Pet Mishaps 2024 Survey

As any pet parent knows, the journey of raising furry companions is filled with unexpected twists and turns. But how far do pets push their cheeky antics, and what lengths are pet parents prepared to go to keep them happy and healthy? 

To answer these questions and more, Lemonade commissioned a survey, in collaboration with market research firm Talker Research, to ask 2,000 dog and cat owners about the fun, frightening, and expensive parts of pet parenthood.

Let’s take a look at what pet parents’ most surprising encounters were with their furry friends, hacks from experienced pet parents, and pet finances, comparing data from 2022 to 2024 (check out our methodology here).

Pet antics 

It probably comes as no surprise that pets can be troublemakers. Two thirds (66%) of pet owners say their furballs are either extremely or somewhat mischievous, while only 10% say their pet is not mischievous at all.

Cats take the cake when it comes to getting up to no good—28% of cat parents considered their pet extremely mischievous, compared to 19% of dog parents.

Most respondents (58%) reported their pet has gotten up to no good in the last week. The research even found that a quarter of pet parents (23%) reported their pet had gotten themselves into a conundrum in the last day. 

However, only 36% of seasoned “pet pros” (who have  owned their dog or cat for more than five years) have seen a mess from their pet in the last few days, highlighting their expertise, in contrast with over half of newer pet owners (54%) who experienced a mishap in the last few days.

The messes pets get into

From destroying water beds to letting wild animals inside the home, pets unleash some crazy calamities on their owners.

Of pets who made messes, they included:

• Peed/pooped inside (25%)
• Got into the trash (19%)
• Got on the counter (17%)
• Scratched a door or wall (17%)
• Destroyed a toy (17%)
• Stole food off the table (15%)
• Escaped outside (14%)
• Damaged or ruined furniture (12%)
• Ate food they weren’t supposed to (11%)
• Ate a non-food item (9%)

Dogs were more likely to have an accident inside (32%) and to get into the trash (23%), compared to cats (18% and 15%, respectively). But feline friends managed to get into trouble of their own with 29% jumping up on the counter and 23% scratching up a door or wall, compared to dogs (6% and 11%, respectively).

Pet parents told tales of stolen dentures, hearing aids, and even a Thanksgiving turkey. Some reported 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 him in the house alone for 30 minutes,” while another respondent recalled their pet “climbed on the kitchen counter and ate a Valentine’s box full of chocolate…including the box.”

Luckily, curiosity doesn’t necessarily kill the cat, but it can still cause chaos for their owners. One cat parent respondent shared, “my cat once knocked over a full glass of water onto my laptop while I was working,” and several cat owners recalled the horrors of their kitty bringing small critters into the home, including “the most unexpected thing my cats have done was run around the house with a dead mouse. After a while they finally hid it inside of a sheet in the dirty clothes basket.”

When quirks turn costly

Pet mishaps can quickly escalate from minor inconveniences to scary situations that hit your wallet hard. 

16% of respondents said their pet has gotten themselves into a mishap that warranted a vet visit in the last two years. 

Perhaps new to the safety concerns of pet ownership, this jumped to 28% of Gen Z and 21% of millennial pet owners when looking at demographic differences. 

For those emergency vet visits, pet owners paid $210 out of pocket, on average, with the costs peaking in Western states ($241), followed by Northeast ($219), Southwest ($215), Southeast ($201), and the Midwest ($188). A quarter of respondents (25%) even spent more than $300, and 10% had spent more than $500.

Preparing for the unexpected

Being prepared for the worst can significantly alleviate the financial burden during a scary situation, especially when it comes to pet care.

Fortunately, over half (54%) of respondents whose pets’ mishaps warranted an emergency vet visit had pet insurance to help cover at least part of the bill.

Nearly a third (31%) said their vet bill was covered entirely by insurance.

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

“Most pet owners would consider their pets family, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe and healthy. However, this can also include those unpredictable moments when our pets get a little too curious. Planning ahead with pet savings or insurance can be a gamechanger, and sometimes even a life saver, during these moments, and can also help with the costs associated with regular vet visits as well.”

