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Pets are considered part of the family for many families in the United States, with about 66% having a “fur-baby” of some kind. Many studies have shown that owning a pet can be incredibly beneficial for individual well-being. However, recent research has focused on the intricate role that pets can play in romantic relationships.
While it is known that pets can be a great source of emotional support, constant motivators for physical activity and providers of unconditional love, studies show that animals can also play a significant role in the choice of their partners, the results of relationships and the spread of tension between partners.
Here are three ways that research shows that pets can act as your furry matchmaker.
1. Pets can up your dating game
In 2015 to study from Anthrozoa– a journal specializing in the interaction between people and animals – found that pets play an intriguing role in the evaluation and selection of potential love interests. Interestingly, these roles are different for men and women.
The women in the study were found to be more demanding of romantic interests on the basis of pet ownership. In essence, women said they were more likely to be attracted to someone if they owned a pet—significantly more than men. Men in the study were also found to use their pets as a way to attract potential lovers at a higher rate than women.
So, pet dad, make sure you have those pictures of you and your furry friend visible on your social media and dating profiles. Show your status as a pet owner can prove to others that you are capable of responsibility, patience, commitment and companionship.
In addition, more women in the study relied on animal interactions than romantic interests to discern if they were a worthy partner. Simply put, if a woman saw her potential love interest treat her pet with kindness, affection or care, she would be more likely to consider dating them than someone who interacts with their pet indifferently, or not at all.
This simple act of expressing affection towards an animal, whether it’s yours or not, is a surefire way to reveal your most affectionate side, and science shows that this could increase your chances of winning.
2. Pets can strengthen your bond with your partner
Once you have won over your partner by showing your animal-loving side – and if you manage to settle down with them – you can also improve your relationship co-owner of an animal with your partner. Another one to study found co-ownership of a domestic animal can lead to many advantages of romantic relationship.
The researchers found individuals in pet co-ownership relationships reported high levels of closeness and familiar feelings toward their partner, as well as higher relationship quality. In one of their studies, researchers also found couples who owned pets together reported higher relationship quality than couples without pets.
Sharing the joy of owning a pet with your partner can be a great way to bond and find happiness together. Sharing the responsibility of taking care of your pet can foster a sense of cooperation and teamwork. Of course, raising pets isn’t always a walk in the park, but facing these challenges as a team might make you better at solving problems and finding compromises that work for both of you.
Caring for a pet with your partner also allows you to share physical activity and quality time together. Playing and cuddling with your pet as a couple can create precious moments of intimacy, and playing regularly or taking your pet for walks can promote a healthy and active lifestyle together.
3. Animals can relieve relationship tension
In a year article published in Family process, a psychologist highlighted the many significant roles that pets can play in couple and family processes, and how they play a part in relational dynamics and tension. The author recounts a whole social experiment that his former colleague conducted, in which he set up a camera to record the daily dinners of a couple of cats every night of the week.
The couple’s conversations would often become tense during dinner. However, whenever the couple was in conflict, his kitchen door would open and his cat would jump straight into his wife’s lap. As she picked up the cat, light conversation resumed and the tension between the pair dissipated.
This anecdote shows that owning a pet can act as a natural stress reliever and conversation starter. The presence of a pet in a home can allow couples to shift their focus away from the negative aspects of their lives or relationships and, in turn, connect with each other through shared love for his little companion.
Whether it’s the warmth of a purring cat on your lap or the boundless energy of a playful puppy, animals remind us to appreciate the present and share our lives with those we care about. So, if you ever need a sign to embrace the world of pet ownership, consider this your invitation to let a furry friend into your heart and your home. They not only fill your life with love, but also make your journey through love more joyful and comfortable.
