8 WAYS MILLENNIALS ARE DEFINING PET OWNERSHIP.

8 WAYS MILLENNIALS ARE DEFINING PET OWNERSHIP. A quick glance at pet celebrity megastars like Boo, Lil Bub, Pudge, Tardar Sauce (better known as Grumpy Cat) and Tuna, makes it quite clear that something entirely new is happening in the world of pet ownership. The rise of celebrity pets may not necessarily be news to anyone, but it points to larger, more significant trends in how millennials understand and approach pet ownership. We talked to some of the people on the front lines of contemporary pet culture to see how they’re redefining pet ownership. 1:) Redefining Family Millennials are putting off getting married and having children until much later than older cohorts, and it seems that their four-legged companions are filling the gap. According to a Wakefield study, the average millennial gets a first pet at the age of 21, much earlier than the average boomer, who waited until 29. Both groups think of pets as family, but many millennials view owning a pet as preparation for future adult responsibilities. For them, pets offer both companionship and a sense of duty, but require little maintenance at a time when many millennials’ lives are still unstable. For many young people who are struggling to start careers, find affordable housing and pay off student loans, a family is a luxury that has to be temporarily delayed. 2:) Pampered Pets Pet owners today are more sensitive to the life experiences of their animals. Millennials cater more than other groups to their pets’ comfort, and spend more money on non-essential pet items. They own more pet clothing and toys and prefer enclosures like crates and kennels that allow for exercise, according to the Wakefield study. “[Our cats] sleep in our beds and we spend a lot of money buying them toys we think they’ll like,” says Christina Ha, co-founder of Meow Parlour, New York City’s first cat café. Her guests – predominantly millennials – come to admire a bevy of free-more You will also like this