Three Things to Know
A survey of over 2,700 New Zealanders explored attitudes towards dog and cat care.
Strong support emerged for responsible dog care, with over 90% agreeing on the necessity of adequate housing, regular parasite treatment, vaccinations, and microchipping. Behavior-modifying collars were the most contentious issue, with only 65% agreeing they should not be used.
Similarly high support existed for responsible cat care. However, compared to cats, respondents showed slightly greater agreement for dog microchipping (+9.3%) but less support for no appearance modification (-6.5%) and desexing (-11.3%). Demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, parenting status, and residential background influenced these views.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Understanding local pet owner attitudes and knowledge gaps is crucial for shelters and humane societies transitioning into pet resource centers. Research like this effectively highlights differing opinions, such as on behavior-modifying collars. Furthermore, the lower strong agreement on regular vet visits likely points to affordability concerns, one of the key areas that should be prioritzed.
The Full Picture
Companion animals are increasingly important worldwide, providing emotional support, companionship, and service functions. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), 64% of households own pets — with cats being the most common. However, little research has been done on NZ pet owners’ attitudes toward pet care. This study, titled “Pet Owners’ Attitudes and Opinions towards Cat and Dog Care Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand”, aims to identify the factors influencing NZ pet owners’ opinions on cat and dog care to guide effective educational strategies and promote responsible ownership.
Study Methods
This study used data from the 2019 NZ Pet Survey, conducted between January and March 2019, targeting adult NZ residents. The survey collected demographic information, including gender, age, ethnicity, education, income, and residential background. It asked pet owners to rate their agreement with various statements about proper care for cats and dogs — covering topics such as veterinary care, vaccinations, desexing, microchipping, diet, and ethical breeding or appearance modification.
Study Results
The study analyzed responses from 2,744 participants, with an underrepresentation of men and Māori.
Attitudes Toward Dog Care
Respondents overwhelmingly supported responsible dog care, with over 90% agreeing or strongly agreeing that dogs should have adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatment, vaccinations, and microchipping. Over 75% also supported desexing, regular vet checks, no cosmetic modification, and maintaining healthy body condition.
Many respondents opposed shock collars, but some supported limited use, especially citronella collars or in specific contexts like safety or aversion training. The study also highlighted knowledge gaps around the health risks of breeding for appearance, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. Only about 80% of respondents opposed this practice, suggesting a need for more public education.
Demographic Influences on Dog Care Attitudes
Gender, ethnicity, age, parenting status, rural upbringing, and current residence (urban vs. rural) influenced response patterns. Women and urban dwellers tended to agree more strongly with best-practice statements, while Māori, parents, and those with rural backgrounds leaned more neutral. Income and education level had no significant influence.
Attitudes Toward Cat Care
Like dog care, most respondents (>90%) strongly supported desexing, microchipping, adequate housing, and parasite control for cats. Over 80% supported vaccinations and vet checks and opposed cosmetic modification. However, many respondents emphasized treating cats individually, using treatments as needed, and expressed concerns over veterinary costs and over-vaccination. Strong themes emerged advocating mandatory desexing (except for registered breeders) and microchipping to reduce stray populations and wildlife harm. Some respondents viewed tattooing as acceptable for identification or health reasons (e.g., skin cancer prevention), but not for aesthetics.
Demographic Influences on Cat Care Attitudes
As with dogs, gender, ethnicity, age, parenting status, and residential background influenced responses. However, in contrast to dog care attitudes, income and education levels also affected attitudes toward cat care. Again, females and urban residents tended to express stronger agreement with recommended practices.
Comparison of Dog and Cat Attitudes
Overall, attitudes toward care were similar across species. Most respondents (>90%) supported core aspects of responsible pet ownership, such as providing adequate housing, microchipping, vaccinations, and flea/worm treatments. However, a notable portion did not strongly support regular vet visits, with particularly neutral views among Māori, rural, and parent respondents — indicating a need for further research into barriers to veterinary care and the development of targeted interventions.
Respondents showed slightly higher support for dog microchipping (+9.3%) and slightly lower support for no appearance modification (-6.5%) and desexing (-11.3%) compared to cats. Most other responses differed by less than 5%.
Conclusion
The findings reveal that while responsible pet care is broadly supported in New Zealand, there are significant variations based on demographic factors. These insights should inform the design of targeted, inclusive educational strategies to improve animal welfare and public understanding of pet care practices.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > Dog Ownership Practices > Owners’ Attitudes Towards Pet Care
Year of Publication:
2023
External Link:
Forrest R, Pearson M, Awawdeh L. Pet Owners’ Attitudes and Opinions towards Cat and Dog Care Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. Veterinary Sciences. 2023; 10(10):606. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100606