These 5 people chose pets over partners – and each story will make you look at dating differently

People are now choosing pets over partners as the dating world continues its downward spiral. Online dating is almost dead, and people are unwilling to seek love and affection from within the realm of humans. A report by Kinship shed light on five different accounts of people who would prefer staying in with their pets than hope for a romance to bloom on a random date. 

1. Eleanor Pilcher and her cat Puck

A freelance marketing consultant based in London, the 29-year-old pet parent has given up dating since 2021. After a series of bad dates, Pilcher resigned herself to a life of solitude until Puck came into her life to make things better. “I have no interest. That desire hasn’t been there since 2021, so this may be permanent,” she told the outlet. Recalling one of her awful dates, she revealed how a chef had taken her to McDonald's and later asked her to pay. If that’s not it, he apparently did not like the way she “ate” her nuggets and left her outside. 

One can imagine the cloud of disappointment attached to that date. However, Puck came as a light of positivity in Pilcher’s life. “She was the runt of the litter and looked like an alien with bulging blue eyes that were too big for her body,” she said. Puck was her foster cat until the home asked her to adopt it forever. Puck Pilcher became a permanent member of her family in November 2023. Comparatively, having a pet is way better than dating, Eleanor believes. “Sure, she can’t bring in a second income, cook me dinner, or laugh at my jokes, but she knows when I need comfort and leaves me alone when my introversion kicks in.”

2. Tabitha Warley and her dog Bobo

When she couldn’t find gentleness in humans, Warley turned to her dog, Bobo. She had been manifesting a pet ever since she started living alone. The 34-year-old worked full-time as a communications manager/influencer and lived in a rented flat in York. She felt she wasn’t ready to adopt a pet yet, but would regularly browse through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) website, the world’s largest and oldest animal welfare charity, to fill her heart. “In May 2023, I saw ‘Beau’, a one-eyed, 11-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who’d been dumped and was found wandering the streets in York,” she said.

Despite efforts from the charity, the dog was not adopted even after four months since his adoption post was out. He had undergone several surgeries, and the pup had been subject to neglect and abandonment for years. “So I went for it. I put in an application. This dog needed me,” Warley expressed. She was instantly blown away by Bobo’s gentle and kind soul. She notes how friendly he is to people regardless of his past experiences. When her brother died, Warley was comforted by her dear dog and has made her feel complete without seeking external affection from others. 

3. Jade F. Clark and her cats Juno and Big Marsh

As a tattoo artist in Manchester, Clark, 28, welcomed her first pet cat, Marsh, in her first year of living alone. Juno joined three months later. In her pursuit of companionship, Clark learned to make peace with her fear of cats. “But since getting my own, I can read them like a book with their quirks – they’re so intuitive,” she said. Clark had always struggled with mental health issues since her childhood. Living alone only worsened it until Juno and Marsh came into her life. “Juno and Marsh are my responsibility and help me get up in the morning – their existence is the best thing that’s ever happened to my mental health,” the tattoo artist explained. 

Speaking from her personal experience, Clark feels the dating culture has become toxic and hurtful, something she is not willing to partake in. She has found comfort in her pets’ affectionate and supportive nature. She added, “Juno is a flirt if she likes someone I’m dating, but any hesitation about their energy and she’s not interested. It’s scary how right she is.”

4. Jade Biggs and her four cats

A mom to four cats, Biggs, 31, is proud of her eccentric feline family. After her former cat passed away from cancer, she headed to a rescue centre and asked for cats nobody wanted. They pointed at an odd-looking cat family of four, which Biggs had no plans of separating. So, she adopted them all. One of her cats, Cupid, has one eye and no ears, while Collin is a needy kitten. Custard likes to lead life on his own terms but prefers snuggles. 

“I don’t need to swipe 570 times to find a cat I can build a connection with, and I don’t need to make awkward small talk with them,” the writer articulated. She weighed in on the fact that cats would never hurt her intentionally, claws aside, unlike men. Biggs would not mind getting rid of a partner if they don’t like her cats. 

5. Jack Boston and his dog Midnight

Boston, a fine art painter in Margate, was not looking to adopt a pet dog until a situation came up. His friend was not able to cope with Midnight, a Greyhound, and was ready to send him to a sanctuary. Boston was not on board and stepped in to rehome him. The 36-year-old is particularly fond of his dog’s presence. “She has her own mind, her own way of being, which annoys me sometimes, but I’d never change it. It’s very characterful, like a person, to me she feels like another human,” he said. 

As a queer person, Boston is not stoked about the modern dating scene, as it alarmingly lacks romance. He does not prefer dogs over dating but considers his pawed pal as a good companion when taking a break from actively dating. “I also love that dogs are physical and not online, which is wonderful – especially as most of my dating is online,” the painter shared.