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)
