About 30% of Cats Make an 'End of the World' Expression!? Bathing Habits of Dogs and Cats: A Survey by Pet Medical Support, Inc. (PS Insurance)

Pet Medical Support, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihito Yomimitsu), provider of the pet insurance 'PS Insurance,' recently conducted a survey of 1,707 dog and cat owners across Japan regarding the bathing habits of their pets. We are pleased to present the detailed results.

[Survey Overview] Period: April 21, 2026 (1 day) Participants: 1,707 dog and cat owners nationwide Age: 20-69 Method: Internet research Valid responses: 385 (22.6% response rate; 189 dog owners, 196 cat owners).

[Survey Results] For dogs, 'about once a month' (33.3%) was the most common frequency, with 79.9% bathing at least once a month. In contrast, for cats, 'almost never' (42.9%) was the most common, with 54.6% bathing once every six months or less. While 'at home' is the most common bathing location for both, cats show a higher preference for home bathing than dogs.

Regarding difficulties, dog owners cited 'drying the fur' (52.2%), while cat owners overwhelmingly cited 'pet dislikes it/struggles' (68.3%). During the bath, cats were 29.6 percentage points more likely to 'meow/cry' than dogs. Notably, 30.2% of cat owners reported their cats make an 'end of the world' expression.

In conclusion, bathing is a daily task requiring both love and physical effort. Pet Medical Support offers 'PS Insurance' to help owners prepare for the unexpected, including a 24/7 'Veterinarian Dial' service.