Most pampered pets in the US: See the top 10 states
FILE - Pampered pup in sunglasses poses for a photo. (Getty Images)
It’s no secret that pet owners think of their little fur babies as an extension of their family.
Some pet owners who love to pamper their pets go so far as to spend their money on luxury services, search for luxury pet products and buy premium pet food.
But some pet owners pamper their pets more than others, according to data recently gathered by Trusted Housesitters, an online platform that connects pet owners with verified pet sitters.
Here are the states that have the most pampered pets:
Colorado pets most pampered
Dig deeper:
Pets in Colorado appeared to be the most pampered, according to Trusted Housesitters.
Pet parents in Colorado spent an average $1,556 on their pets annually and loved shopping for luxury pet items for their furry family members.
Coming in second was Montana and third was Oregon.
Pampered pets living their best lives
Over two-thirds of U.S. households own a pet, according to Trusted Housesitters. And of those pet parents, many are investing in premium food, specialist services, and pet-friendly travel.
Many pet owners even prioritize their pets’ comfort and wellbeing the same or even more than they would other (human) family members, and there’s plenty of examples of this in the world.
Pets and mental health
Meanwhile:
A survey conducted in 2019 found that pet owners actually preferred spending time with their pets when they’re feeling stressed over loved ones.
Not only did most pet owners prefer pets to people when it comes to dealing with stress, over 70% said they value "silent support," meaning they find talking to their pets is far more relaxing than to another person.
What’s more, 83% of the people surveyed said they believed their pets have positively impacted their mental well-being.
The Source: Information for this article as taken from a Trusted Housesitters news released based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Google searches and the World Population Review. Previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX also contributed. This story was reported from San Jose.