“Pets” are the MVPs of dating these days.
In the world of online dating, pets are not just your cute best friends, they are also icebreakers, helpers to get to know each other, compatibility testers, and even post-breakup therapists.
Whether it’s connecting with a Golden Retriever lover, matching with a cat lover, or going on a cat-themed date, furry pets have become the new-age Cupids of love. From January 2025 to February 20251, Tinder bios saw a 24% increase in mentions of pets across Asia Pacific.
According to Tinder ‘s Year in Swipe 2024 report , “cats” were the most talked about pets, followed by “dogs”. 2 But interestingly, many people expressed their love for pets through messages such as “I don’t have any. But I like them very much” or “I want to have a pet”, showing that the love for animals is just as strong as for people who already have pets. In addition, mentions of “birds”, “fish”, or even “all animals” showed that being open about pets has become a true way to connect in the dating world.
Tinder’s latest campaign videos capture real-life moments of love through the eyes of modern Thai women. One such video, “Move On,” tells the story of a woman moving on after a relationship ends. Using the “turtle” left behind by her ex to symbolize slow and steady progress. It also conveys the message that people can always start over.
Every three seconds, a new relationship begins on Tinder. 3 And over 79%4 of young Thais have experienced a meaningful relationship on the สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที app. It’s clear that dating these days isn’t about looking back at the past, but about getting excited about new things that are about to happen. Don’t be surprised if the next time you’re on Tinder, a dog or cat might steal your heart first.
Pets are becoming the best conversation starters in the online dating world, especially on Tinder. Whether it’s a cool bio or a cute profile picture, these pictures make it easier to start a conversation. Just look at the bios of users in Thailand. One woman on Tinder wrote, “Humans fall in love with strange cats. Talk to them first and you’ll know they’re cute.” Another wrote, “Currently looking for friends to chat and exchange ideas with. INFJ/anime/dog lover/movie/game.” Another man wrote, “My name is Kao. I have a cat that’s good at being clingy, but I’m better at being clingy.”
It’s not just a simple message or caption, but simply adding a cute pet photo to your profile picture can instantly start a conversation. For example, “Who’s that cute dog in the picture?”, “Tell me the name of your dog and I’ll guess your personality”, or “You can like but you have to get past my cat on your first date”. Playful questions like these can help start a fun and smooth conversation.
Beyond just starting a conversation, pets can also be a surprising way to help you find matches to check your compatibility. Forget zodiac signs, sharing your favorite pet can now be a new sign, whether it’s seeing “must love dogs” on your profile or debating “are you a dog or cat lover?” Animal love often suggests compassion, responsibility, and caring, which are hallmarks of online dating. And let’s be honest, if you’re not comfortable with a pet in your bed, for many, it’s a dead end.
1 Tinder Internal Data – Mentions in Profiles of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese and Korean Users between January – February 2025
2 Thailand data from personal history, description and interests on Tinder from January 1 – October 1, 2024
The 3Online Wave Study 2024, sponsored by Match Group, was conducted by Ipsos with a sample of 18 years of age and older in accordance with the Market Research Association’s Code of Conduct.
4. Survey of 1,000 respondents aged 18-25 in Thailand in July 2024 by OnePoll on behalf of Tinder.