Getting a pet? Or love yours more than your partner? 1 in 3 Brits do.

Thinking about getting a cat or dog? Read this first. It is not meant to scare you. It is just some things you will only understand after you have one.

You are probably thinking about getting a cat or dog.

Maybe you live alone and your flat feels too quiet at night. Maybe you have been stressed lately and think a furry companion would help. Maybe you have seen too many cute pet videos on social media and think "I want one too."

Whatever your reason, before you make up your mind, there are a few things worth thinking about first.

First, a question you might not have considered

A recent survey asked UK pet owners a question: your pet or your partner, who do you love more?

Here is what they found.

1、36 percent said their pet is their "true love"

2、27 percent said their pet gives them more emotional support than their partner

3、34 percent said they would consider breaking up if their pet did not like their new partner

That means more than one in three pet owners have already placed their pet above their human partner.

You might think this sounds extreme. But after you get a pet, you might find yourself becoming exactly this person.

Why do pets win over humans?

The reason is simple.

Human relationships come with conditions. You forget an anniversary and your partner gets upset. You say the wrong thing and they give you the silent treatment. You are in a bad mood and they think you are angry at them.

A pet's love has no conditions.

A dog will not ignore you just because you came home late. A cat will not hold a grudge because you did not buy their favourite treat. When you cry, they do not ask "what now?" When you do not want to talk, they just sit next to you. No pressure. No annoyance.

Anyone who has owned a pet knows this feeling.

An article from the British Psychological Society once explained that pets provide a kind of "unconditional relationship that is usually absent from human relationships."

In simple terms, you do not have to perform well to be loved.

A few things you should know before getting a pet

But here is something important.

If your reason for getting a pet is "I need to be healed," you might want to think again.

A 2026 study that tracked more than 6,000 people in the UK found that pet owners, as a group, did not have better mental health than people without pets.

In other words, cats and dogs can keep you company. But they are not therapists.

If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, getting a dog will not automatically make you feel better. And owning a pet comes with its own stress.

1、Dogs need daily walks, even when it is raining, even when you do not want to go outside.

2、Cats might run around at 3am and run straight across your face.

3、Your sofa might get scratched. Your carpet might get peed on.

4、Vet bills are not cheap. An emergency visit can cost hundreds of pounds.

None of this is meant to stop you from getting a pet. It is just to say that getting a pet should not come from a place of "I need something to save me."

So why get a pet?

Because the point of having a pet was never about curing anything.

It is about coming home late from work and having a dog run to the door like you are the most important person in the world.

It is about sitting on the sofa crying and having a cat jump up and push its head into your hand.

It is about waking up to a creature that is happy to see you, every single morning.

It is about coming home to a flat that no longer feels empty, even when you are alone.

These are not therapy. These are just life.

If you are still unsure

Ask yourself three questions.

First, can I accept that this pet will not be perfect? It will shed fur. It might destroy things. It might have accidents inside the house. It will not be the perfectly behaved internet-famous pet you see on social media.

Second, can I commit to more than ten years? Cats and dogs live for over a decade. During that time, you might move houses, change jobs, date, break up, get married, have children. Your pet will still be there.

Third, am I getting a pet because I need one or because I want one? Need and want are different. Need means you are trying to fill an empty space inside yourself. Want means you are ready to welcome a new life into your home.

A final thought

One in three pet owners say their pet is their true love. That number might make pet ownership sound romantic.

But it is not romance. It is responsibility.

If you are ready for that responsibility, congratulations. You are about to gain a family member who will never leave you no matter what.

If you are not ready yet, that is fine too. Wait until you are.

Cats and dogs are not going anywhere. They will be there when you are ready.