SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE OF PET GUARDIANS AND MOTIVATING FACTORS IN THE PURCHASE OF PET FOOD

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the socioeconomic profile of guardians of dogs and cats and correlate it with the decisive factors for purchasing commercial pet food. The socioeconomic profile of the guardians was defined based on anonymous questionnaires created using the Survey App, which is specific for the elaboration of virtual questionnaires, with questions about socioeconomic conditions, animals, and food. The survey link was shared by guardians who live in the city of Teresina, Piauí, totaling 103 responses. It was found that 78% of the guardians have no children and 80% of them are women between the ages of 20 and 30 years old, with a monthly wage of up to five salaries. After analyzing the responses, we identified that the following factors are decisive in the pet food purchase: preference or acceptability by the animal (29%); price (19%); feed ingredients (11%); nutritional quality (17%). Such results highlight the concern of guardians with food quality and expenses with nutritionally adequate diets, especially those well accepted by pets. This survey also showed that 66% of the respondents give natural food to their pets and 55% of them reported pet satisfaction with natural food. These findings indicate a predisposition of pet guardians to buy natural food, with good acceptance by the animals and at affordable prices. The socioeconomic profile of guardians of dogs and cats in Teresina is characterized by young middle-class women who are aware of the importance of nutrition and seek affordable products for pet health maintenance and well-being purposes.