Shopping too often and spending too much? Your furry friends could be to blame.
For those who own cats or dogs are more impulsive when it comes to retail therapy because of the 'emotional support' they get from their pets, research suggests.
Cats were found to be the most supportive, with their owners the biggest spenders.
Japanese researchers looked at the effects of pet ownership on ‘impulsive purchasing' – the sudden, unplanned urge to buy immediately.
They also looked at the link with ‘hedonistic spending' – defined as buying items associated with fun, pleasure and fantasy.
For those who own cats or dogs are more impulsive when it comes to retail therapy because of the 'emotional support' they get from their pets, research suggests (Stock image)
Cats were found to be the most supportive, with their owners the biggest spenders (Stock image)
The study, from Kansai University, found that cat owners are a third more likely to shop online every day and twice as likely to buy clothes.
Researchers wrote in the Journal of Business Research: ‘When consumers have a high level of wellbeing, they are inclined to impulsively purchase and spend more on hedonistic products, thereby maintaining their satisfaction.'
They added that interactions with cats give more 'emotional support' than the physical activity of a dog – hence why cat lovers shop more.
