A cat sits next to a broken potted plant. In October 2024, the Harris Poll asked Americans about pets and kids: "If you had to choose, which would you prefer in the future?" Of the 2,125 respondents, 18% said children, 43% said pets, and the rest said both. Harris also found that a majority of Gen Z pet owners would give up a year of their own lives if it would add a year to their pet's life. In case you hadn't noticed, Americans have gone ga-ga over their pets.