Oct 01, 2020

Updated:  February 2022

Pets have taken over our lives and our hearts. Since the rise of technology, people have started to document all of the adorable antics their pets have been doing, along with the obligatory photos of their pets wearing adorable outfits. Due to the rise of social media, people have shared more than their fair share of cat and dog videos to make each other feel warm and fuzzy. 

While social media has connected all of our friends and families, one can help but notice more, and more of our personal friends are posting photos of their pets. That being said, have you ever thought to yourself, “how many pets are there in the US?” Or have you ever wanted to settle the famous cat and dog debate once in for all? 

Article Contents

Our love of pets has left a paw print in our daily lives. From dominating social media, reshaping the pet food industry, creating new pet trends, and raising awareness on the need to adopt rather than buy. Pet owners will go to great lengths to ensure their pets are eating the best food and living their best life. Cats and dogs are the favorite pet for most households, but people have been more open to exotic pets to call their own throughout the years. 

Below are the answers to the internet’s most burning questions regarding our pets, demographics, pet trends, owner statistics, and what lengths we go to keep them happy. 

Top Pet Statistics

  • According to a 2020 survey by the American Pet Products Association covering pet ownership statistics, 67 percent of households are pet owners. To put that into perspective, about 85 million families in the U.S own a pet. 
  • The most common/popular pets in America (by volume) are as follows: 
    • Fish: 142 million freshwater fish and 9.6 million saltwater fish
    • Cats: 88.3 million cats
    • Dogs: 74.8 million dogs
    • Birds: 16 million birds
    • Small Animals: 24.3 million small animals (Hamsters & Guinea Pigs) 
    • Horses: 13.8 million horses
    • Reptiles: 13.4 million reptiles
  • Individuals in mobile homes are the most likely to own a pet, as 73.8% of those living in mobile homes own at least one pet. 
  • The most dog-friendly state is Arkansas, where dogs outnumber cats 1.35-to-1. At the other end of the spectrum stands Massachusetts, with 1.87 cats for every dog.
  • The top 5 most popular pet choices
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Fish 
    • Reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards)
    • Other mammals (hamsters, guinea pigs)  
  • The average American family owns 1.6 dogs and 1.8 cats
  • More households have at least one dog in them than any other pet, making dogs the most popular pet in the world
  • Consumers are expected to spend a record-breaking 75.38 billion U.S. dollars on their pets in 2019. The majority of pet market revenue comes from food sales, followed by veterinary care costs.
  • Natural and specialty pet products continue to drive growth for the pet industry as consumers extend their personal preferences for wellness into their product choices for their furry friends. SPINS data shows that Natural and Specialty pet products are driving growth for the industry (+28%), outpacing the modest dollar growth of conventional pet food and treats (+4%)
  • The global pet food market size was valued at USD 83.02 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025.

Pet Owner Statistics 

How many people have Pets?

When you think about the most common household pet, what is the first one that comes to mind? Cat? Dog? Pidgeon? Well, the top 5 most popular pets in the US are dogs, cats, reptiles, fish, and small mammals such as hamsters and Guinea pigs. By volume, fish are the most common household pet, which makes sense, as people like to have a tank with more than one type of fish in them. According to a 2020 survey by the American Pet Products Association covering pet ownership statistics, 67 percent of households are pet owners. About 85 million families in the U.S own a pet. Millennials are the most popular generation to own at least one pet. 35% of Millennials own at least one pet. Gen X follows close behind by making up 32% of pet owners. Boomers come in last with just 27%. The average number of pets per household is 2.2 of any pet. This means that if you ever ask yourself if you need to get another pet, the answer is always “yes.”

