For many Americans, choosing a home is no longer just about price, square footage, commute time, or neighborhood. Pets are increasingly part of the equation, influencing which properties people consider, what compromises they are willing to make, and even how they alter their homes after moving in.
According to a recent survey, Modern Pet Parenthood Report, commissioned by Spot Pet Insurance, of more than 3,600 U.S. dog and cat parents ages 18–64, many people are weighing their pet’s needs against major housing decisions.
New survey data from 3,600 respondents shows just how deeply pets can shape housing decisions. From rejecting an otherwise ideal property because of pet restrictions to investing in permanent home modifications, many people are treating their pets’ needs as an important part of where and how they live.
Pet Needs Can Carry as Much Weight as Human Needs
When respondents were asked how much their pet’s needs influenced the choice of their current home or apartment, 58% said their pet’s needs were at least as important as their own, including one in ten who called their pet the single most important factor and built their housing search entirely around it.
The remaining respondents were split between treating their pet as a minor consideration after their own needs were met (21%) and pets not factoring in at all (20%).
The results suggest that “pet-friendly” can mean much more than simply allowing cats or dogs. Yard space, proximity to parks, a home’s layout, and building policies can all become meaningful considerations when people decide where to live.
The Dealbreaker: Pet Restrictions
The influence of pets becomes even clearer when people are forced to choose between their preferred property and their pet.
Respondents were asked what they would do if their ideal home or apartment had a strict HOA or landlord ban based on their pet’s breed or weight. Three in four (75%) said they would walk away from the property entirely and look elsewhere — compared with just 4% who said they’d rehome their pet. The rest said they’d look for a workaround, whether that meant pursuing an Emotional Support Animal designation or moving in without declaring the pet.
The overwhelming preference to find another home rather than give up a pet demonstrates the potential impact of pet restrictions on the housing market. A property can check every other box and still be eliminated from consideration if a pet can’t come along.
For landlords, property managers, HOAs, and others in housing, pet policies may therefore influence the pool of people willing to consider a property in the first place.
Renovating for the Family Pet
Pets don’t just affect where people move. They can influence what people do with their homes after they get there.
34% of respondents have permanently altered their home’s layout or architecture to accommodate a pet — most (24%) see the changes as valuable upgrades, while the other 10% made them anyway despite acknowledging a possible hit to resale value.
Another 34% haven’t gone that far but have seriously considered making structural changes, while 31% say they’d never make permanent changes for a pet.
These changes can take many forms, from removing carpeting and installing ramps to modifying cabinetry or creating dedicated spaces for pets. Whatever the project, the willingness to make permanent changes illustrates how pet needs can become part of long-term home design.
Home Sweet (Pet-Friendly) Home
Taken together, the findings point to a broader shift in how people think about housing. A home’s suitability isn’t determined solely by the needs of the humans who live there.
For a substantial share of respondents, pets are influencing the housing search from the beginning. They can determine whether someone considers a property, how they weigh location and amenities, and what they’re willing to change once they move in.
That has implications beyond individual households. Builders, real estate professionals, landlords, property managers, and HOAs may increasingly encounter people who evaluate housing through a pet-focused lens.
After all, an ideal home isn’t quite ideal if an important member of the household can’t live there.
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