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Table 3 Type of pet ownership in older adult pet owners, by age and gender (weighted)

From: Human-animal interaction as a social determinant of health: descriptive findings from the health and retirement study

 

50–69 years old

70–84 years old

85 + years old

Male (%)

Female (%)

Male (%)

Female (%)

Male (%)

Female (%)

All Pet Owners

41.9%

58.1%

37.9%

62.1%

22.3%

77.7%

Dogs

71.8%1

68.2%2

67.2%1

64.2%2

75.9%1

44.8%2

Cats

38.1%3

49.6%4

48.1%3

50.2%4

0.0%3

46.5%4

Birds

7.6%

3.7%

7.1%

3.8%

24.1%

0.0%

Fish

10.2%

4.7%

2.2%

3.4%

0.0%

8.8%

Small Mammals

1.6%

1.0%

0.0%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

Reptiles

0.3%

1.2%

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

  1. 1Comparison within males; ns, p = 0.78
  2. 2Comparison within females; ns, p = 0.21
  3. 3Comparison within males; p < .001
  4. 4Comparison within females; ns, p = 0.97