The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
The Times Lifestyle

.

Dogs have more pedigree, but cats prove healthier

What makes a better pet, a dog or cat? The debate is as old as time. 

When it comes to domestic pets it seems Australians are quite particular about their preferred breed of dog but will pretty much love any type of cat.

Pet insurance provider Budget Direct has released data revealing that the top five most popular dogs in Australia in 2023 are all pedigree breeds, whilst four of the most popular cat varieties are of mixed parentage.

Cavoodles, Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Maltese Crosses are our five most popular dogs and are all pedigree breeds, whilst the Domestic Short Hair cat, Domestic Medium Hair cat, the Tabby and the Domestic Long Hair cat are amongst the top 5 most popular cats with the Ragdoll being the only pedigree cat breed to make the list.

Budget Direct’s Chief Growth Officer, Jonathan Kerr, said that despite mostly not being pedigree, cats are proving to be the healthiest.

“Data from over 14,000 entries into our BudPet quiz has ranked cats healthier and having better diets,” he said.

Brisbane based Jill Shaw-Feather agrees with the data.  

Jill and her family have two pets that cohabit—a ginger tom and half ragdoll cat named India, aged 17, and a black labrador dog called Marley, aged 12 who joined the family in 2012.  

Jill says her family weren’t fussed about India’s breed, but her two young sons at the time wanted a Labrador.    

"We have always given them both good quality food and prioritised exercise. I think the main difference is our dog will get more medical attention—we take Marley to the vet for check-ups much more than India,” Jill said. 

"It's kind of surprising that the cat is just as healthy as the pedigree dog even though she hasn't been to the vet in a year. Perhaps it says something about compromised health regarding pedigree vs mixed breeds."

Budget Direct’s data collated the enquiry responses to rank each pet on a range of areas.

When it came to diet almost 19% of the 3,683 cats received a perfect score with the right amount of wet and dry food and combination of preferred food type including quality bought food and home cooked meals. Dogs were slightly behind the cats with 16% of 10,474 dogs obtaining a perfect score.

When it came to their health cats again outscored the dogs with just under 45 per cent of cats obtaining a perfect score beating the dogs of which 43.7 per cent recorded a perfect score.

Mr Kerr said the health score reflected a number of things including the animal’s heritage, vaccinations, grooming and veterinary checkups.

“One area where neither pet scored as well as we hoped was in their physical habits including how often they were walked, how much social time they had with other cats or dogs and how much time they spent inside and outside the house,” he said.

When it came to habits only 2.6 per cent of cats obtained a perfect score and just 0.3 per cent of dogs.

“What the data is telling us is that you can’t expect an animal to be healthier because it is a pedigree. All animals need the right balance of quality diet, medical maintenance and physical exercise.”

And as for what makes the best pet – dog or cat? The debate continues.

Times Lifestyle

Home Gym Recovery Routines: What Pro Athletes Do After Workouts

Training is only half the equation. What you do after your workout has just as much impact on your progress, performance, and long-term health. Professional athletes know this, which is why they treat recovery as a structured, non-negotiable part o...

What Is the Dreamtime? Understanding Aboriginal Creation Stories Through Art

Aboriginal culture is built on the deep and important meaning of Dreamtime, which links beliefs and history with the elements that make life. It’s not just myths; the Dreamtime includes the period when the world was created, lasting spiritual relat...

Why School Breaks Are the Perfect Time to Build Real Game Skills

School holidays provide uninterrupted time to focus on individual skill development Players often return sharper and more confident after structured break-time training Holiday sessions offer depth and variety that term programs can’t always de...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the sounds of nature. But while going off-grid brings a refreshing sense ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early years students build strong literacy and numeracy foundations for lifelong...

How Smart Home Integration is Enhancing SIL Accommodation in 2025

(Source) The concept of "home" is intensely personal, a sanctuary where we experience security, comfort, and a sense of being in control. For people living with disability, accomplishing absolute independence within their domestic environment has ...

Mirvac Harbourside

Times Magazine

YepAI Joins Victoria's AI Trade Mission to Singapore for Big Data & AI World Asia 2025

YepAI, a Melbourne-based leader in enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, announced today...

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an onli...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beau...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data anal...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right c...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in t...

The Times Features

Increase your holdings and hold your increases from a wisely diverse investment portfolio.

What comes to your mind when I ask about which investments are most important to you? I imagine we w...

Canberra Just Got a Glow Up: Inside Kingpin’s Dazzling New Attractions

Canberra’s entertainment scene just levelled up. Kingpin entertainment, Australia’s home of immers...

The Capsule CEO: Ashley Raso’s Reinvention from Property Developer to Fashion Founder

From property developer to creative founder, Raso positions Capsule WD as the wardrobe system resh...

Yellow Canary partners with global payroll audit leader Celery to bring pre-payroll review technology to Australia

Payroll compliance is becoming tougher for Australian employers. Underpayment cases continue to do...

Noticing These 5 Issues? Contact an Emergency Plumber Now

The invisible arteries running through homes, plumbing systems, streamline daily life discreetly...

The Perfect Champagne Day Pairing: Luke Nguyen’s Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef Skewers

Celebrate Champagne Day on October 24th with this delicious recipe and elegant pairing from Luke Ngu...

Bribing kids to eat vegetables might backfire. Here’s what to do instead

It’s a tactic many parents know well: “eat two bites of broccoli, and then you can have desser...

Common Wall Mounting Challenges and How Professionals Solve Them

It is not always as easy as it seems to mount artwork, shelves, or TVs, since some difficulties are ...

Understanding Centrelink Investment Property Valuation: A Guide for Australian Property Owners

Introduction Owning an investment property in Australia can bring financial stability — but it al...