From couch cuddles to keeping pets strictly off the furniture, Americans are divided on one common household rule: should pets be allowed on the furniture? According to an ongoing CivicScience poll running since 2017, with nearly 10K responses, 53% of U.S. adults say pets should be allowed on furniture, while 33% oppose it. Another 14% say they have no strong opinion.

Opinions vary across demographic groups. Gen Z and Gen X adults are the most likely to say pets should be allowed on the furniture, as are women, those living in suburban and rural areas, and residents of the Northeast.

But demographics aren’t the only thing separating those who welcome pets onto the furniture from those who don’t. CivicScience data reveal distinct differences in how these groups interact with their pets (among pet owners):

• Talking to Pets: Among pet owners, those who support pets on furniture are more likely to say they talk to their pets all the time—over 90% report doing so, compared to 78% of those who are against it.
• Sharing Food: About 7 in 10 of those who allow pets on furniture say they give their pets table scraps, compared to 5 in 10 among those who don’t allow pets on furniture.
• Who’s in Charge?: The relationship dynamic differs significantly. Half of those who allow pets on furniture say their pet “owns them,” compared to just 16% of those who are against it. Meanwhile, 50% of those who don’t allow pets on furniture say they “own their pet,” versus just 12% among those who do.
• “Gotcha Day” Celebrations: Those who allow pets on furniture are also far more likely to celebrate their pet’s “gotcha day.” Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) say they usually celebrate it, compared to just 3% of those who are against pets on the furniture.

For some, the couch comes with fur—and they wouldn’t have it any other way. For others, it’s strictly off-limits. Either way, when it comes to pets and furniture, it’s less about the rules and more about how much space we’re willing to share.

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.