MANY image-obsessed Gen Z adults will only adopt a cat if it matches their furniture and looks snazzy on social media, a poll found.
Half of 18 to 27-year-olds said the colour of a potential puss was the most important factor in deciding whether to take one on.
A quarter of pet-owning youngsters have a social media account dedicated to their furry friends and a fifth admitted that the animals have more followers than them.
Two in ten would only consider a cat that matched the colour scheme of their home and would reject ugly moggies that do not photograph well.
Despite being labelled the superstitious generation, with a recent study finding half of Gen Z use tarot cards, a third, 32%, would be willing to adopt a witchy black cat.
A third said they would only take in a rescue cat if it looked good in pictures for social media.
Almost two in ten will only adopt a poor puss if its colour suits the name they have already chosen.
Scruffy old moggies are also less than popular, with over half saying they would rather get a kitten than adopt a rescue cat.
The research by Burns Pet Nutrition, to mark international cat rescue day, also found that Gen Zs are keener on white or blue/grey tabbies — which are also common sofa colours.
Laura Crotch-Harvey, from the firm, said: “While you may fall in love with a rescue moggy for many reasons, the most important consideration before adopting any animal is whether you have the time, space and finances to give it the loving home it needs.”
