I have friends who say their cats are like dogs. I have other friends who refer to their dog as their “dogter,” and truly, being a dog in that family is what you want to come back as in your next life. Ben, who is my video producer, says his dog is like his child.

Cats and dogs are a part of many families, and in many cases, we feel more strongly about our pets than we do about our parents, children, siblings and other relatives.

So it should come as no surprise that people change the way they live in their homes to accommodate their pets.

This new Expert Real Estate Tips video is based on a new survey from Houzz that asked pet owners what sort of pet-related upgrades they made to their homes, and how much they spent on them.