As a nation of pet lovers, our animals often become part of the family, and if you’re a pet owner who refers to yourself as their ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy,’ it turns out you’re not alone.
A survey conducted by by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek asked 1,046 participants if they give themselves the title of ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ when addressing their furry companions.
Of those surveyed, 63 percent admitted to embracing these titles, a gesture that reflects the tight bond owners feel toward their pets.
Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—emerged as the demographic most likely to refer to themselves as ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ to their pets, with a striking 69 percent of respondents within this age group admitting to being mommy or daddy to their pets.
Although there isn’t much difference, with 61 percent of the younger Gen Z cohort referring to themselves as mommy or daddy to pets, and 60 percent of Gen X—born between 1965 and 1980—and 61 percent of Boomers and the silent generation—born between 1928 and 1964—saying the same.
A study published in the Sage Journal in 2021 found that as fertility rates have declined globally, many people are choosing to adopt pets rather than raise children.
The author of 2021 the study, Shelly Volsche, surveyed a total of 917 dog and cat owners on their caretaking behaviors, and found that respondents who had no children cared for their pets as one would care for their children.
Last year a pet expert revealed the four signs that your dog thinks of you as mom or dad in a community discussion on TikTok.
As well as age group differences, the survey also revealed a geographical trend. With respondents from the South most likely to be ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ to their pets. A huge 69 percent of participants from the southern regions of the United States identified themselves as ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ to their pets.
Meanwhile, only 59 percent of respondents from the West, 60 percent from the Midwest, and 61 percent from the Northeast embraced these parental titles.
While age and location seemed to make a difference to how people related themselves to their pets, political leaning did not.
64 percent who said they voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election said that they would refer to themselves as mommy or daddy with their pets, while 64 percent of those who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 said exactly the same.
As more U.S. residents admit thinking of themselves as true parents to their pets, the evolving nature of the human-pet relationship is clear.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.