One in four pets sleeps in bed

Half of all European households have pets. The Swiss have a particularly large number of cats, while Italy has a penchant for dogs. What's more, in Germany, one in three dogs and one in three cats is allowed to sleep in bed with its owner. This is according to a representative survey commissioned by Galaxus, for which the market research institute YouGov surveyed 5,125 people in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy about their pets and related habits.

According to the survey, Italians are Europe's biggest animal lovers: four out of ten respondents say they own a pet. One in four people in Italy even has several pets. A similar number of four-legged friends, fish and other animals live in France and Austria. Among the countries surveyed, the Swiss have the fewest pets: with a share of 39 per cent (one or more pets), they are far behind in last place. On average across all countries, more than half of those surveyed have at least one pet.

The survey also reveals gender differences: while in Italy, France and Austria, a similar number of women and men own pets, in Switzerland and Germany, women are significantly more fond of cats, dogs, canaries and guinea pigs.

When it comes to the choice of animal species, there are clear cultural preferences: Switzerland is dominated by cats, with two-thirds of pet owners owning cats and only one-third owning dogs. No other country has anywhere near as many cats as dogs as Switzerland. In Germany and Italy, on the other hand, dogs and cats are roughly equal, at around 50 per cent.

In all the countries surveyed, dogs and cats are by far the most popular pets, while small animals such as hamsters, rabbits, birds or fish are only kept by a minority. Most small animals live in Switzerland, while most birds are found in German households.

There is a surprising amount of agreement in Europe on the bed question. Across national borders, about half of pets sleep in their own basket or cage. Around a quarter of beloved pets are allowed to sleep on the sofa, and in Germany it is almost one in three (29%). A similar number are even allowed to share their owners' beds – a privilege that is most common in German bedrooms.

And because the way to a pet's heart is through its stomach – or through toys – many pets receive lavish gifts: in Italy, more than half of pets regularly receive gifts on special occasions. Christmas presents for pets are also popular. In Italy, one in four pets even receives gifts more often than their owner's brother-in-law, parents or other close relatives. The Swiss are an exception: their four-legged friends often go empty-handed at Christmas or on their birthdays.

Austria leads the way in monthly spending on pets: three out of ten Austrian pet owners spend between €50 and €99 per month on their furry friends. One in five spends between €100 and €199 per month on their pet. The French, on the other hand, are relatively stingy.