Americans are Expected to Spend $886 Million on Pets on Valentine's Day

Valentine's day is no longer just for lovers, but now it's also for pets.U.S. consumers are expected to spend $886 million on pet valentine's day gifts this year, up from $519 million in 2008, according to the National Retail Federation.

U.S. consumers are expected to spend $20.7 billion this year, according to the NRF, even though only 51 percent of respondents said they would celebrate valentine's day.Per capita spending is expected to be $161.96, up 13 percent from $143.56 last year, as more people consider their friends, family and pets when buying gifts.  

Katherine Cullen, NRF's director of industry and consumer insights, said in an interview: "the definition of how people celebrate valentine's day has broadened a lot, with people not only buying gifts for their significant others, but also for their co-workers and pets.Take my sister-in-law for example, her pet dog received a lot of gifts because of this.

About 20 percent of americans give valentine's day gifts to their pets, according to the NRF.Us pet e-commerce platform Rover.com added that 47 percent of pet parents plan to hold a full valentine's day celebration for their pets this year, such as buying them new clothes or making a special dessert.A third said they planned to spend the weekend with their dog, while a further third said they regularly took their dog out on dates.

In fact, 47 percent of those surveyed by Rover.com admitted to hugging their dog more often than their partner, and 67 percent said they often "look into their dog's eyes."A 2018 survey by pet food brand Just Right by Purina also found that half of women who own a dog said they would rather spend time with their dog than with their partner or family.Cat owners, on the other hand, spend three-and-a-half hours a week chatting with their cats and more than nine hours cuddling, according to a survey conducted last fall.

More than half of American families have pets, and many have lost count of the number of scratches they get.Another report from Rover.com in 2018 found that while people think it costs $26 to $75 a month to own a dog, they actually spend an average of $153 a month on it, or $1,836 a year.A 2017 survey by the institute of international certified public accountants also found that dog owners spend an average of $1,560 on their pets.In addition, millennials spend $1,285 a year on their dogs and $915 on cats, according to a 2018 report from online economics firm TD Ameritrade.

People don't just nurse and feed their pets.The Rover.com Cost of Dog Ownership Survey also found that one in four parents have bought their pet a massage, 45 percent take their Dog out for a birthday meal and one third spend more than $250 on a special gift for their pet.