Mars Petcare Report Finds Pet Owner Wellbeing Improves Greater than Non-Pet Owners

Mars Petcare has released its “Pets for Better Wellbeing” Report, which leverages new consumer insights to highlight current pet ownership trends. In a time when the pandemic, politics, economic uncertainty and everyday stressors made it more difficult than ever to maintain our wellbeing, pets played an increasingly important role in easing our minds and filling our hearts. The company’s fourth Annual Report analyzes the impact of pet ownership on mental and physical wellbeing – comparing responses of pet owners to non-pet owners – and examines potential hurdles to adding four-legged family members.

“The insights from the ‘Pets for Better Wellbeing’ Report underscore the importance of keeping people and pets together,” said Lisa Campbell, Director of External Affairs, Mars Pet Nutrition North America. “This data drives our innovation in pet care and nutrition, and our aspiration to make more communities around the world pet-friendly – so more people and pets can enjoy the positive benefits of a shared life together.”

The “Pets for Better Wellbeing” Report’s key findings include:

• Improved Wellbeing Among Pet Parents: four in 10 pet owners report an overall improvement to their mental (38 percent) or physical (41 percent) wellbeing through the last three years, nearly doubling the rate of non-pet owners, at only 23 percent.
• Barriers to Bringing – and Keeping – People and Pets Together: among those considering a pet, 66 percent are concerned about affordability, 47 percent are concerned about being away for work or travel and 42 percent are concerned about finding pet-friendly housing.
• Further Evidence of Pets’ “Paws-itive” Impact on Our Wellbeing: pets provided companionship (77 percent) and emotional support (70 percent) to their owners through the last three years.
• Critical Need for Adoptions Amid the Animal Shelter Crisis: 36 percent of non-pet owners are considering adopting or fostering a cat or dog in the next 3-5 years. Gen Z and Millennials are nearly twice as likely to have these intentions.

While positive strides have already been made, there’s still work to be done. Mars Petcare and its family of iconic pet nutrition brands like PEDIGREE and CESAR will continue to introduce programs that help to ensure more pets are wanted, cared for and welcomed in support of the company’s global purpose: A Better World for Pets.

To read the “Pets for Better Wellbeing” Report and learn more about how Mars Petcare is furthering its purpose, visit Better Cities for Pets.

To find out how to get involved, visit Better Cities for Pets.