Looking ahead, those who already have a child or a pet were asked who they would like to add to their family: nearly four in ten (40%) answered “both,” while only one in five (20%) would choose another child.
Who Responded and Why
The survey, conducted from April 24 to 26, included 1,625 pet owners. Among young Gen Z and Millennial pet owners (919 people) , 55% have considered the idea of building their lives around a pet rather than children, and 83% of pet owners describe their pet as “like a child.”
The reasons are primarily practical. Among the 809 respondents who prefer a pet, 45% do not feel they are at the right stage in life to have a child, 35% consider a pet easier to manage, and 32% find it less expensive. But even a pet comes with a cost: 29% of young pet owners say they’ve gone into debt to care for their pet, and 44% of owners fear they won’t be able to afford the costs of care. Sixty-eight percent would like tax deductions similar to those for children, and 69% would register their pet as a dependent if the law allowed it. Rover, a pet services platform, estimates annual expenses of about $2,500 for a dog, compared to $18,000 for a child.
Postponing Rather Than Replacing
The Harris report describes a gap between “paw-renthood” (a play on the words “paw” and “parenthood”) and parenthood that is narrowing as the cost of pet care rises: the percentage of people who find pets easier to manage has dropped from 41% in 2024 to 35%. In 2024, according to Petfood Industry, 43% of Americans preferred pets.
Rover, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. pet owners in February 2026, offers a different perspective: young people are no more likely than their parents to replace children with a pet; rather, they are more likely to postpone having children. Millennials are 17 times more likely than Boomers to postpone the idea of having children by getting a pet instead. For 51% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials, a pet serves as a “dress rehearsal” for parenthood, compared to 28% of Boomers.
In Italy, according to the Unipol Observatory survey conducted by Ipsos in 2024, 28% of respondents believe that a pet can replace a child (37% among Millennials, 36% among Gen Z, 13% among Baby Boomers), while 75% see no link between the declining birth rate and having pets at home.
What’s at stake for pets
Vittorio Saettone, a veterinarian and head of R&D and quality at Schesir—the pet food company that released the data— points out that dogs and cats “are not children.” The first step, in his view, is learning to read their body language so as to recognize stress, discomfort, or pain without mistaking it for a pout or a tantrum. A pet that isn’t allowed to sniff, explore, and socialize with other animals may develop frustration and compulsive behaviors. When it comes to nutrition, family meals and treats intended for humans can, over time, lead to nutritional deficiencies, weight gain, and health problems.
Experts from the Schesir Respect My Nature Index suggest two additional practical guidelines: consult a veterinarian or a dog or cat trainer if you notice a change in appetite or behavior, and limit long periods of holding the animal in your arms, in a baby carrier or stroller, as well as prolonged hugs, which restrict freedom of movement and may be perceived by the animal as intrusive or stressful.
