SINGLE men who own cats - dubbed "Cat-chelors" - reckon it takes the pressure off having to find a partner, according to new research.

A study into the rise of moggie-owning male singletons revealed one in four thinks their pet has taken the pressure off being single, as they are good company in lieu of a partner.

2 One third of surveyed men say getting a cat was the best thing they'd ever done Credit: Getty - Contributor

Another 29 per cent like having their cat around as they are "good to talk to", and half believe their pet helps "keep them calm."

One in 10 even went as far to say their cat offered "counsel" through an emotional break-up.

Jonny Gould, CEO for pet wellbeing firm Itchpet.com which commissioned the study, said: “The news comes as a blow for man’s best friend, with a quarter of single men going as far as to say cats are on their way to usurping dogs from their throne.

“Our feline friends can often come up against a bit of stick for being independent and aloof, so it’s great to shine a compassionate light on how the nation’s cats are taking care of us.

“Cats can offer great emotional support, so it’s only fair that we take care of them in return."

The study also found that, worse still for dogs, more than one third of the single men polled who own a cat said purchasing one was the best thing they had ever done.

One in four think their furry partner helps them to come across as a more loving person, and one in six believe their cat has helped them get more dates.

It also emerged the feline effect can sometimes pose challenges with one in five cat- owning single men having to cut a date short when it became clear their potential partner wasn’t a moggy-lover.



EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

More than a third of single cat owners are also put off by the nitty-gritty aspects of cat ownership, like emptying the litter tray and giving flea and worming treatments.

Despite the squeamishness, nine in 10 believe their cat has a good quality of life living with them, and 76 per cent take their cat to the vets at least once a year for a check-up.

Confirmed cat-chelor and journalist Basil Kronfli, 34, of London said: "We've always been told that dogs are man's best friend.

"But I reckon cats make way better companions for single professionals, especially if you have to travel with work like I do.

"Jasper and Max do their business outside, don't need daily walks, and we operate on a need-to-stroke basis, when they need strokes or scratches, I drop everything and deliver.

"The rest of the time, they're busy catting like pros and I can crack on with work or play – purrrfection."

Gould added: "For millennia, cats have been revered as everything from divine beings and supernatural sprites to internet sensations.

"As well as reigning the internet, our study has uncovered yet another string to our feline’s bow – emotional and friendly support for the single men of Britain.

''From our research, it’s great to see that so many of our cat-chelors are taking their pets to the vet regularly, however only 23 per cent are flea-ing every month, leaving our furry pals at risk.

"Fleas are a nightmare for our pets. The Itch flea monthly subscription pack makes it really easy to protect your pet so you never forget a treatment ever again."

The study also polled the views of cat-free single men to see how they view their moggy-male counterparts.

One in five single men believe owning a cat would have a positive impact on their romantic lives.

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Three in 10 think potential dates believe men who have a soft spot for animals are more attractive.

And one in five single men believes would-be partners perceive men who own a cat as more caring and compassionate.

2 Cats supposedly offer emotional and friendly support to single British men Credit: Getty - Contributor

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