Today, a surprising yet revealing observation is emerging: the new generation seems to be abandoning traditional parenting in favor of pets. Between immediate affection, flexibility, and controlled costs, millennials and Generation Z are reinventing the concept of home and family ties.<\/p>\n
According to a study conducted by Total.Vet<\/a> with 400 childless American millennial women, 70% consider their pet a substitute for a child. Even more fascinating, 69% say it's easier to "raise" than a child, and 48% consider it less expensive.<\/p>\n Beyond the statistics, the testimonies reveal a deeper reality: these animals occupy a central place in their humans' lives, sometimes comparable to that of a child. Some participants organize their daily lives around their companion's needs, celebrate its birthdays, or take out specialized health insurance. The emotional bond is intense, sincere, and nurturing, offering a gentle and deliberate parenting experience, without the traditional compromises associated with raising a child.<\/p>\n The trend is also evident internationally. In South Korea, between 2019 and 2022, the number of registered dogs<\/a> skyrocketed by 44.6%, rising from 2.09 million to 3.03 million. Sales of dog food even surpassed those of infant formula. Meanwhile, the fertility rate plummeted to 0.72, and doggy daycare centers are flourishing in major cities.<\/p>\n This phenomenon has given rise to a new term: "dinkwons" ("double income, no kids, with one or more pets"), referring to dual-income couples without children who invest heavily in their pets' well-being. Society is changing, and public policies, still focused on boosting birth rates, are struggling to keep pace with this cultural shift where dogs and cats are becoming true members of the family.<\/p>\n Why such a craze for animals rather than human parenthood? The reasons are many. Young people appreciate the simplicity of life with a pet: traveling or going out remains relatively easy, costs are generally lower, and affection is immediate and unconditional. More than just a companion, the animal becomes an emotional partner, capable of fulfilling the need for attachment without imposing the constraints often associated with parenthood.<\/p>\n This choice also reflects a redefinition of social and family norms. For many, starting a family is no longer a necessary step towards fulfillment. Owning a pet allows for the creation of a strong emotional bond while preserving one's autonomy and freedom. This is what we call "chosen parenthood": a conscious and positive way of investing in a relationship, without the sacrifices that traditional parenting demands.<\/p>\n This phenomenon reflects profound changes: economic pressures, career priorities, modern loneliness, or simply the desire to live life to the fullest. Animals fill an emotional and social void while offering a gentle, rewarding, and joyful form of responsibility. They don't replace children, but they offer a viable and fulfilling alternative for people who wish to experience love and care on a daily basis, in their own way.<\/p>\n In conclusion, the rise of pets in contemporary homes is not simply a passing fad. It illustrates a cultural revolution where affection, freedom, and body positivity are taking precedence over traditional family models. The new generation is thus proving that it is possible to nurture strong and genuine bonds while maintaining a lifestyle that suits them. Between babies and furry friends, millennials and Generation Z seem to have made their choice: sometimes, the best companion can indeed be four-legged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Today, a surprising yet revealing observation is emerging: the new generation seems to be abandoning traditional parenting in...","protected":false},"author":8394,"featured_media":430952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97760],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-430951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-animaux"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Moins-de-bebes-plus-danimaux-de-compagnie-_-le-choix-de-la-nouvelle-generation-_-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Moins-de-bebes-plus-danimaux-de-compagnie-_-le-choix-de-la-nouvelle-generation-_-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Moins-de-bebes-plus-danimaux-de-compagnie-_-le-choix-de-la-nouvelle-generation-_.jpg","author":{"name":"L\u00e9a Michel","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1721220128171-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":97760,"name":"Animal life","slug":"animaux","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":97932,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Animal life section of The Body Optimist covers pets<\/strong> and wildlife with curiosity and care: cat and dog behavior, animal welfare, everyday health and safety, responsible adoption, and the insects and critters in our homes and gardens. Our articles regularly draw on advice from veterinarians and research by scientists to help you understand animals better and live alongside them in harmony.<\/p>\n Several common foods are toxic to dogs and cats, sometimes even in small amounts. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains theobromine, which their bodies struggle to eliminate. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Onions, garlic, shallots and leeks, raw or cooked, damage red blood cells. Xylitol, a sweetener found in some chewing gums and sugar-free products, is extremely dangerous for dogs. Alcohol, caffeine and cooked bones, which can splinter, are also off-limits. For cats, lilies are especially toxic, pollen included. If your pet swallows something harmful, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control service right away.