You have spoken as we ask Daily Star readers if you’re Team Dog or Team Cat
A Daily Star poll has revealed that readers are more Team Cat than Team Dog with moggies taking 62% in the vote to see which of the two were the nation’s preferred pet
Feline fans were purring in delight on Thursday after a shock Daily Star poll confirmed cats are officially man’s best friend. Moggies claimed 62% of our vote while dog lovers howled like sick puppies at their measly 38% when asked which of the two were the nation’s preferred pet.
We questioned which furball should be crowned Britain’s most popular animal once and for all on our newspaper front page. Both were neck and neck for a while but the claws came out and dogs could simply not catch up the lead.
Mutts have traditionally been more popular than cats in the UK but more modern households with busy lives are seeking out moggies because they typically require less commitment.
It comes after Glasgow University boffs designed a robot dog for the blind to help them when they’re out in public.
RoboGuide Robbie uses tech similar to ChatGPT and can relay the results of online searches by “talking” through speakers, as well as map out routes. The gadget was hailed a “game changer”.
On Thursday we told how 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.
