Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 7th Edition

Table of Content

CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Scope of Report

Methodology

Consumer Survey Sources

Figure 1-1 US Census Regional Divisions and Sub-Divisions

Overview of Pet Ownership

Patterns by Dog or Cat Ownership Classification

Focus on Dog Population Trends

Focus on Cat Population Trends

Focus on Other Pets

CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF PET OWNERSHIP AND PET OWNER PSYCHOGRAPHICS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

HISTORICAL DOG AND CAT OWNERSHIP PATTERNS

Topline Pet Ownership Rates

Table 2-1a. Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type, 2019 - 2023 (percent of overall households)

Table 2-1b. Number of Pet-Owning Households by Type, 2019 - 2023 (in millions)

Historical Dog vs. Cat Ownership Rates

Table 2-2. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs vs. Cats, 1990 - 2023 (percent)

Widening Ownership by Age Bracket Drove Dog Population Growth

Table 2-3. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs by Pet Owner Age Bracket, 1990 - 2023 (percent)

Puppy vs. Kitten Adoption Trends

Figure 2-1. Percent of Dog Owners with Puppies vs. Percent of Cat Owners with Kittens, 2014 -2023 (% of dog/cat-owning households)

Table 2-4. Number of US Households with Dogs/Puppies vs. Cats/Kittens, 2010 -2023 (thousands)

Cats Gain Market Representation

Table 2-5. Share of Cat Owners Who Agree That Pet Industry Sectors Sometimes Treat Cats as Second Class Citizens, 2023 (percent)

FACTORS TO PET POPULATION GROWTH

National Population Trends

Size of Population

Table 2-6. National Population at Decennial Censuses, 1910 -2020 (number and percent change)

Table 2-7. Projected Population Change for the US, 2023 -2030 (thousands and percent change)

Number of Households

Figure 2-2. Average Annual Growth in Number of Households, 2011 through 2016 and 2016 through 2021 (thousand households)

Table 2-8. Household Population Patterns for the US: Pet Ownership Indexes and Projected Change in Household Population by Selected Demographics, 2023 -2028 and 2028-2033 (index, million households, and percent change)

Generational Trends

Dog Ownership

Cat Ownership

Table 2-9a. Dog- and Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2010 - 2016 (thousands)

Table 2-9b. Dog- and Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2017 - 2023 (thousands)

Macroeconomic Trends

Consumer Credit and Buy Now, Pay Later

Figure 2-3. Total Housing and Non-Houseing Debt Balance, 2004 -2022 (trillion dollars)

Student Loans Strike Back

Housing Patterns

Figure 2-4. Median Sales Price of Houses Sold in the United States, 1990 -2023 (dollars)

Figure 2-5. Average 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates, September 2014 -

Pet Shelter Data as Indicator

Dog and Cat Owner Household Projections

Figure 2-6. Projected Growth in Dog vs. Cat Household Population, 2024 - 2030 (percent)

Table 2-10. Dog and Cat Household Population, 2023 vs. 2030P (percent of overall households and million households)

PET OWNER PSYCHOGRAPHICS

Motivations for Pet Ownership

Table 2-11. Why Pet Owners Have Their Pets: Dogs vs. Cats, 2023 (percent)

Pets as Family

Table 2-12. Level of Agreement with Statement: "I consider my dogs/cats/other pets to be part of the family", 2023 (percent of pet owners by type of pet)

Table 2-13. Level of Agreement with Statement: "My pets are central to my home life", 2023 (percent of pet owners by type of pet)

Table 2-14. Agreement with Selected Statements Related to Pet Humanization: Dog vs. Cat Owners, 2023 (percent)

Pet Parenting Day and Night

Table 2-15. Where Pets Are Typically Kept: Dogs vs. Cats, 2023 (percent of pet owners)

Table 2-16. Where Pet Owners Feed Their Pets: Dogs vs. Cats, 2023 (percent of pet owners)

Table 2-17. Where Pets Sleep: Dogs vs. Cats, 2023 (percent)

CHAPTER 3: PATTERNS BY DOG OR CAT OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

OVERVIEW BY DOG/CAT OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION

Topline Ownership Rates and Population

Table 3-1a. Household Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 - 2023 (percent)

Table 3-1b. Household Ownership Base by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 - 2023 (thousands)

Table 3-2. Household Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification, 1990 - 2023 (percent)

Figure 3-1. Growth in Number of Pet-Owning Households by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification, 2018 vs. 2023 (percent)

Figure 3-2. Growth in Number of Pet-Owning Households by Dog/Cat Keeping Classifications: By Five-Year Spans, 2003 - 2023 (percent)

Table 3-3. Number of Pet-Owning Households by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 1990 - 2023 (thousands)

Distribution Trends by Dog vs. Cat Ownership

Table 3-4. Distribution Trends by Dog vs. Cat Ownership, 2018 - 2023 (percent of overall dog/cat households)

Key Demographics by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification

Table 3-5a. Pet Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2018 vs. 2023 (percent)

Table 3-5b. Pet Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2018 vs. 2023 (percent)

Table 3-6a. Pet Ownership Propensity by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2018 vs. 2023 (index)

Table 3-6b. Pet Ownership Propensity by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2018 vs. 2023 (index)

CHAPTER 4: FOCUS ON DOG POPULATION TRENDS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

