How many people who have "fur babies" and not children would have had children if they DIDN'T have pets?

(Serious question, not rhetorical.)

Financial insecurity, cultivated (and socially-expected) neuroticism and simple lack of familiarity play roles in childlessness. Is there an independent influence of pet ownership, or is it merely a mediating variable?


Personally, I found pet ownership to be an "easy-mode" intro to family responsibilities.

Me (in my 20s, Sunday morning): "Aww man, its so bright! Was out 'till 4am, going to cover my face and sleep some more..."

Guineapigs: "Squeak!"

Me: "Oh no..."

Guineapigs: "Squeak! Squeak!" ("Breakfast! Breakfast!")

Me: "Please, girls, let me sleep in a couple of hours..."

Guineapigs: "Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!"


I notice friends who never had pets and went straight into parenthood get very frustrated with this sort of thing. Anecdotes are not data, of course.

Does anyone know of any studies relevant to this? nostr:nprofile1qqs06gywary09qmcp2249ztwfq3ue8wxhl2yyp3c39thzp55plvj0sgprdmhxue69uhhg6r9vehhyetnwshxummnw3erztnrdakj7qguwaehxw309a6xsetrd96xzer9dshxummnw3erztnrdakj7qgmwaehxw309amksetpwshxsctswpuhgctkv4exutnrduhsw0qlr4 ?