Canadian pet owners cut their own spending before their pets'

Canadian dog and cat owners are willing to spend less on dining out, clothing or coffee before they reduce what they spend on their pets. That is the central finding of a national survey conducted by consumer insights panel Caddle together with pet specialist retailer Pet Valu, published end of July.

Asked what they would cut first if household budgets tightened, respondents named dining out (51%), clothing (38%), personal care (30%), coffee (22%) and streaming services (19%) ahead of spending on their animals. Eight in ten said they expect to maintain or increase their pet spending over the coming twelve months.

Health and longevity emerged as the main driver behind those decisions. Nine out of ten respondents said they actively consider ways to extend their pet's lifespan and quality of life. Some 58% have taken out pet health insurance, and 55% reported spending on health technology…