DOG OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW

Topline Ownership Rates and Population

Table 4-1. Dog Ownership, 2018 - 2023 (percent and million households)

Trends by Number of Dogs Owned

Table 4-2. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 - 2023 (percent of US households)

Table 4-3. Dog Ownership Distribution by Number of Dogs, 2018 - 2023 (percent of dog-owning households)

Table 4-4. Household Base of Dog Owners: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 - 2023 (thousands)

Size of Dogs Owned

Figure 4-1. Distribution of Dog Ownership by Size/Weight of Dogs, 2023 (percent of dog owners)

Puppy and Senior Dog Populations

Table 4-5a. Percentage of Dog-Owning Households With Puppies Under Age 1 or Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2018 - 2023 (percent)

Table 4-5b. Number of Dog-Owning Households With Puppies Under Age 1 or Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2018 - 2023 (thousands)

Overweight and Special Needs Dogs

Table 4-6. Share of Dog Owners Who Report Having Overweight, Special Needs, or Handicapped Dogs, 2023 (percent)

DOG OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS

Overview of Dog Ownership Demographics

Table 4-7. Overview of Dog Ownership Demographics, 2018 vs. 2023 (percent who own, percent of owners, and index)

Key Demographic Variables and Dog Ownership Growth

Table 4-8. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Gender of Adults in Household, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-9. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-10. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-11. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Census Sub-Region 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-12. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-13. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 4-14. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type of Residence, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Dog Ownership Rates by Demographic

Table 4-14. Dog Ownership Rates by Demographic, 2018 - 2023 (percent)

CHAPTER 5: FOCUS ON CAT POPULATION TRENDS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

CAT OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW

Topline Ownership Rates and Population

Table 5-1. Cat Ownership, 2018 - 2023 (percent and million households)

Trends by Number of Cats Owned

Table 5-2. Household Ownership Rates for Cats: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 - 2023 (percent of US households)

Table 5-3. Cat Ownership Distribution by Number of Cats, 2018 - 2023 (percent of cat-owning households)

Table 5-4. Household Base of Cat Owners: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 - 2023 (thousands)

Size of Cats Owned

Figure 5-1. Distribution of Cat Ownership by Size/Weight of Cats, 2023 (percent of cat owners)

Kitten and Senior Cat Populations

Table 5-5a. Percentage of Cat-Owning Households With Kittens Under Age 1 or Senior Cats Age 7+, 2018 - 2023 (percent)

Table 5-5b. Number of Cat-Owning Households With Kittens Under Age 1 or Senior Cats Age 7+, 2018 - 2023 (thousands)

Overweight and Special Needs Cats

Table 5-6. Share of Cat Owners Who Report Having Overweight, Special Needs, or Handicapped Cats, 2023 (percent)

CAT OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS

Overview of Cat Ownership Demographics

Table 5-7. Overview of Cat Ownership Demographics, 2018 vs. 2023 (percent who own, percent of owners, and index)

Key Demographic Variables and Cat Ownership Growth

Table 5-8. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 5-9. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 5-10. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, and thousand households)

Table 5-11. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Census Sub-Region 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 5-12. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 5-13. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Table 5-14. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type of Residence, 2013 - 2023 (every other year) (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)

Cat Ownership Rates by Demographic

Table 5-15. Cat Ownership Rates by Demographic, 2018 - 2023 (percent)

CHAPTER 6: FOCUS ON OTHER PETS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

TOPLINE OWNERSHIP RATES AND CUSTOMER BASE

15% of Households Have Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats

Table 6-1. Topline Ownership Rates for Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats, 2023 (percent of overall households)

"Other" Pet Population by the Numbers

Table 6-2. Number of Pets Other Than Dog or Cats Owned: By Type of Pet, 2023 (percent of other pet owners)

Adding Other Pets to the Household

Figure 6-1. Patterns for Adding Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats in Past 12 Months: By Type of "Other" Pet, 2023 (percent of total households who added any "other" pet)

Other Pet Ownership Demographics

Table 6-3. Generational Patterns for Owning Pets Other than Dogs or Cats: By Type of "Other" Pet, 2023 (index of pet owners with a base of 100)

Table 6-4. Patterns by Household Income for Owning Pets Other than Dogs or Cats: By Type of "Other" Pet, 2023 (index of pet owners with a base of 100)

Table 6-5. Urban, Suburban, and Rural Patterns for Owning Pets Other than Dogs or Cats: By Type of "Other" Pet, 2023 (index of pet owners with a base of 100)

Fish Ownership by Type

Figure 6-2. Ownership Rates for Freshwater Fish vs. Saltwater Fish, 2022 (percent of fish owners)

Figure 6-3. Types of Freshwater Fish Owned: Goldfish, Bettas, Tropical Fish, and Other Classifications, 2022 (percent of freshwater fish owners)

Small Mammal Ownership by Type

Figure 6-4. Types of Small Mammals Owned: Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Other Classifications, 2023 (percent of small mammal owners)

Herptile Ownership by Type

Figure 6-5. Types of Herptiles Owned: Turtles, Lizards, Snakes, and Other Classifications, 2023 (percent of herptile owners)

Pet Bird Ownership by Type

Table 6-6. Types of Pet Birds Owned: Parakeets, Canaries, Cockatiels, Amazons, and Other Classifications, 2022 (percent of bird owners)