National Pet Day: The nations favourite fictional pet revealed

As the nation cuddles up to their cats, dogs, hamsters and beyond this National Pet Day (April 11), a new study from The Works has found the most popular fictional animals we turn to for joy and comfort. And it turns out, we all have a similar idea to Christopher Robin, as Winnie the Pooh claims the top spot.

Analysing UK search data, the character who was first introduced to us just over 100 years ago by A.A. Milne generates more Google searches than any other fictional pet or companion from children’s books, comics, TV and film and video games. The bear, however, also shares the top spot with Pikachu, the lovable pet of Ash Ketchum and, of course, ourselves in the Pokemon game franchise.

Totalling around 74,000 searches per month in the country, Pikachu is the only fictional companion to make the top 10 that has been introduced to us post-1970, although the Japanese character is still almost 30 years old.

Scooby-Doo, who is celebrating his 56th birthday this year, is the third most popular fictional pet with around 60,500 searches per month, while Garfield joins Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear in joint fourth.

The latter two are particularly iconic in Britain, with Peter Rabbit inspired by Beatrix Potter’s own pet rabbit and the tales long living in our memory. In fact, a study by The Works has shown that The Tale of Peter Rabbit, alongside Winnie the Pooh, is one of the first books many adults remember reading.

The top 10 best loved fictional pets and companions are:

Rank

Fictional Pet/Companion

First appearance

1

Winnie the Pooh

1924 (When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne (as Edward Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh released two years later)

2

Pikachu

1996 (Pokemon Red and Blue)

3

Scooby-Doo

1969 (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! TV series)

4

Garfield

1978 (Garfield comic strip by Jim Davis)

5

Peter Rabbit

1902 (The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter)

6

Paddington Bear

1958 (A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond)

7

Curious George

1939 (Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys by Hans Augusto Rey, Margret Reg and Alan J. Shalleck)

8

Stuart Little

1945 (Stuart Little by E.B. White)

9

Snoopy

1950 (Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz)

10

Lady

1955 (Lady and the Tramp, Walt Disney movie)