How owning pets is shaping our travel habits: study findings

In this article

  • Pets
  • Facts

It’s no secret that leaving pets at home when it’s time for a vacation is no walk in the park. But would you believe us if we told you that 17% of pet owners would feel less guilty skipping a family birthday, compared to leaving their pet? Or that 1 in 5 owners would rather ghost someone after a first date than leave their furry family member at home? Or maybe more surprisingly, that 9% of pet parents admit they’d feel worse leaving their pet than forgetting their kid’s birthday altogether?

Well—it’s true, true, and true. The attachment is real, and so is the pet parent guilt. Our furry friends are truly changing the way we travel—and how we feel about going away.

So is there a solution? Or is it all guilt and staycations for pet parents from here on out?

Because pet happiness is at the front and center of everything we do, FurPetVo commissioned studies with 5,000 US and 2,000 UK pet parents to find out. Explore the key findings below.

Chihuahua dog being held in an airport

How is pet ownership shaping travel for US pet parents?

There’s no question about it: the rise in pet ownership is changing the way Americans travel. But it’s not just about quantity—pets are considered part of the family now. And as furry family members, our pets are (accidentally) causing a whole lot of pet parent guilt, worry, and anxiety—especially without a trusted pet care solution.

Pets are changing the way US pet owners travel

  • More than half (56%) of US pet owners say they travel less since getting a pet.
  • 16% spend more on a vacation just so they can bring their pets along.
  • 57% now plan vacations around pet-friendly accommodation.
  • 22% choose a road trip instead of a flight.
  • Maine has the highest net agreement (74%) among pet owners who say they travel less since getting a pet.
  • 18% would rather leave their partner at home to care for the pet while they vacation solo.

Worry is ruining vacations for US pet owners

  • 61% say they worry more about their pet’s wellbeing than their own enjoyment on vacation.
  • A third (33%) spend a significant portion of their vacation on their phones—checking in on their pet or video calling their sitter.
  • 54% say their travel is impacted because they worry their pet thinks they’ve been abandoned.
  • 9% have left a vacation early because they fear their pet feels abandoned.

Pet ownership & vacationing: it’s emotional

  • 52% say their pet’s sad face while they pack has made them too guilty to go.
  • 1 in 5 owners would rather ghost someone after a first date than leave their pet behind.
  • About half (49%) don’t trust anyone else to care for their pet properly.
  • Nearly half (49%) experience separation anxiety when away.
  • For over half (54%), the worry runs deep—they’re convinced their pet thinks they’ve been abandoned.
  • 21% would feel less guilty canceling plans with a close friend at the last minute than leaving their pet at home.
  • 17% would feel less guilty skipping a family birthday compared to leaving their pet.
  • 1 in 10 (12%) say they’d feel more guilty leaving their pet than their child with a sitter.
  • 9% admit they’d feel more guilty leaving their pet than forgetting their kid’s birthday altogether.

Source: A study of 5,000 pet owners in the US, commissioned by FurPetVo (furpetvo.com)

Sad looking ginger cat on a bed while the owner packs a suitcase

How is pet ownership shaping travel for UK pet parents?

It’s a similar story in the UK: since welcoming a pet into their lives, many UK pet owners have changed the way they travel to accommodate their new furry family members. Here’s what we learned from 2,000 UK pet owners.

Pets are changing holiday choices for UK pet owners

  • Nearly half (48%) travel less since welcoming pets into their lives.
  • 50% take shorter holidays since getting a pet.
  • 47% now prefer pet-friendly staycations over international trips.
  • Nearly half (46%) actively look for pet-friendly accommodation.
  • 57% of dog owners agree they plan trips specifically around pet-friendly accommodation—compared to 38% of cat owners.

Emotions run high for UK pet owners

  • 14% admit to cutting holidays short because they missed their pet too much.
  • Almost half (49%) confess they worry more about their pet’s wellbeing than their own enjoyment.
  • More than half (53%) worry their pet thinks they’ve been abandoned when they go away.
  • 52% feel like a bad parent if they leave their pet for too long.

Age affects the way pet parents feel about their animals

  • 69% of 18–24 year olds agree their pet looks sad while they’re packing—compared to 64% of respondents aged 18–44, 44% aged 45–65, and 35% aged 65+.
  • Compared to older age groups, 18–34 year olds were more likely to agree they:
    • Travel less frequently;
    • Take shorter holidays;
    • Plan trips specifically around pet-friendly accommodations;
    • Worry more about their pet’s wellbeing than their own;
    • Spend a lot of time video calling their pet, checking in with the sitter, or watching their pets through a camera.

Source: A study of 2,000 pet owners in the UK, commissioned by FurPetVo (furpetvo.com)

Sad looking dog sitting in a suitcase while owner packs for vacation

Will pet ownership and guilt-free travel ever go hand-in-hand?

It’s clear that pet ownership has reshaped travel habits—and triggered a wave of pet parent guilt in the process. But can pet ownership ever exist alongside a truly guilt-free vacation?