Could it be that singles of both sexes are choosing to put their love for their pets ahead of finding a partner?

The vast majority of single women (83%) and well over half of single men (64%) would not start a relationship with someone who didn’t like their pet, according to the latest research into the love affair Australians have with pets (Newspoll, Pets and Single People, July 2010.  Research conducted for the Petcare Information and Advisory Service).

Despite this, according to the 2010 research, pets are helping both single men and women to make friends; with 36% saying they have met someone who became a friend as a result of owning their pet. And pets are not just important in creating friendships; the research clearly shows single Australians consider their pets to be their friends. 

For 67% of single women and 51% of single men, the most important characteristic in a pet is that it is a friend who is always there for you.
 
In fact, the majority of single pet owners, 72%, think their pets understand them as well or better than their friends do (70% of men and 73% of women), with 61% of single women saying that they talk things over with their pet.

The research also indicated a difference in where the pets of single men and single women sleep. 37% of single women allow their pet to sleep on their bed whereas only 22% of single men do.  28% of single men, but only 14% of single women, put their pet outside at night.
 
And in a final word to anyone who wants to know more about a single pet owner: take note of the personality of the pet ahead of what the pet looks like.  63% of single men and 54% of single women think that people pick pets with similar personalities to themselves.  The pet's looks were not a high priority in selecting a pet for either single men or women, with just 3% saying it was important.