Dr. Stephanie Liff, vet health expert at Lemonade

Navigating the challenges of pet parenthood

Being a pet parent is no easy task. Respondents experienced a range of emotions in their first years of pet parenthood.

Essentials for keeping pets happy and healthy

From comfy accessories to top-of-the-line enrichment activities and premium foods, pet parents are willing to go to great lengths to ensure their furry friends live their best lives. 

Among cat parents, the essentials for keeping their feline friend happy and healthy included:

• Treats (63%), with 70% of baby boomers prioritizing this compared to 43% of Gen Z
• A scratching post (57%)
• Toys (55%)
• A window to look out of so they can be entertained (53%)
• Wet food (52%)

Some priorities varied significantly between generations when it came to cat comfort, with Gen Z respondents being more likely to consider niche necessities for their kitties, such as:

	Gen Z	baby boomers
Water fountain	41%	20%
Cat vitamins	25%	10%
Homemade food	18%	8%
Grooming appointments	25%	7%

Of dog parent respondents, the essentials for keeping their pooch happy and healthy include:

• Treats (64%), with 75% of baby boomers prioritizing this compared to 44% of Gen Z
• Toys (54%)
• Having a regular schedule and routine (47%)
• Regular vet check ups (46%)
• Multiple walks per day (45%)
• A vet you trust (43%)
• Regular baths (43%)

Advice from the “pet pros”

Being a pet parent comes with its share of challenges, but navigating tough times can be easier with the right support and resources. 

Pet parent pros offered newer pet owners some ways to help manage and overcome feelings of fear, guilt, and anxiety during the first few years of owning a pet, including:

• Power through the tough times, knowing you’re doing your best for your pet (51%)
• Research helpful info from experts online (25%)
• Get advice from other pet parents (23%) 
• Ask your vet pet care questions (21%)

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

Trends in pet finances 2022 vs. 2024

Looking at pet finances up close, spending and budgeting have taken a turn compared to a 2022 pet ownership survey commissioned by Lemonade—pet parents are spending, saving, and budgeting less, but are also less likely to go into debt or overspend.

Pet spending

On average, pet owners spent $121 a month on their pets in 2024 — a stark decline from 2022 where they spent $276 a month. 

According to our survey, pet spending also decreased with age, as Gen Z reported spending more per month on average ($178) than millennials ($146), Gen X ($115) and baby boomers ($90) in 2024. 

The Western US spends more per month ($144), with lower budgets in the Northeast ($128), Southwest ($125), Southeast ($114), and the Midwest ($110).

Uncovering spending differences, dog owners spent more per month on average than cat owners this year ($138 vs. $104).

Pet savings

Savings for pets has gone 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 2022, millennials led the way in saving with half (50%) stating they had a savings account for their pet. In 2024, GenZ took this (much smaller) crown with 23% having a savings account.

Pet budgeting

As far as budgeting, over half (52%) of respondents in 2022 stated they had a set budget for their pet with only 32% of respondents budgeting 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 GenZ with 48% having a set budget (compared to 38% of millennials).

Overspending and pet debt

Nearly all (95%) of pet parents have gone over their pet budget this year. Only 5% of pet parents reported never going over their budget, while 16% said they always overspend.

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

Despite saving and budgeting efforts, 23% of respondents have gone 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’d gone into debt in 2022. 

And while Gen Z respondents spent the most on their pets per month this year, compared to other demographics, they were the most likely to have insurance—and least likely to get into debt over their pet. 

“Pet parents may be more cautious with their spending and more apt to save these days, but what we’re seeing in the data is they’re also being more responsible with their spending. Whether it’s a specific diet or insurance needs, prioritizing these more expensive line items for a pet’s wellbeing will likely pay off down the line.”

Dr. Stephanie Liff, vet health expert at Lemonade

2024 survey methodology

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

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.

2022 survey methodology

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 pet owners was commissioned by Lemonade between August 1 and August 10, 2022. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).