Statement | Percent of Veterinarian Responses | Percent of General Population Respondents | P-Value |
n = 183 | n = 1172 | ||
I am female | 69% | 55% | 0.000 |
Annual pre-tax household income | |||
n = 172 | n = 1172 | ||
$0 - $25,000 | 1% | 21% | 0.000 |
$26,000 - $50,000 | 6% | 25% | 0.000 |
$51,000 - $75,000 | 11% | 19% | 0.000 |
$76,000 - $100,000 | 17% | 13% | 0.000 |
$101,000 and higher | 65% | 22% | 0.000 |
Do you own a pet | |||
n = 176 | n = 1172 | ||
No | 6% | 34% | 0.000 |
Yes | 94% | 66% | 0.000 |
The number of animals you currently have in your household | |||
n = 166 | n = 773 | ||
No dogs | 12% | 29% | 0.000 |
No Cats | 15% | 40% | 0.000 |
No Horses | 45% | 96% | 0.000 |
No Fish | 45% | 86% | 0.000 |
No Birds | 57% | 89% | 0.000 |
No Reptiles | 58% | 95% | 0.000 |
No Small Mammals | 51% | 91% | 0.000 |
It is acceptable to relinquish a cat for: | |||
n = 184 | n = 1172 | ||
Behavioral reason | 69% | 27% | 0.000 |
Convenience | 3% | 13% | 0.000 |
It is never acceptable to relinquish a cat | 16% | 37% | 0.000 |
Health reasons | 55% | 14% | 0.009 |
Other | 27% | 14% | 0.000 |
Reasons why respondents chose a cat as a pet (cat owners only) | |||
n = 108 | n = 465 | ||
I like their physical appearance | 70% | 60% | 0.048 |
I am allergic to other types of pets | 1% | 8% | 0.007 |
I feel they are easier to care for | 71% | 65% | 0.215 |
I don’t have the space for other larger pets | 11% | 14% | 0.441 |
I feel they are a relatively less expensive pet | 10% | 27% | 0.000 |