New research reveals how pets are shaping modern relationships, often beating partners for walks, cuddles, and comfort.
There was a time when this question might have sounded absurd. Partners were for love; pets were for company. Different roles, different connections.
But that line is blurring. According to new research from ePaws, many now turn to their pets, not their partners, for everyday comfort, companionship, and emotional support.
From countryside walks to sofa cuddles, pets are quietly becoming people’s first choice for company. More than half of those surveyed (51%) said they prefer taking their pet on a countryside stroll than their partner, while 4 in 10 would rather hug their furry friend on the sofa during a night in. Over half (51%) even say pets boost mental health more than significant others.
These might seem like small moments, but together, they paint a larger picture. Pets bring a kind of uncomplicated joy and emotional steadiness that fits perfectly into busy, modern lives.
The Gender Divide: Who Chooses the Pet?
When we split the data by gender, patterns emerge.
Women are consistently more likely than men to favour their pets, whether that means being more lenient with them (62% vs 52%), choosing them for walks in the countryside (58% vs 45%), or picking them for cuddles on the sofa (51% vs 29%). For women, pets appear to play a larger emotional role in everyday life.
Men, meanwhile, are slightly more romantic in their loyalties: over half (54%) said they love their partner more than their pet.
This isn’t about replacing partners. It’s about pets offering something simpler, companionship without expectation, and affection without complication.
When It’s “Me or the Pet”
Some questions hit harder than others.
When asked what they’d do if given the classic ultimatum, “it’s me or the pet”, nearly one in four surveyed (23%) said they’d choose their animal. That number rises to almost three in ten (29%) women.
It’s a hypothetical scenario, but the responses speak volumes. For many people, their pet isn’t just company, it’s part of who they are and how they manage daily life.
Dog Owners vs Cat Owners
Not every pet parent sees things the same way.
Dog owners show the strongest loyalty, they’re more likely to choose their dogs for park walks (65%), seaside strolls (53%), and countryside adventures (63%) over their partners.
Cat owners tell a more nuanced story. One in three would rather watch TV with their cat, while many admit they simply couldn’t pick sides with 38% saying they couldn’t choose between their pet and their partner when thinking about who they’d rather live without, their partner and their cat each fulfil different emotional roles.
Dogs thrive on shared routines and activity. Cats fit more quietly into existing ones. Together, they show how pets support the rhythms of human life in very different, but deeply meaningful, ways.
Pets, Care and Emotional Support
Beyond companionship lies care.
More than 4 in 10 (42%) of people say they look after their pet more than their partner1. Over half (51%) say pets provide stronger mental‑health benefits1. A third admit their pet makes them happier overall1.
These aren’t complaints about relationships, they’re acknowledgements of how emotionally stabilising pets have become.
Pets bring reliability. Routine. Non‑judgemental comfort. In a world that often feels overwhelming, that kind of unconditional support carries real weight.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This research doesn’t mean people love their partners any less, it simply reveals how pivotal pets have become in modern emotional life.
They’re there in the quiet moments: on the sofa, during a long walk, or when the day feels heavy. For many, that steady presence isn’t secondary to love, it’s part of it.
And sometimes, when asked to choose, the answer isn’t a dilemma at all. It’s already wagging its tail, waiting by the door.
Methodology:
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 501 UK Respondents who are in a relationship and have at least 1 pet (18+). The data was collected between 04.12.2025 - 08.12.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.