Table of contents
Pet Mishaps 2026 Survey (Frequency, Types, Costs)
Report Highlights
- 73% of cat owners say their pet is mischievous, compared to 51% of dog owners.
- Dogs are most often responsible for indoor bathroom accidents (24%), while cats are more likely to knock things over (29%) and damage surfaces (16%).
- Most pet mishaps cost under $250, with 26% of cat owners spending just $1-$49 and 22% of dog owners spending $100–249, though higher costs still occur: 9% of dog owners report expenses between $1,000 and $2,499.
- Veterinary care is the top mishap cost for dog owners (32%), while cat owners most often spend on replacing damaged personal belongings (29%).
- Around 9 in 10 Americans say their well-being has improved since getting a pet.
- Most US adults spend between $50 and $199 per month on their pets.
Pets bring joy. They also break things.
We surveyed over 500 US pet owners to see how often mishaps happen, what pets get into, and how much it all costs.
Pets get into trouble, but the question is how often.
To find out, we asked pet owners how many mishaps their pets caused in the past 30 days, and most landed in the same range, with two to three incidents reported by 48% of dog owners and 40% of cat owners.
In the past 30 days, how many mishaps has your pet caused? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
0 | 11% | 7% |
1 | 22% | 20% |
2-3 | 48% | 40% |
4-5 | 10% | 18% |
6+ | 8% | 13% |
Not sure | 0% | 2% |
One mishap came next, chosen by 22% of dog owners and 20% of cat owners, showing that a quieter month does happen, just not for most.
As the numbers rise, cats start to stand out: 18% of cat owners report four to five mishaps, compared to 10% of dog owners, and 13% report six or more, compared to 8% of dog owners. A small group reported no mishaps at all, including 11% of dog owners and 7% of cat owners.
Not all mishaps look the same, so we asked pet owners what their pets do most often when things go wrong.
Which type of mishap does your pet cause most often? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
Bathroom accidents indoors | 24% | 14% |
Knocking items over or causing spills | 12% | 29% |
Getting into trash or food and creating a mess | 11% | 7% |
Disruptive behavior in public (e.g., excessive barking, jumping) | 16% | 2% |
Chewing or damaging furniture | 7% | 12% |
Damaging personal belongings (e.g., shoes, electronics) | 12% | 2% |
Scratching or damaging surfaces (floors, walls, doors) | 1% | 16% |
Other | 5% | 9% |
None (my pet has not caused any mishaps) | 5% | 2% |
Escaping or running away | 4% | 3% |
Biting or scratching a person | 2% | 2% |
Injuring another animal | 1% | 1% |
For dog owners, indoor bathroom accidents top the list at 24%, followed by disruptive behavior in public at 16%, making dogs more likely to cause problems both at home and outside.
Cats, on the other hand, lean into chaos at home, with 29% of owners saying their pets most often knock things over or cause spills, more than double the 12% reported by dog owners, while 16% report scratching or damaging surfaces like floors and walls compared to just 1% of dog owners.
Dogs show up more in a few other categories: 16% linked to disruptive behavior in public, compared to 2% of cats; 12% damaging personal belongings like shoes or electronics, compared to 2% of cats; and 11% getting into trash or food, compared to 7% of cats.
Some mishaps are equally rare across both groups: 2% of owners report their pet bit or scratched a person, and just 1% say their pet injured another animal, alongside 5% and 9% reporting other types of incidents, respectively.
We also asked pet owners when mishaps are most likely to occur, and the answers were split between dogs and cats.
For dogs, the biggest trigger is being left alone, with 26% of owners citing this, compared to just 9% of cat owners.
When are mishaps most likely to occur? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
When the pet is left alone at home | 26% | 9% |
When people are present at home | 9% | 12% |
During active periods (e.g., play, high excitement) | 22% | 21% |
During routine activities (e.g., feeding time) | 2% | 4% |
During nighttime (while the household is asleep) | 7% | 15% |
During arrivals or departures (e.g., leaving/returning home) | 7% | 2% |
No clear pattern | 17% | 32% |
Not sure | 2% | 1% |
Not applicable | 4% | 1% |
Other | 4% | 5% |
Cats are harder to pin down: 32% of owners say there’s no clear pattern, nearly double the 17% reported by dog owners. Both groups report similar rates during active moments like play or high excitement: 22% for dogs and 21% for cats.
Still, some patterns stand out: nighttime mishaps are more common among cats (15%) than among dogs (7%), and incidents while people are home are reported by 12% of cat owners versus 9% of dog owners.
More predictable moments show lower numbers: 7% of dog owners report mishaps during arrivals or departures, compared to 2% of cat owners, and routine times like feeding account for just 2% of dogs and 4% of cats.
Moving on, we asked pet owners a more subjective question: “Is your pet mischievous?”
Cat owners were far more likely to say yes, with 73% agreeing overall, including 50% who somewhat agree and 23% who strongly agree.
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “My pet is mischievous.” | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
Strongly agree | 12% | 23% |
Somewhat agree | 39% | 50% |
Neither agree nor disagree | 8% | 5% |
Somewhat disagree | 26% | 15% |
Strongly disagree | 16% | 7% |
Dog owners were more split, with 51% agreeing, of whom 39% somewhat agree, and 12% strongly agree.
Pets come with steady monthly costs, so we asked owners how much they typically spend each month.
On average, how much do you spend on your pet per month? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
$0 | - | - |
$1-$49 | 14% | 23% |
$50-$99 | 31% | 37% |
$100-$199 | 36% | 29% |
$200-$299 | 11% | 7% |
$300-$499 | 5% | 3% |
$500-$999 | 2% | - |
$1,000+ | - | - |
Not sure | 0% | 1% |
Most fall into the same middle range, with the majority spending between $50 and $199 per month.
