AP-Petside Poll: Dogs and Cats are Popular Houseguests

Pet owners nationwide were asked about their pet's travel habits, and among those who've taken a vacation in the past two years, 23 percent have brought their cuddly companion along at least once.

(See our pet travel checklist)

If you've got a pet-loving friend or relative, it's time to take the air mattress and the pet bed out of storage! A large majority (70%) of those pet vacationers say they've stayed with relatives while 55 percent stayed with friends.

"My pups are my children and attend all family dinners," says Petside Facebook fan Chris Simmons Morgan. "My relatives have grown accustomed to this fact. It's all of us, or none of us!"

Fifty-two percent of pet vacationers stayed in a hotel while just four in 10 have brought a pet to a campsite, and 34 percent brought a pet on an RV trip.

And whether those who've traveled with a pet brought their dog (31%) or cat (19%), most say the experience was more enjoyable (76%) than stressful (22%).

"I take my Shar Pei, Samson, to my mom's and my mom and dad just love him," says Petside Facebook fan, Mary Margaret Alvarado-Klajda.

Looks like this pet houseguest trend is likely to continue.

Among all pet owners, 23 percent are "extremely" or "very" likely to bring their pet along on a future vacation, but half say they they'll refrain. The latter group includes mostly those who haven't traveled with a pet recently.

For those who've taken their pet on vacation in the past two years, bringing their companion on the road is the only way to travel: 49 percent are "extremely" likely to do it again, and another 30 percent are "very" likely.

(See our pet car safety video)

Out of those whose pets will remain homebodies, 74 percent are cat-owners, 55 percent are seniors and 51 percent are home-owners.

Conversely, renters are among the most likely to bring a pet along in the future (20% are "extremely likely"), along with pet owners without human kids (16%) and dog owners (18%).

Want to learn more about welcoming pets into the family? Check out the Pet 'Net Family Event!