It’s already known that Americans spend billions every year on their furry or feathered friends, but a new survey shows just how into them we are.
According to a non-scientific poll of 2,000 American pet owners that was commissioned by Met Life, 58% of all Americans care about their pet’s health more than their own.
What’s more, we spend $4,500 on our pets’ basic needs every year, according to respondents, with two in five pet owners saying that having a pet is just as expensive, if not more, than raising a child. Three in five pet parents allocate around 200 bucks per paycheck just for their pets’ needs, like food, flea and tick medicine, and of course, toys.
In fact, 52% of respondents say they spend more on their pets than they do on themselves. But they’re not holding a grudge about that, evidently — 74% said the cost isn’t an object, as long as their pet is happy and healthy.