Dog owners skew higher, with 36% spending $100 to $199 and 31% spending $50 to $99, making the $100 to $199 range the most common for this group.
Cat owners lean lower: 37% spend $50 to $99, and 29% spend $100 to $199, while 23% fall into the lowest bracket of $1 to $49, compared to 14% among dog owners.
Higher spending levels are more common among dog owners, with 11% spending $200 to $299 compared to 7% of cat owners, 5% spending $300 to $499, compared to 3% of cat owners, and 2% spending $500 to $999, a range not reported by any cat owners.
Some mishaps stay small, others don’t, so we asked pet owners about the most they’ve ever spent on a single incident.
For cat owners, the most common answer sits at the low end, with 26% reporting costs between $1 and $49, while dog owners most often land higher, with 22% reporting costs between $100 and $249.
What is the highest amount you have ever spent on a single pet-related mishap? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
$0 | 4% | 8% |
$1-$49 | 18% | 26% |
$50-$99 | 13% | 13% |
$100-$249 | 22% | 16% |
$250-$499 | 13% | 12% |
$500-$999 | 13% | 12% |
$1,000-$2,499 | 9% | 4% |
$2,500-$4,999 | 2% | 2% |
$5,000+ | 2% | 2% |
Not sure | 2% | 4% |
Not applicable | 1% | 2% |
Both groups align in the $50 to $99 range at 13%, while 18% of dog owners and 16% of cat owners report spending $100 to $249.
Mid-range costs show similar patterns across both groups: 13% of dog owners and 12% of cat owners report $250 to $499, and the same split appears again in the $500 to $999 range.
Larger expenses are less common: 9% of dog owners report costs between $1,000 and $2,499, compared to 4% of cat owners, while the highest brackets of $2,500 to $4,999 and $5,000 or more each account for 2% in both groups.
When a mishap gets expensive, the cost usually falls into a few predictable categories, so we asked owners what they spend the most on.
For that most expensive pet-related mishap, what did you spend the most money on? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
Repairing or replacing furniture | 16% | 16% |
Repairing or replacing personal belongings (e.g., electronics, clothing) | 19% | 29% |
Professional cleaning services or cleaning supplies | 13% | 10% |
Veterinary care for your pet due to an incident | 32% | 25% |
Medical care for a person due to an incident | 3% | 2% |
Repairing damage outside your home (e.g., another person’s property) | 2% | - |
Boarding or daycare due to behavior issues | - | - |
Training or behavior classes | 5% | - |
Not sure | 2% | 4% |
Not applicable | 6% | 12% |
Other | 1% | 3% |
Veterinary care leads for both groups, reported by 32% of dog owners and 25% of cat owners, making it the most common major expense overall.
Cat owners are more likely to spend on replacing personal belongings, such as electronics or clothing, at 29%, compared to 19% among dog owners. In comparison, both groups report the same rate of 16% for repairing or replacing furniture.
Cleaning costs also come up regularly, with 13% of dog owners and 10% of cat owners citing professional cleaning services or supplies as their biggest expense.
Some costs appear almost exclusively among dog owners, including 5% who cited training or behavior classes and 2% who paid for damage to someone else’s property. In comparison, 3% of dog owners and 2% of cat owners reported medical care for a person.
Mishaps aside, we wanted to understand the bigger picture, so we asked pet owners how their pets affect their overall well-being.
The answer is overwhelmingly positive: 65% of dog owners and 68% of cat owners say their well-being has significantly improved.
How, if at all, has owning a pet affected your overall well-being? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
Significantly improved | 65% | 68% |
Slightly improved | 25% | 23% |
No noticeable impact | 6% | 6% |
Slightly worsened | 3% | 2% |
Significantly worsened | 1% | 1% |
Not sure | - | 1% |
When including those who report slight improvements, the totals climb to 90% among dog owners and 91% among cat owners.
To close, we asked pet owners what part of owning a pet brings them the most joy.
Which aspect of pet ownership brings you the most joy? | Dog owner | Cat owner |
|---|---|---|
Companionship (having your pet around) | 62% | 57% |
Emotional comfort or stress relief | 16% | 17% |
Physical affection (e.g., cuddling) | 6% | 13% |
Entertainment or humor (funny moments) | 7% | 5% |
Encouraging physical activity or time outdoors | 2% | 1% |
Social interaction (e.g., meeting or talking to others) | 0% | - |
Sense of purpose or responsibility | 1% | 1% |
Training progress or learning new behaviors | - | - |
Strengthening relationships within the household | 0% | 3% |
None | 0% | 1% |
Not sure | 1% | - |
Other | 3% | 1% |
Companionship leads by a wide margin, chosen by 62% of dog owners and 57% of cat owners.
Emotional comfort and stress relief come next, reported by 16% of dog owners and 17% of cat owners, reinforcing the role pets play beyond daily routines.
Some differences start to show in how that joy is experienced: 13% of cat owners cite physical affection, like cuddling, compared to 6% of dog owners, while 3% of cat owners say pets help strengthen relationships within the household.
Entertainment and humor are mentioned by 7% of dog owners and 5% of cat owners, while smaller shares point to other benefits, including 2% of dog owners and 1% of cat owners who value increased physical activity, and 1% in both groups who mention a sense of purpose.
The survey was conducted between April 8 and 9, 2026, using the Prolific online research platform. The sample included 504 US adults. Among participants, 43.7% reported currently owning dog(s), 32.5% reported owning cat(s), and 23.8% reported owning both. The survey was designed with a 95% confidence level and a 4% margin of error, and it included an attention-check question. In some cases, percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding or multi-select questions. All results rely on participants’ self-reported answers and may reflect recall errors.
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