This is closely followed by dogs, with 24% of UK adults having a canine companion, totalling 10.1 million pet dogs, according to the Paw Report 2020. The third most popular pet is the rabbit, owned by 2% of British adults, amounting to a total of one million bunnies.
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Has lockdown led to more pets?
The survey revealed that although the number of pet cats remained similar to the 2019 figure, the number of people owning dogs increased by around 200,000 during the first Covid-19 lockdown alone. During the past 12 months, as the additional two lockdowns kicked in, the number of pet owners rocketed.
A massive 3.2 million new UK households acquired a pet during the course of 2020. The need for companionship during isolation is cited as the main driver for buying or adopting a pet. Almost three-quarters (74%) of new pet owners said their furry friend helped their mental health during the lockdown restrictions.
What are the benefits of having a pet?
One of the main benefits of having a pet is the companionship it offers, especially if you live alone. A house cat is great for sitting on your lap, or curling up on your bed at night, while it's also slightly less high maintenance than a dog, so can be suitable for older, less mobile people.
Having a dog is particularly good for increasing opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities and socialising with other dog owners. This can combat loneliness and depression. The simple responsibility of caring for your pet can give you a sense of purpose.
Medical studies have shown the strong bond between people and their pets can lower stress, bring great happiness and increase fitness, leading to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
How much do we love our pets?
Some historic true stories prove people can love their pets more than life itself. More than a century ago, on 15th April 1912, the most horrific peacetime maritime tragedy occurred when the passenger liner, RMS Titanic, hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Of the 2,200 passengers and crew on the ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, some 1,500 people perished. Now, on the 109th anniversary of the ship's sinking, more details have emerged of the passengers who risked their own lives to save their pet.
No one knows the exact number of dogs on board the ill-fated ship. Although there were officially 15 listed, there were probably more, as some travelled as "cargo", while others were smuggled onboard in their owner's coat or bag.
Passenger Miss Margaret Bechstein Hays, 24, was travelling to New York with her Pomeranian dog named Lady. When the order was given to evacuate the ship after the collision with the iceberg, Margaret wouldn't leave until she had returned to her cabin to save Lady.
Dogs weren't allowed on the lifeboats, as they would take up space for people, but she wrapped Lady in a blanket and smuggled her on to Lifeboat Seven - risking losing her own space had she been caught. Both Margaret and Lady survived the tragedy.
One passenger who made the ultimate sacrifice for her dog was Ann Elizabeth Isham, who was travelling first-class to Chicago with her Great Dane. She had visited her much-loved dog in the ship's kennel every day. However, as she boarded a lifeboat, she was told her dog was too big to join her.
Rather than leave without him, she chose to leave the lifeboat. Tragically, neither Ann, aged 50, nor her dog made it. This tragic tale illustrates just how much people grow to love their pets.
A study reported in Psychology Today revealed 65% of owners thought of their pets, especially dogs, as children. Only 20% of respondents said they definitely didn't consider themselves "parents", while a further 15% said their role was only "part-parent" to their four-legged family members.
How to look after your pet
If you fancy introducing a new member to your family; once you've decided on a suitable pet, you need to organise everything. In particular, preparing for a dog, especially a puppy, requires a lot of preparation.
Not only will you need food, toys and treats; you will also require a bed, bedding, food and water bowls, a dog coat for cold weather, a collar and lead, grooming accessories and training aids at the very least.
In order to get organised, keep your pet's items in suitable storage boxes, so they're not getting mixed up with your own possessions, or taking over your home. Finding the ultimate pet storage solutions can help keep your happy home a tidy one too!
Designate an area of your home as a pet storage station, whether it's a corner of the kitchen or utility room, or even the understairs cupboard if it's big enough. Try to keep everything together in one space.
Store pet foods in a food-quality airtight storage bin to avoid it going off. It's useful to have a container with a lid, as some animals can suss out pretty quickly where their food is!
Similarly, keep treats and any over-the-counter medicines, such as flea and worming treatments, in separate boxes with a lid. Clear plastic boxes are ideal, as you can see right away what you're looking for.
If your pet has a lot of toys, they can soon end up all over the house, so keep them tidy in a large storage trunk.
Animals bring a lot of love into the family home, but you should always make sure you are well-prepared for the responsibility a pet brings.