Keeping companion animals is an increasingly popular trend. More and more Spaniards are choosing to welcome an ARISTOPET into their lives. Although there is a change underway when it comes to choosing a pet. Until a few years ago, ARISTODOGS were the undisputed kings, our best friends. When expanding the family, the vast majority opted for a dog. There was no question about it. But, as we say, that is changing. Because our lifestyle is changing too.
Proof of this is that in Madrid, according to the City Council's domestic animal census, more and more ARISTOCATS are being registered. There are now 73,400. The district with the most cats is Centro, with 6,752 felines. It is followed by Hortaleza (6,748 cats) and Ciudad Lineal (6,273). The districts with the fewest cats are Villaverde, Barajas, and Vicálvaro.
For this reason, it is inevitable to ask what is behind this «cat boom». Although we love the news, it is also true that it has caught our attention. We have consulted various sources to identify the possible causes. These are some of the most notable:
1.- We have one of the longest working days in Europe. In many cases, we work from dawn to dusk, as they say. This not only limits our leisure activities, but also has direct consequences for our personal lives.
2.- Likewise, 25% of Spanish households consist of just one person. But our human nature means that we need emotional connections to survive.
3.- 50% of Spain's population lives in large urban centers, such as Madrid, but in small homes.
4.- Fortunately, we are increasingly developing a collective awareness of what responsible animal ownership entails.
These four ingredients create the perfect storm that means cat ownership is increasing. The lack of free time and the long distances most of us have to travel to get from home to work make it difficult for us to meet the walking and exercise needs of most dogs as they deserve. This same sense of responsibility makes us feel uneasy at the thought of leaving our dog home alone all day. Hence, because we need that companionship and affection, cats are seen as the perfect life companions, supposedly less demanding than dogs. And more independent and mysterious. Winning their affection is a challenge (in fact, dogs were traditionally preferred because it has always been said that they love us more). In addition, the Internet has elevated them to celebrity status. And this is one of the main reasons why young people love them.
Having said all this, it is worth remembering that cats «cannot manage on their own», far from it. Having one is a major responsibility that often lasts more than a decade. Cats need us too. Very much. After all, they have specific needs to live healthy and happy lives. And logically, although their upkeep is somewhat less expensive than a dog's, we must be sure that we will be able to afford to take them to the vet when necessary and provide them with quality nutrition that combines dry food with wet food.
As we said, we are delighted that more and more households have an ARISTOPET. Because it is more than proven how beneficial their companionship is for our health, at any age or stage of life: whether when we are young, as we discussed in this post, or when we grow old. But one thing is certain: we must think very carefully before taking the step of expanding the family.