Key Statistics: 

  • The most common/popular pets in America (by volume) are as follows: 
    • Fish: 142 million freshwater fish and 9.6 million saltwater fish
    • Cats: 88.3 million cats
    • Dogs: 74.8 million dogs
    • Birds: 16 million birds
    • Small Animals: 24.3 million small animals (Hamsters & Guinea Pigs) 
    • Horses: 13.8 million horses
    • Reptiles: 13.4 million reptiles
  • The top 5 most popular pet choices:
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Fish 
    • Reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards)
    • Other mammals (Hamsters, guinea pigs) 
  • 85 million households have at least one pet, according to a 2020 survey by American Pet Products Association
  • Fifty-seven percent of homeowners own pets compared to 37 percent of renters. 
  • Individuals in mobile homes are the most likely to own a pet, as 73.8% of those living in mobile homes own at least one pet. 
  • Pet ownership statistics by state: 
    • The states with the highest pet ownership rate are as follows:
      • Wyoming (72%)
      • West Virginia (71%)
      • Nebraska (70%)
      • Vermont (70%)
      • Idaho (70%)
    • The states with the lowest pet ownership rate are as follows:
      • Rhode Island (45%)
      • South Dakota (46%)
      • New York (50%) 
      • New Jersey (47%)
      • Maryland (49%)
  • The average number of pets per household of any type is 2.2. 
  • 53-57% of American households own 1 or more pet
  • Pet ownership demographics by age group:
    • Millennials (35%)
    • Gen X (32%)
    • Baby Boomers (27%)
    • 71+ (6%)

Dog Owners and Cat Owners Statistics 

How many Americans own Dogs vs. Cats in the US?

Dog and Pet Ownership US
Source:  https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/l8qj1l/us_dog_cat_ownership_by_state_oc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_term=link

Have you ever wanted to settle the famous “what’s more popular, cats or dogs” debate? Well, according to the national pet owners survey, there are over 94 million cats vs. 90 million dogs in the US, making cats more popular in terms of sheer numbers. However, there are more dog owners than cat owners, with 38.4% of American households owning at least one dog and only 25.4% of American households owning at least one cat. The average number of dogs per household is 1.6, and the average number of cats per household is 1.8. This makes dogs the most popular pet in the world. Not only are dogs more popular than cats, but they also get spoiled more by their owners. Dog owners spend, on average, $240 a month on their pets. Cat owners, on the other hand, only spend, on average, $161. Dog owners spend more money on food, treats, boarding, and veterinary visits. Dog owners are willing to spend more on their pets, including saving their lives. Finally, millennials are more likely to adopt a dog, while Boomers are more likely to adopt a cat.  

You may have asked yourself, why do pet data on ownership not match up? A great deal of the discrepancy appears to boil down to methodology. Surveys conducted via snail mail often deliver different results than surveys conducted via phone, email, text, or online opt-in forms. We have done our best to compile these results together for an accurate estimate. 

Key Statistics: 

  • Percent of households owning dogs vs. cats 
  • Dog owners (38.4%)
  • Cat owners (25.4%)
  • There are 90 million dogs in the United States
  • There are 94 million cats in the United States
  • The average number of dogs owned per household is 1.6, and the average number of cats owned per household is 1.8.
  • More households have at least one dog in them than any other pet, making dogs the most popular pet in the world
  • Most dog/cat-friendly state
    • In Arkansas, there are 1.35 dogs for every 1 cat
    • In Massachusetts, there are 1.87 cats for every 1 dog
  • Average money spent on dogs/cats a month 
    • Dogs $240
    • Cats $161
  • Dog owners spend more money on kennel boarding and vet trips than cat owners
  • Dog owners also spend more money on expensive treats and grooming than cat owners 
  • Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year
    • 1.6 Million dogs 
    • 1.6 Million cats 
  • When it comes to adopting pets, Millennials more likely to adopt a dog while Boomers are more likely to adopt a cat 
  • Dog owners are willing to spend more on their pets than cat owners — including to save their lives.

Pet Care Industry Statistics and Trends

How big is the pet industry?

