choosing cats compared to dogs (30%). The first cat café in Brighton opened 10 years ago, showing that the city has been cat-loving for a long time.
Two UK cities couldn’t decide which pet they’d most like their love interest to own, with Bristol (40%) and Southampton (41%) both equally choosing dogs and cats.
Less favoured animals that people would want their partner to own includes reptiles, such as lizards (2%) and rodents including rats (2%) and mice (2%).
Pets that are most likely to give your partner the ick:
- Frog – 1%
- Gerbil – 1%
- Spider – 1%
- Chameleon – 1%
- Ferret – 1%
- Snake – 1%
Also, from ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) to arachnophobia (fear of spiders), there are many phobias linked to animals, which may be why these pets came at the bottom of the partner’s pet preference list.
Expert tips on how to bond with your partner’s animals
Future or current partners may have a pet, which could be a great way for you to become a pet parent or decide if you’d like one of your own, however pets come with responsibility, and potential jealously of you taking some attention away from them. You could end up third wheeling with your partner and their beloved furry friend if the pet is used to having their pet parent all to themselves.
Therefore, Tommy Wylde, animal enthusiast and Editor of floofmania.comhas shared tips on how to bond with the top three pets’ people would prefer their partner to have.
Dogs:
“Time is key, so spend quality time playing and exercising together. This could be a great activity to do with your date as well. Training isn’t just for teaching dog’s tricks – it greatly stimulates the bond between a dog and human, so taking part of your significant other’s dog training can do wonders in bringing you closer!
Frequent walks and establishing an interwoven routine for walking and feeding is a great way to establish a bond. Provide physical affection through petting and cuddling. This is perhaps a no-brainier, but dogs quickly bond with humans that show them affection and provide fun.”
Cats:
“With cats, you really need to respect their independence, so in order to bond, you need to give them space and allow them to come to you. Lots of play usually does wonders. It’ll help you get to know the cat as well as help the cat create a bond with you.
Don’t forget to allow the cat to relax, especially together with you (if they want). Watching a good movie with a purring cat on the lap can also be a great cozy moment with your date
Grooming is a social activity with cats. Try to gently groom them and provide treats for positive associations. If the cat starts grooming you back, you know that you’re on the right track to creating a bond.”
Rabbits:
“Spend time in their space, allowing them to come to you. While bunnies can be cute and cuddly, they quickly become stressed if your behaviour is a bit ‘too much’ for them.
Just like cats, bunnies enjoy play time. You can even train a rabbit to do various tricks, like jumping on command which is both fun and a great bonding experience.
Take great care of the rabbit by providing fresh hay and vegetables for a healthy diet and clean-living conditions. Taking care of the basics is really a must and will create the right conditions for bonding.
Rabbits are quite different from dogs and many other pets, and you should be weary of playing too rough or coming on too strong. With rabbits, it’s best to handle them gently and with patience.”
Why pets are more than just a dating accessory
Tommy explains: “While there’s no doubt that puppy eyes or the charming personality of a cat could help you melt the heart of just about anyone, it’s probably best to think twice before getting a new pet just because of a love interest.
Pets are living beings, not props. Their well-being requires commitment, and rushed pet ownership often leads to neglect. We see this every year a couple of months after the holiday season when owners get second thoughts and decide to just get rid of their pet. The implications for the dating scene are the same. Before getting a pet, consider the lifelong commitment and ensure its driven by genuine love, and that you can follow through with your new role as a pet parent, even if your date might not stick around.”
For more information and expert commentary about how to bond with pets, please visit the Kitty Bingo blog here: (https://www.kittybingo.com/blog/which-animal-is-the-key-to-securing-a-date)
