Funny animal videos are as embedded in U.S. pop culture as the latest Top 40 songs and the most talked about, binge-worthy shows on streaming platforms. They’ve entertained us on sites like YouTube and TikTok for years, with no signs of going away anytime soon.
In the Spring of 2020, many turned to funny animal videos, perhaps as a way to find comfort or to cope. When pandemic-related social distancing mandates were first coming into effect, YouTube searches for animal videos started to see a significant increase, continuing to rise as the year progressed.
Even though social isolation has come and gone, animal videos are still a staple of online life and most likely always will be. But where in the U.S. are YouTube searches for funny animal videos the most popular? In this report, we analyzed the data to find out.
State Rankings: Where Are YouTube Searches for Funny Animal Videos the Most Popular? The Methodology
To determine where in the U.S. YouTube searches for funny animal videos are the most popular, we developed a specific methodology.
First, we used the digital marketing tool Ahrefs to determine which animal-related search terms are the most popular on YouTube within the United States.
Cats take the lead in this regard. There are 210,000 searches for ‘cats’ in a given month on YouTube. ‘Funny cat videos’ comes in second with 140,000 searches a month.
Here are some of the other animal-related search terms that are popular on YouTube, along with the number of searches they see per month:
Cats: 210,000
Funny Cat Videos: 140,000
Animals: 107,000
Cat Videos: 87,000
Funny Animal Videos: 83,000
Dogs: 64,000
Puppies: 57,000
Kittens: 51,000
Funny Dog Videos: 42,000
Armed with this data, we then used Google Trends to find where in the United States some of these YouTube search terms are the most popular.
We specifically focused on the following terms:
Funny Animal Videos
Funny Cat Videos
Funny Dog Videos
Continue reading to discover what states clock in the most searches for each term.
State Rankings: Where Are YouTube Searches for Funny Animal Videos the Most Popular? The Results
Using Google Trends, with a focus on YouTube searches in particular, we analyzed data from the past 12 months to determine in which states our chosen search terms (funny animal videos, funny cat videos, funny dog videos) are most popular.
Here are the results for each search term:
Funny Animal Videos:
1. Montana
2. Idaho
3. West Virginia
4. Maine
5. Utah
6. Iowa
7. Kentucky
8. Arkansas
10. Nebraska
Funny Cat Videos:
1. Montana
2. West Virginia
3. Maine
4. Vermont
5. North Dakota
6. South Dakota
7. Idaho
8. Iowa
9. Wyoming
10. Kentucky
Funny Dog Videos:
1. West Virginia
2. Idaho
3. Maine
4. Kentucky
5. Missouri
6. Utah
7. Kansas
8. Oklahoma
9. South Carolina
10. Arizona
Idaho, West Virginia, Maine, and Kentucky are the only states to make all three lists. YouTube searches for funny animal videos, funny cat videos, and funny dog videos are all extremely popular in these states.
In our aim to better understand why many of the states on our list ranked so highly, we came across an interesting study published by WalletHub in June 2022. WalletHub analyzed all 50 states to determine which states provided the greatest level of entertaining activities across several key indicators within the entertainment and nightlife categories (e.g. number of restaurants, performing art centers, movie theaters, golf clubs, amusem*nt parks, etc.). It’s worth nothing that several of the states on our lists can also be found in the bottom half of WalletHub’s ranking. Could a lack of accessible outside-the-home entertainment be driving people in certain states to instead seek entertainment online instead?
Many of the states in our ranking are also Midwest/Great Plains/Rocky Mountain states, where agriculture and wildlife are more front-and-center than they would be in cities and suburbs. Could animal videos simply be a familiar comfort for residents of these states?
Why Do We Love Funny Animal Videos So Much?
If you’ve ever watched a funny animal video that made you smile, laugh, or simply feel lighter afterward, then you’ve experienced firsthand the benefits of consuming animal-related online media–benefits that are backed by scientific studies.
According to a study published in 2015, participants in a survey of nearly 7,000 Internet users said they felt more energetic and more positive after watching cat-related online media and reported fewer negative emotions like anxiety and sadness afterward as well.
Another study, this one conducted by Leeds University in England, in partnership with Western Australia Tourism, found that watching videos of cute animals had a positive effect on participants’ heart rate and blood pressure, lowering both to a level indicative of limited stress where previously participants’ levels had been mildly elevated. Commenting on the study, Dr. Andrea Utley from Leeds concluded that “as with other research, it would appear that animals are able to reduce stress and anxiety in humans.”
So the next time you think enjoying funny animal videos in the form of surly cat, a dramatic husky, or an adorable litter of puppies might be a waste of your time…think again! The science shows otherwise, and the dopamine hits from consuming so much cuteness may just offer the boost you need to get through your day.
Latest Articles
-
New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Dog
By Special Reports Team, Updated October 10, 2023
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
Veterinarian Salary: States Where Salaries Have Increased (and Decreased) the Most
By Special Reports Team, Updated September 15, 2023
Special Reports Team
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
The Best Dog Friendly Companies to Work For
By Special Reports Team, Updated September 15, 2023
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
How to Get Sap out of Dog Fur
By Special Reports Team, Updated January 16, 2024
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
Cat Lady: Stereotypes Debunked + Which Iconic Cat Person Are You?
By Special Reports Team, Updated January 16, 2024
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
Hurricane Preparedness for Pet Owners
By Special Reports Team, Updated September 15, 2023
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
How Hot is Too Hot for Dogs
By Special Reports Team, Updated January 22, 2024
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
Online Vet: The Rise of Telehealth During COVID-19…Even for Pets
By Special Reports Team, Updated September 15, 2023
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
5 Signs of Jealousy in Dogs
By Special Reports Team, Updated January 29, 2024
Special Reports Team
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 5 months ago
-
Thanksgiving Food Safety for Dogs
By Special Reports Team, Updated November 15, 2023
Special Reports Team, Author
The Veterinarians.org Newsroom is at the foreground of breaking news and trending stories in the animal wellness and pet space. Our special reports have been featured on media outlets like Time, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Telegraph, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and more.
Lean about our Editorial Guideline
By Special Reports Team 3 months ago
