If you’ve ever felt like your dog or cat is your emotional rock, science is officially backing you up. A new study from the University of Kent found that pets—specifically cats and dogs—can boost your mental well-being as much as being in a romantic partnership. Researchers estimated the emotional lift from having a pet is worth up to $92,000 a year in happiness—a value comparable to marriage or seeing close friends regularly.
So, how did they come up with that number? Researchers analyzed data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, factoring in variables like income, personality traits, age, and family dynamics. They even used a clever research tool known as an “instrumental variable” to isolate pet ownership from other possible sources of happiness. The conclusion? Pet ownership wasn’t just a side effect of being happy—it was a cause of it.
Why does this matter beyond the feel-good factor? Experts say the findings could influence public policy, from promoting pets in mental health programs to rethinking rental pet bans. Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni called it a promising avenue for addressing loneliness, which is now seen as a public health crisis.
While the study focused only on cats and dogs, not goldfish or hamsters, it highlights something pet lovers have known all along: our furry companions aren’t just cute—they’re deeply meaningful. As Claudia Giolitti-Wright, LMFT, notes, “Putting a price tag on well-being might not be perfect, but it speaks the language policymakers understand.”
