Michigan Residents Top The Charts In Pet Spending Habits

It's been funny growing up as an adult and watching my parents go from raising all of us kids (there are four of us) to now transitioning to raising their new puppies. My mom SPOILS her dogs. She has a subscription to Bark Box so it's like Christmas every month for these spoiled pups, she has multiple different dog foods so they "have different meals to look forward to".

Turns out, she isn't the only one spoiling her pets. A recent study shows that Michiganders really love their pets and their wallets show it.

Pets Aren't Cheap

Anyone who owns a pet knows that it isn't an easy task. As much as I hate the term "fur baby", there is some credence to it considering taking care of a pet is like having a kid. Coupon Birds' study breaks down how Gen Z and Millenials' behaviors differ in how they raise their pets.

The study shows that on average, Americans spend $1,087 on cats and $2,116 on dogs. This includes costs related to food, healthcare, grooming, toys, and entertainment. Michiganders, however, spend more than the average, pouring around $1,530 on their pets each year, the eighth most in the entire U.S.

If that doesn't seem like a lot to you, a more surprising statistic is that 26% of Gen Z and 19% of Millennials have said they've needed to cut back spending on themselves to ensure their pets are cared for. Just another example of parents making sacrifices for their kids.

Their study has shown how Gen Z and Millenials spend differently on things like pet insurance, which age groups own more pets, and which states spend the most on their pets. You can view the entire study here, or you can bring your dog with you to some of these Grand Rapids restaurants.