Maine ranks second for cat ownership nationwide

[jpak]

http://cultureshock.bangordailynews.com/2013/01/15/odds-n-sods/maine-ranks-second-for-cat-ownership-nationwide/

The cat’s out of the bag. According to a study released this week by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Maine has the second highest number of cat owners in the country. More than 46 percent of households in Maine have a cat; only Vermont beat out Maine, with 49.5 percent of households having a cat. Generally speaking, Northern New England can haz kitteh.

Interestingly, the results were flip-flopped from the same survey taken five years ago; back then, Maine ranked No. 1, with 56.4, followed by Vermont. The Top 10 pet-owning states overall are Vermont where 70.8 percent of households owned a pet, New Mexico with 67.6 percent, South Dakota with 65.6 percent, Oregon with 63.6 percent, Maine with 62.9 percent, Washington with 62.7 percent, Arkansas with 62.4 percent, West Virginia with 62.1 percent, Idaho with 62 percent, and Wyoming with 61.8 percent. The lowest pet-owning states include Massachusetts, with 50.3 households owning a pet, followed by New York with 50.6 percent and New Jersey with 50.7.


Stan the Cat, being a very naughty kitty at the home of Emily Burnham, the writer of this story.

For cats specifically, the Top 10 states with the most cat-owning households are Vermont, where 49.5 percent owned a cat, followed by Maine with 46.4 percent, Oregon with 40.2 percent, South Dakota with 39.1 percent, Washington with 39 percent, West Virginia with 38.1 percent, Kentucky with 36.8 percent, Idaho with 34.6 percent, Indiana with 34.4 percent, and New Hampshire with 34.2 percent. The top dog-owning state is Arkansas, with 47.9 percent, and the lowest dog-owning state is Massachusetts, with 23.6 percent.

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[840high]

1. Interesting.

[LisaLynne]

2. That is really interesting.

Maybe people have more space in those states so they feel they have the room for pets? I'll admit I am contributing to Indiana being near the top of the cat list ...

[NV Whino]

3. Only because CA recognizes that you can never really own a cat.

[KamaAina]

4. Maine would probably take the title

if you factored in the size of the cats.

Those Maine Coons grow BIG!!

[mainer]

5. We have them for mouse control?

Up here in Maine, we're plagued with mice moving into our walls come November. I've heard that just having a cat in the house can keep the mice out. Not that I know personally, because to my great sadness, I'm unable to own a kitty. Allergic spouse.