1 in 4 Gen Z Cat Owners Have Turned Down a Nicer Apartment for Their Pet — Here’s How to Make Any Space Work

It’s no secret that some of us humans are pretty obsessed with our cats. Around 39% of American households now own cats, with Gen Z accounting for 22% of that total, according to the American Pet Products Association. Of these young cat owners, nearly half of them report that their pet is “the most important thing in their life.” From “purr-lates” classes to cat cafes, lifestyle trends and new businesses seem to be catering to cat owners more and more as well. But cat ownership still comes with its challenges, particularly for younger pet owners.

Mars, the maker of several popular pet foods (including my own cat Phoebe’s favorite treats, Temptations), surveyed pet parents all across the country for their 2026 U.S. Pet Parent Perception Research study — and what they found was pretty shocking.…