Art of 'pet fishing' sees online daters reel in matches with cute animal pics

Apparently, adding pets to your online dating profile can increase the chances of a match. But this ruse has its limits. Photo: AFP

To boost their chances of success on dating apps, some people don’t hesitate to pose with their pets. So don’t be surprised if you come across users snapped with their adorable kitten or their favourite hamster, as “pet fishing” is a way of helping them score matches. And while the trend is becoming more and more widespread, all is not always what it seems.

The notion of “pet fishing” on dating sites can be traced back a few years. According to a survey conducted in 2019 by the British dating app Match.com, 72% of women, for example, believe that the dog is “the hottest pet a man could own”. News that obviously gave some users ideas.