Pets, Pests, and Profit Animals: What Science Says About How We Really Feel About Our Furry (and Not-So-Furry) Friends
Ever notice how your dog gets VIP treatment… but a mouse in your kitchen gets the boot?
Turns out, science has a name for that—and it’s got big implications for how we care for animals.
A new study of veterinary students in the Netherlands uncovers a fascinating truth: we don’t feel the same way about all animals—and that difference can change how they’re treated.
The Pet Premium: Why Fluffy Always Wins
Researchers found that students showed the highest empathy for pets, followed by pests, with profit animals (like farm or research animals) in last place.
- Pet Score: 90%
- Pest Score: 76%
- Profit Score: 64%
Translation: Dogs and cats get all the cuddles, mice get mixed feelings, and cows, pigs, and lab animals often get the short end of the empathy stick.
The Surprising Second Place: Pests 🐀
Wait—pests outrank farm animals in empathy? Yup. Even though they raid your pantry, pests got more sympathy than animals raised for food or research. Why? The study suggests many “pests” are also wildlife, and some students see them as part of nature rather than just a nuisance.
Why It Matters: Empathy = Better Care
When empathy is low, animal welfare can suffer. Students aiming for large animal practice had significantly lower scores—especially for profit animals—compared to those going into small animal, equine, or wildlife care. That could mean less advocacy for animals already facing fewer legal protections.
Diet & Background Play a Big Role 🍃
- Plant-based or vegetarian students scored way higher on empathy for pests and profit animals.
- Students from urban or town backgrounds showed more empathy than those from rural areas.
- And yes—female students scored higher than males across the board.
What Pet Owners Can Learn
Even though this study looked at future vets, the takeaway is universal:
We all have animal empathy “blind spots.”
If we want to truly champion animal welfare, we need to extend our compassion beyond the ones we share our couches with.
Quick Tips to Level Up Your Animal Empathy
- Learn About All Species – Watch a documentary on farm animals or urban wildlife.
- Rethink “Pests” – Many play important roles in ecosystems.
- Support Ethical Practices – Choose pet food, meat, or dairy from welfare-certified sources.
- Teach Kids Early – Help them see all animals as sentient beings, not just the “cute” ones.
Tell us in the comments:
Would you treat a cow with the same compassion as your cat? Why or why not?
