Dog and cat owners reveal the craziest things their pets have done this year

From destroying water beds to letting wild animals inside, a new survey revealed the craziest mishaps pets have caused their owners.

The survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners revealed their most surprising encounters with their furry friends, asked the pros (pet parents of more than five years) for parenting tips and delved into pet finances, compare data from 2022 to 2024.

Two-thirds of pet owners (66%) said their furballs are mischievous and most (58%) reported their pet has not grown well in the past week.

Commissioned by digital insurance company, Lemonade, and conducted by Talker Research, the study even found that a quarter of pet parents (23%) reported that their pet has gotten into a rut in the last day.

However, only 36% of “pet professionals” have seen a mess from their pet in the past few days, highlighting their pet expertise, in contrast to over half of younger pet owners (54% ) who have experienced an animal disaster in recent days.

Pet parents told stories of stolen dentures, hearing aids and even a Thanksgiving turkey. They reported that their pets have brought home live pigeons, possums, snakes, bats and bunnies.

One respondent even said their pet “ate a laptop, a Bible, two chargers and a pillow because we left it home alone for 30 minutes.”

In light of such mischievous behavior, 16% said their pet had gotten into an accident requiring a vet visit in the past two years. Perhaps new to pet ownership, this rose to 28% of Gen Z and 21% of millennial pet owners when looking at demographic differences.

For those emergency vet visits, pet owners paid an average of $210 out of pocket – a quarter (25%) even spent more than $300 and 10% had spent more than $500.

Fortunately, over half (54%) of respondents had insurance to help cover at least part of the bill with 31% saying their vet bill was fully covered.

Gen Z proved to be the most prepared, with nearly three-quarters (74%) having insurance that helped pay at least part of the bill.

“Most pet owners would consider their pets, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe and healthy. However, this can also include those unpredictable moments when our pets become a bit too curious,” said Dr. Stephanie Liff, a veterinary health expert at Lemonade. THE help with the costs associated with regular veterinary visits as well.”

Being a pet parent is no easy task. Respondents said they felt guilty about leaving their pets at home when they went to work (30%), with 43% of Gen Z specifically feeling this guilt.

Anxiety about their pet’s health and well-being (30%) and fear that their pet would be hurt by other animals when outside (23%) were also top concerns during respondents’ first years of pet ownership.

In addition to getting through tough times, pet parenting professionals told younger pet owners to trust their resources by researching helpful information from experts (25%), getting advice from other pet parents pets (23%) and contacting their veterinarian (21%) .

A fifth (19%) also suggested starting to budget and save more for their furry friend’s needs.

Taking a closer look at pet finances, spending and budgeting have taken a turn compared to 2022 – pet parents are spending, saving and budgeting less, but also less likely to go into debt or overspend.

On average, pet owners spent $121 per month on their pets in 2024 – a marked drop from 2022 when they spent $276 per month.

Spending on pets also decreased with age according to the results, as Gen Z reported spending more per month on average ($178) than millennials ($146), Gen X ($115) and baby boomers ($90) in 2024.

Pet savings are down dramatically this year. In 2022, 44% said they had a savings account for their pet, while only 10% said the same in 2024.

In terms of budgeting, over half (52%) of respondents in 2022 stated that they had a set budget for their pet, while only 32% of respondents agreed in 2024.

Millennials led the way in 2022 with over half (57%) having a set budget (compared to 47% of Gen Z) — the lead in 2024 went to Gen Z with 48% having a set budget (compared to 38% of millennia).

But almost all (95%) of pet parents went over their budget this year. Only 5% of pet parents reported never going over their budget, while 16% said they always do.

However, this is an improvement from the 2022 study, which found that almost twice as many respondents (30%) always overspend on their pets.

Despite efforts to save and budget, 23% of respondents went into debt to pay for their pet’s emergency needs in 2024. While not ideal, this is a positive drop from the 42% who said they went into debt in 2024. 2022.

And while Gen Z respondents spent the most on their pets per month this year, compared to other demographics, they were more likely to have insurance and less likely to take out pet debt.

“Pet parents may be more careful with their spending and more inclined to save these days, but what we’re seeing in the data is that they’re also more responsible with their spending,” added Dr. Liff. “Whether it’s a specific diet or insurance needs, prioritizing these more expensive line items over a pet’s well-being is likely to pay off.”

2024 survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 1,000 cat owners and 1,000 dog owners; survey was commissioned by Lemonade and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between October. 22 and October. 28, 2024.