Where do all of the pet owners go when it's time to buy their pets some treats and adorable outfits? PetSmart and PETCO Animal Supplies are the most popular pet stores and accounted for over 48% of total market revenue in 2019. Due to the growing trend of pets, the pet industry has experienced a boom in recent years. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) estimates that $75.38 billion will be spent on pets in the United States alone within the year. IBISWorld reports industry revenue accrued at an annualized rate of 4.3% to $21.1 billion over the last five years, with a 4.0% growth in 2019 alone. Pet owners have changed the way they shop for their pets. Pet wearables are the newest growing trend in the pet industry.  A pet wearable consists of pet costumes, collars, pet clothes, and electronic wearable gadgets.  With all of the outfits and dog food that pet owners are treating their pets to, experts agree that the pet industry is virtually “recession-resistant.” This trend is also largely due to the multi-generational appeal of pets, pervasive treatment of pets as beloved members of the family, increased awareness of the benefits of health and happiness that come from pet ownership, and a social media climate that celebrates our pets.

Key Statistics: 

  • Consumers are expected to spend a record-breaking 75.38 billion U.S. dollars on their pets in 2019.
  • The majority of pet market revenue comes from food sales, followed by veterinary care costs.
  • In 2019, $95.7 billion was spent on our pets in the U.S.
  • In 2018, pet care was a $225 billion business in North America, according to data from market research firm Edge by Ascential. By 2023, the firm expects that figure to rise to $281 billion.
  • Experts agree the pet industry is virtually “recession-resistant,” for several reasons: 1) the multi-generational appeal of pets; 2) the pervasive treatment of pets as beloved members of the family; 3)  increased awareness of the benefits of health; 4) the happiness that comes from pet ownership; 5) a social media climate that celebrates our pets.
  • The global pet wearable market size was valued at USD 1.6 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% from 2020 to 2027
    • 2020 1.8 Billion
    • 2027 4.6 Billion

Pet Food Market 

How big is the pet food industry?

With the growing number of people owning pets, more people are researching what goes into their pets' food. Just like people watch what types of food are incorporated into their diets, pet owners are reading labels and taking into consideration what they feed their pets. Natural and specialty pet products continue to drive growth for the pet industry as consumers extend their personal preferences for wellness into their product choices for their furry friends. The pet food market was valued at USD 83.02 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025. In 2025, the expected revenue forecast for the pet food market would be 90.4 billion. Pet owners are driving the trend of feeding their pets food that closely resembles the same ingredients that they eat. This is why the pet food market is experiencing an explosive boom in recent years.

Key Statistics: 

  • Natural and specialty pet products continue to drive growth for the pet industry as consumers extend their personal preferences for wellness into their product choices for their furry friends. 
  • SPINS (a wellness-focused data technology company) data shows that Natural and Specialty pet products are driving growth for the industry (+28%), outpacing the modest dollar growth of conventional pet food and treats (+4%)
  • Dry pet food saw the largest jump in the four weeks ending March 21, 2020, with 28.4% growth over the previous year, but at the same time, Nielsen analysts saw a big jump in wet food, up 24.1%, and treats, up 18.9%.
  • In 2020, SPINS Expects consumers to continue to purchase “healthier” food for their pets as they do for themselves
  • Pedigree, the leading dry dog food name brand in the U.S., had sales amounting to around 550 million U.S. dollars in 2017. Pedigree also led the pack in the wet dog food category, with sales of approximately 240 million U.S. dollars in the same year.
  • The American Pet Product Association 2017-2018 Pet Ownership Survey found that pet owners spend an average of $300 annually on pet food and treats

Conclusion 

Pets have become part of the family. This sentiment means people are willing to spend more money to get the best things for their pets. People are willing to pay more for pet nutrition every year to ensure that they eat the best possible food made with the same ingredients their owners would eat. Pet owners would even consider their pets before deciding on a new place to live. Next time there is a debate on cats and dogs, you can confidently interject and say that dogs are statistically more popular than cats. 

Sources: 

 

Photo Credit:  Kitten, Andriyko Podilnyk, Unsplash

Photo Credit:  Fish, Renate Helgerud, Unsplash

Photo Credit:  Bird, Andrea Lightfoot, Unsplash

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