The story
Meet Lena, a retired school librarian with two tabby cats named Juniper and Moss. Each December, Lena sits at her kitchen table with a mug of chamomile tea, reviewing the stack of donation requests that arrived over the past month. She chooses local literacy programs, a regional cat rescue, and a fund for environmental cleanup. Juniper watches from the windowsill as Lena writes out five separate checks, each for a different cause. The cats nap quietly as envelopes pile up beside her, waiting for their stamps.
The context
Pet owners often build routines around the animals they care for, shaping habits far beyond the litter box or dog park. For years, the assumption held that dog owners—frequent participants in community walks, pet events, and shelter fundraisers—would outpace cat owners in charitable giving. Yet the stakes shifted as donor organizations began to notice subtle patterns. Some national campaigns saw more frequent, smaller donations from households with cats, prompting a closer look. With billions of dollars and public outreach at play, understanding these differences could reshape fundraising strategies and how causes engage pet-loving donors.
What happened
At first, organizations grouped pet owners together, sending identical appeals regardless of whether a household listed a cat, dog, or both. Donation records accumulated quietly, but campaign managers noticed that cat owners responded to a wider spread of appeals than their canine-loving counterparts. Then the research team began to analyze donor records spanning a decade, using machine learning to sort patterns that manual review couldn’t untangle. The data covered 63 million donor records and 788 million transactions, tracking giving habits from 2013 through 2022. After sorting, it became clear: cat owners donated more often, and their average annual giving reached $780, compared to $700 for dog owners.
The findings
Cat owners donated about $780 on average, while dog owners contributed $700 per year. This means cat owners gave about $80 more annually than dog owners. Cat people gave more frequently and supported a wider variety of causes. In plain terms, their giving habits included multiple donations to different organizations rather than concentrating on a single charity. Machine learning detected this trend consistently over the ten-year period from 2013 to 2022. Practically, this suggests the pattern holds steady regardless of short-term events or annual fluctuations. The analysis included 63 million U.S. donor records and captured 788 million transactions totaling $70 billion. This means the findings reflect a broad cross-section of giving and aren’t limited to one region or a small sample. Personality traits such as openness may help explain why cat owners display greater generosity across diverse causes. In plain terms, people who prefer cats may also seek out novel experiences and support a broader range of issues. The connection between pet preference and giving style emerges from large-scale data, not anecdote or self-report.
Why this matters
Pet owners often wonder if their routines and preferences influence more than just which animal sleeps on the couch. Lena’s pattern is not unique: many cat owners find themselves drawn to different causes and donate more frequently throughout the year. This means you might see your own giving habits reflected in these numbers, whether you support wildlife, local food banks, or medical research. Not every pet owner fits the average, but knowing these trends can help you understand how your choices add up over time. If you’re budgeting donations, expect to spend about $80 more per year if you have a cat, based on national averages. The timing and variety of your giving may also shift—cat owners tend to respond to a wider range of appeals than dog owners. The pattern is steady enough that organizations now tailor messages for pet households, hoping to match the diversity and frequency of their giving.
Broader implications
Donor organizations now use pet ownership data to refine outreach strategies. National campaigns segment their appeals, sending a broader mix of cause requests to cat owners and focusing community events for dog households. This shift relies on machine learning analysis that tracks giving habits over ten years, ensuring that patterns reflect consistent behavior rather than seasonal trends. Fundraisers structure appeals to match the documented diversity in cat owner donations. The approach changes how causes allocate resources, from direct mail to social media campaigns. Pet preference becomes a practical factor in donor management, shaping the types of appeals sent and the frequency of requests. As giving patterns remain stable across years and regions, organizations see measurable differences in response rates and donation amounts.
What we can learn
At home, you can use your donation history to guide future giving. Review how often you’ve responded to appeals over the past year; you might notice a pattern of frequent, varied support if you share your life with cats. If you’re a dog owner, you may prefer to concentrate donations on a favorite shelter or community project. Try tracking your giving with a spreadsheet or budgeting app—helps you see where your money goes and which causes matter most. With your veterinarian, discuss how pet ownership shapes more than health choices. Clinics sometimes partner with local charities and may offer suggestions for causes that align with your interests. Ask about donation drives or ways to support organizations through pet-related events. Expect gradual changes in your giving habits as your pets age or your household shifts. Making your donations intentional, rather than impulsive, helps maximize impact and keeps your budget on track.
Study limitations
- The analysis used 63 million U.S. donor records covering 788 million transactions.
- Data covered a ten-year period, from 2013 to 2022.
- No percentages or regional breakdowns reported.
- Only average annual giving and donation frequency compared; other factors may influence results.
- What we don’t know yet: The exact mechanism linking personality traits and pet preference.
Bottom line
Cat owners donate about $80 more per year and support a wider range of causes than dog owners. You can use these patterns to guide your own giving and understand how pet preference shapes charitable habits.
Disclaimer
This brief provides educational information only and is not a substitute for financial advice or veterinary consultation. Individual giving patterns may vary. Always consult relevant professionals for specific recommendations.
