A team from the University of Kent has found that pet ownership significantly increases life satisfaction, equivalent to the well-being gained from a substantial annual pay rise.
Their study, published in Social Indicators Research, surveyed around 2,500 households on lifestyle, personality and pet companionship before applying a model known as the “life satisfaction approach”.
£70k worth of happiness
This method, often employed by economists, assigns a monetary value to the factors that influence human happiness.
The findings suggest that cats and dogs each bring an uplift worth up to £70,000 a year. Lead author Dr Adelina Gschwandtner described the results as a clear answer to whether pets are good for us, calling the companionship of animals “a significant and measurable benefit”.
Interestingly, the study also noted that pet ownership brings wellbeing gains on par with marriage, particularly for single individuals. This supports growing evidence that animals provide vital emotional connections in an increasingly fast-paced world.
Contributors to human happiness
The research follows a separate UK survey, which shows that 81% of people consider their pet the greatest love of their life, with more than two in five describing their animal as their child.
According to the Kent team, the results could help guide future healthcare policy, with pets seen not just as companions but as key contributors to human happiness.
