Cat Owners Include Pets in Vacation Plans

Many travelers enjoy spending vacation time with their cats.

The cost of fuel has resulted in a change of vacation plans for some pet owners, according to a new survey about traveling with pets.

More than 1,600 travelers participated in the poll. Among pet owners, 61 percent said they have traveled with a pet and 17 percent said the top reason they travel with their animals is because they enjoy spending vacation time with them.

Sixty-five percent of respondents own a cat or dog. Highlights of the survey include:

• Animals in flight: Pets aboard planes are sometimes “annoying,” according to 47 percent of respondents, who cited concerns about allergies and loud pets.
  
  
• Whisker withdrawal: To limit the time away from their pets, 32 percent of people take shorter vacations and 21 percent take fewer trips.
  
  
• Pets and petrol: Travelers may be less likely to see a cat or dog in the car, as 20 percent of pet owners said they are less likely to travel with their pets this summer because of high gas prices.

“For many people, a pet is a member of the family and leaving them home is not an option,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor, a travel community that conducted the survey. “It’s clear there is a demand for pet-friendly accommodations, look for more and more hotels to add pet amenities.”

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