Nine in 10 cat parents report behaviors showing their cats influence daily routines, home life, relationships and more

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nulo, the premium pet food brand, today released results from a nationally representative survey showing that cats influence relationships, homes, spending and everyday decisions. Nine in 10 cat parents (91%) reported at least one behavior reflecting how much say their cat has in their life.

Conducted by Wired Research in August 2026, the survey found that cats’ influence ranges from everyday communication and relationships to living spaces and care decisions. That influence is apparent even in ordinary interactions: 58% of cat parents have held a full conversation with their cat, while 32% have asked for their cat’s opinion before making a decision.

How Cats Influence Relationships and Dating

• Dating appeal: Among U.S. adults, being a cat lover may offer more dating appeal than owning a home, putting affinity for cats ahead of a traditional marker of stability. Twenty-eight percent say loving cats makes a potential partner more attractive, compared with 23% who say owning a home does. That figure rises to 34% among Gen Z adults, compared with 26% among older generations.
• The cat test: One in four cat parents (25%) would stop dating someone their cat disliked. Among female cat parents, that figure rises to 32% compared with 17% of male cat parents.

How Cats Shape Homes and Living Spaces

• Furniture concessions: More than half of cat parents (53%) would keep an ugly piece of furniture because their cat loves it.
• Sharing space: Nearly one in three cat parents (32%) would permanently give up their side of the bed and 27% would give their cat its own bedroom.

Why Gen Z Cat Parents Stand Out

• Rushing home: Nearly one in three Gen Z cat parents (31%) have left an event early because they couldn’t wait to get home to their cat, compared with 15% of Millennials, Gen X and Boomers combined.
• Everyday accommodations: Gen Z cat parents are also more likely than older generations to ask for their cat’s opinion (45% vs. 28%), lower the volume to avoid waking them (35% vs. 20%) and check on them by camera while away (31% vs. 20%).
• Moving on up: Nearly one in four cat parents (24%) would move to give their cat a better living space. Gen Z cat parents are nearly 60% more likely than older generations to say they would do so, with 35% saying they would move.

How Cat Parents Prioritize Food and Care

• Food first: 38% of cat parents would spend more on their cat’s food than their own, rising to 43% among women and Gen Z cat parents.
• Last-dollar priority: Three in 10 cat parents (30%) would spend their last $100 on their cat instead of themselves.

Those priorities connect the broader research to Prowess, Nulo’s science-based line of wet and dry cat food.

“These findings put numbers behind something cat parents already know: cats have a real say in how their households run,” said Dr. Heather Mendoza, Vice President of Product Development at Nulo. “That relationship shapes everyday choices, including what cat parents put in the bowl. We developed Prowess as a complementary lineup of wet and dry recipes that combines high meat content, purposeful ingredients and precise, science-backed nutrition for cats across a variety of life stages.”

Nulo Prowess Facts

• Product type: Science-based dry and wet cat food developed by animal nutritionists and veterinarians.
• Nutrition approach: Real meat is the first ingredient, meaning it is added in the highest amount to each formula. Prowess recipes are high in animal-based protein and lower in carbohydrates, and each purposeful, science-backed ingredient is used to provide a nutritional benefit to cats. They’re also made without corn, wheat, soy or meat by-products – a modern approach to premium nutrition.
• Recipe options: Bright Beginnings for kittens, All-in-One Essentials, Skin & Coat, Sensitive Stomach, Healthy Weight and Mature 12+.
• Where to buy: Online at Petco and PetSmart.
• Learn more: Visit ProwessCats.com.

Survey Methodology
The Nulo Cat Survey included 2,013 nationally representative Americans ages 18 and older, including 800 cat owners. Wired Research conducted the survey online from August 17-21, 2026 using an email invitation and an online survey. The study has a margin of error of +/- 2.2% at a 95% confidence level. The margin of error for subgroups is higher.

About Nulo
Nulo is on a mission to fuel the inner athlete in every pet. With a wide range of ultra-premium food formats available in more than 6,500 pet specialty retailers nationwide, Nulo ensures pets enjoy the best in digestive and immune health, skin and coat care, mobility, and weight management. Recognized as one of Forbes Magazine’s “Most Innovative Brands at Retail,” Nulo’s offerings are rich in animal-based proteins and low in carbs, crafted to keep pets thriving alongside their human companions. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Nulo continues to inspire pet parents and athletes alike. For more information, visit www.nulo.com.

Media Contact
Taylor
nulo@taylorstrategy.com

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SOURCE Nulo