<\/p>\n We see animals as sentient beings, not accessories. We talk about responsible adoption rather than impulse buying, respecting each species' needs rather than following trends, and watching wildlife from a distance, without feeding or disturbing it. Heartwarming stories have their place, alongside practical tips for life with your companion. Our articles do not replace a visit to the vet, the only professional who can make a diagnosis.<\/p>\n The right choice depends more on your time and lifestyle than on square footage. An indoor cat adapts well to apartment life if it has toys, scratching posts and high perches. A dog, whatever its size, needs to go out several times a day. Rabbits and guinea pigs are very social and do best in pairs or groups, with room to run around.<\/p>\n A healthy pet eats and drinks normally, plays, grooms itself and keeps its usual sleep and bathroom habits. Any sudden change should get your attention: loss of appetite, unusual hiding, new aggression, excessive licking, limping or trouble urinating. If you notice any of these signs, see your vet, and don't wait if you're in doubt.<\/p>\n Don't feed it or force it to drink. If you can do so safely, wearing gloves, place it in a ventilated cardboard box in a quiet, dark spot, then quickly contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or a veterinarian. A healthy baby bird that has fallen from its nest is often better left where it is: its parents usually keep feeding it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Help protect biodiversity every day with the Green<\/a> section, and create a home where people and pets live happily together with the Decor<\/a> section.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":204,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":97760,"category_count":204,"category_description":" The Animal life section of The Body Optimist covers pets<\/strong> and wildlife with curiosity and care: cat and dog behavior, animal welfare, everyday health and safety, responsible adoption, and the insects and critters in our homes and gardens. Our articles regularly draw on advice from veterinarians and research by scientists to help you understand animals better and live alongside them in harmony.<\/p>\n Several common foods are toxic to dogs and cats, sometimes even in small amounts. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains theobromine, which their bodies struggle to eliminate. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Onions, garlic, shallots and leeks, raw or cooked, damage red blood cells. Xylitol, a sweetener found in some chewing gums and sugar-free products, is extremely dangerous for dogs. Alcohol, caffeine and cooked bones, which can splinter, are also off-limits. For cats, lilies are especially toxic, pollen included. If your pet swallows something harmful, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control service right away.<\/p>\n We see animals as sentient beings, not accessories. We talk about responsible adoption rather than impulse buying, respecting each species' needs rather than following trends, and watching wildlife from a distance, without feeding or disturbing it. Heartwarming stories have their place, alongside practical tips for life with your companion. Our articles do not replace a visit to the vet, the only professional who can make a diagnosis.<\/p>\n The right choice depends more on your time and lifestyle than on square footage. An indoor cat adapts well to apartment life if it has toys, scratching posts and high perches. A dog, whatever its size, needs to go out several times a day. Rabbits and guinea pigs are very social and do best in pairs or groups, with room to run around.<\/p>\n A healthy pet eats and drinks normally, plays, grooms itself and keeps its usual sleep and bathroom habits. Any sudden change should get your attention: loss of appetite, unusual hiding, new aggression, excessive licking, limping or trouble urinating. If you notice any of these signs, see your vet, and don't wait if you're in doubt.<\/p>\n Don't feed it or force it to drink. If you can do so safely, wearing gloves, place it in a ventilated cardboard box in a quiet, dark spot, then quickly contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or a veterinarian. A healthy baby bird that has fallen from its nest is often better left where it is: its parents usually keep feeding it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Help protect biodiversity every day with the Green<\/a> section, and create a home where people and pets live happily together with the Decor<\/a> section.<\/p>","cat_name":"Animal life","category_nicename":"animaux","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=430951"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":431016,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430951\/revisions\/431016"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=430951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=430951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=430951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} South Korea: a striking example<\/h2>\n
Flexibility, affection, and autonomy: why this choice is appealing<\/h2>\n
A lasting and revealing trend<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Animal life section<\/h2>\n
\n
Which everyday foods are dangerous for dogs and cats?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
What's the best pet for apartment living?<\/h3>\n
How can you tell if your cat or dog is healthy?<\/h3>\n
What should you do if you find an injured wild animal?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Animal life section<\/h2>\n
\n
Which everyday foods are dangerous for dogs and cats?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
What's the best pet for apartment living?<\/h3>\n
How can you tell if your cat or dog is healthy?<\/h3>\n
What should you do if you find an injured wild animal?<\/h3>\n