From holiday plans to diets and household budgets, Irish people are putting their pets first, with new research highlighting just how much owners prioritise their four-legged friends.
According to the Pet Holiday and Wellbeing survey1 from Petinsurance.ie, almost four in five pet owners (78%) say money is not important when it comes to their pet’s health and happiness.
The survey also found that 79% of pet owners are stricter about their pet’s diet than their own, while more than half (53%) say they spend more time finding trusted pet care for when they’re away, than choosing their holiday itself.
With almost every pet owner (99.6%)² considering their pet a member of the family, the findings highlight just how important they have become in our everyday lives.
Andrew Simpson, Head of Pet at Petinsurance.ie, said:
“Pets are a huge part of their owners’ lives, and these findings show just how much they can influence the decisions we make. From deciding whether to go on holiday to how we spend our money, pets are clearly a priority for many households.
“That care extends to their health too, with people going to great lengths to make sure their pets get the care they need. For many, having pet insurance is another way of looking after them, providing peace of mind and helping make sure they can access the care they need if the unexpected happens.”
Sources
¹The Pet Holiday & Wellbeing survey was conducted among 290 Petinsurance.ie customers from 18–25 August 2026.
²The survey of Petinsurance.ie customers was conducted online from 2–9 March 2026 and collected 493 responses.