Dogs now not man’s greatest buddy as Brits change into cat lovers for one main motive
Puppies were the ultimate companions with top breeds like the Goldendoodle being 2024’s most sought-after puppy and and the English Bulldog – the priciest dog breed of 2024
DOGS are no longer man’s best friend – with our busy lives turning the UK into a nation of cat lovers, a new report suggests.
Demand for pooches is plummeting while puss sales are soaring, as Brits experience “a cultural shift in how we view pets”, say experts. Classifieds firm Pets4Homes, drawing on data from millions of its listings, saw a more than 10% fall in adverts for puppies in 2024.
While the number of cats advertised for sale on its site leapt by 2% last year. It said around two thirds of pets listed on its website – some 65% – were successfully rehomed, meaning its data “reflected buyer demand and behaviour” among UK owners.
Pets4Homes chief executive Axel Lagercrantz, commenting on the findings, said: “Seeing an 11% drop in puppy listings alongside a 2% increase in cat listings – a 13% swing – signals more than just a trend in the pet market – it’s a cultural shift in how we view pets.
“For decades, puppies have been the ultimate companion, with top breeds like the Goldendoodle, 2024’s most sought-after puppy, and the English Bulldog, the priciest dog breed of 2024, being seen as the epitome of ideal pets.
“But now cats, with their self-sufficiency, are catching the attention of modern pet owners seeking convenience and balance in their busy lives, offering independence and flexibility.”
Mr Lagercrantz said smaller homes without gardens were “perfect for a cat but stressful for a dog”, while many landlords allowed felines but not canines. Folk also faced the commitment of taking fidos for walkies and paying for dog sitters, he said, making free-roaming cats “an often more affordable choice”.
The average price for a puppy has increased from £847 in 2018 to £928 last year. In comparison, the cost of a kitten has fallen from £381 to £361 over the same period.
The most expensive cat breed in 2024 was the Burmese, £808 compared to £1,694 for an English Bulldog, the priciest pooch.
Meanhwile TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick reckons we will be able to “speak” to animals by 2045. Noel, 57, who stars in The Bionic Vet and The Supervet, believes technology will progress to the extent that it will be able to “translate” the language of pets and animals.
He feels that within the next 20 years, the story of Doctor Dolittle – who could speak to animals and was played on film by the likes of Robert Downey Jr, 59, left – will come true.
Noel, right, said: “Just because animals speak in a language that we can’t understand, it doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. I think in the next couple of decades we’ll be able to translate the language of dolphins, elephants and even down to the humble bee.”
Noel, who is also the director of a number of biotech companies, which use living organisms to create tech, also claimed that pets he has treated like watching tennis on TV.
