Published
At a glance
- Pets and stress are the focus of a global survey commissioned by Mars and Calm involving more than 30,000 pet owners.
- Respondents describe turning to cats and dogs for comfort and taking breaks from screens, work and everyday tasks.
- The article explores those reported experiences and the partnership behind the survey. Its findings reflect owners’ perceptions, rather than proving that pet ownership produces the same mental-health effects for everyone.
What pet owners reported about stress
A survey commissioned by pet-care business Mars and mental-health company Calm asked more than 30,000 pet owners across 20 countries about the role of pets in daily life. In the organizations’ May 13, 2025 announcement, 58% said they preferred spending time with their pet when stressed, and 83% believed their pet had positively affected their mental wellbeing.
Those are owners’ reported preferences and perceptions, not clinical evidence that a pet treats anxiety or depression. The commercial context matters: the survey accompanied a partnership between the two companies. YouGov conducted the online fieldwork from February 19 to March 31, 2025; the release says results were weighted within each country to represent dog and cat owners aged 18 and older.
Companionship in ordinary moments
The announcement described pets as prompts to pause, step away from screens or go outside. That may resonate with readers who recognize a dog walk or a cat’s interruption as part of their own routine. It does not establish that getting a pet will improve health or that a pet should replace other support.
For a firsthand perspective, Laura Pevehouse’s empty-nest travel essay describes taking her dog and cat along as she rethought where to live. It is a story about her circumstances, rather than a general prescription.
Questions for readers over 50
The reported results concern pet owners across countries; this article does not have a separate estimate for adults over 50. People who already own pets may differ from those who cannot or do not want to. Self-reported feelings also cannot show what caused a change in wellbeing.
If the finding prompts you to think about companionship, start with the kind of contact and responsibility that fits your life. A pet brings costs, care needs and practical commitments as well as company. Rethinking family and relationships after 50 considers a wider range of supportive connections, including friends and chosen family.
Sources and context
Source: Mars and Calm’s pet-owner survey release, May 13, 2025.
Research context: A commissioned survey of more than 30,000 pet owners across 20 markets asks about perceived well-being and companionship.
How to read it: Reported comfort and preferences are not clinical evidence that a pet treats stress or a mental-health condition. The sample includes pet owners, not a comparison group without pets; the commissioning companies have commercial interests in pet care and well-being.
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