Pet ownership statistics: cats, dogs and beyond

Explore a range of pet ownership statistics with our handy guide to 2024 and beyond. Here we explore a variety of pet statistics, including the world’s most owned pets, the current dog population, pet industry spending statistics, pet shelter statistics, house sitting numbers, pet sitting statistics and more. We also take a sneak peek at how the pets in the TrustedHousesitters community measures up to the rest of the world!

US pet ownership statistics 

The number of households owning both cats and dogs has steadily increased in the US between the years of 1991 and 2024, with the number of households with dogs always remaining the highest. As to be expected, there was a significant jump in the number of households owning a dog in 2020, to which it then declined and is now on a regular steady increase once again. 

Below find the pet statistics on the total number of dog and cat owning households from the year 1991 to 2024. 

Pet ownership in the United States: Number of US households owning a dog (millions)

• 1991: 34.5
• 1996: 31.3
• 2001: 37.8
• 2006: 43
• 2011: 43.3
• 2016: 48.2
• 2020: 62
• 2023: 53.4
• 2024: 59.8

Pet ownership in the United States: Number of US households owning a cat (millions)

• 1991: 29.2
• 1996: 27
• 2001: 33.2
• 2006: 37.5
• 2011: 36.1
• 2016: 31.8
• 2020: 37
• 2023: 38.7
• 2024: 42.1

Source: Avma

US pet ownership statistics: key takeaways

• In 2024, 59.8 million households owned a dog.
• In 2024, 42.1 million households owned a cat.
• 33% of US pet parents are Millennials.

Sources: Avma, Catster

Pet ownership statistics UK

PDSA performed research in 2024 to gather pet statistics on pet ownership in the UK - explore a few of their findings below.

• 51% of UK adults are pet owners.
• 28% of UK adults are dog owners. 
• There are roughly 10.6 million pet dogs in the UK.
• 24% of UK adults are cat owners.
• There are roughly 10.8 million pet cats in the UK.
• 2% of UK adults are rabbit owners.
• There are roughly 800,000 pet rabbits in the UK.

Source: PDSA

Global pet ownership statistics

• The US, Brazil, EU and China house over 0.5 billion dogs and cats.
• Over 50% of homes globally are estimated to have a pet.
• Pet ownership is more popular amongst millennials than any other demographic, who are having children later than previous generations.
• There are 92 million dogs and 113 million cats in the EU.
• There are 74 million dogs and 67 million cats  in China.
• There are 85 million dogs and 65 million cats in the US.

Source: Health for Animals 

Most popular pets at TrustedHousesitters in the US

What about cat and dog ownership statistics here at TrustedHousesitters? Take a look below at the animals here on our platform.

Most popular pets in the UK

The dogs vs. cats debate goes on! Dogs hail as the most popular pets in the UK, with cats coming in at a close second.

Source: Statista

Most popular pets at TrustedHousesitters in the UK

Interested in the dog ownership statistics UK here at TrustedHousesitters? Take a look below for a look-in.

Dog ownership statistics, US 

The results are in! Overall, 45.5% of US households owned a dog in 2024 - that’s 59.8 million households with a dog. Below find the percentage of US households owning a dog by US state in 2024.

• Idaho: 58.3%
• Montano: 51.9%
• Arkansas: 51.6%
• Mississippi: 51%
• West Virginia: 49.6%
• Indiana: 49.4%
• Oklahoma: 47.7%
• Colorado: 47.2%
• Nebraska: 47.1%
• Tennessee: 47%

Source: Statista

The US dog population is on the rise

Despite taking a slight dip in 2023 - from 88.3 million in 2022 to 80.1 million in 2023, the dog population is steadily increasing again. In fact, a whopping 45.5% of US households now have at least one dog - that’s 59.8 million households in the US alone.

US dog population key takeaways:

• Between the years of 1996 and 2024, the US dog population has increased from 52.9 million to 89.7 million. 
• In 1996, 31.6% of US households owned a dog.
• In 2024, 59.8 million households owned at least one dog.

Source: Avma

Top 10 most common dog breeds, US

1. Chihuahua
2. French Bulldog
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Shih Tzu
6. Goldendoodle
7. Yorkshire Terrier
8. American Pit Bull Terrier
9. Pit Bull
10. Labrador Retriever (black)

Source: US News

Most common dog breeds by US state

The most popular dog breed in the US is undoubtedly the Chihuahua. In fact, 4% of all dogs in the US are Chihuahuas. Golden Retrievers are also a clear favorite, with the most living in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. And interestingly, German Shepherds are roughly 3% of the dog population in each state. Below, find the most popular dogs breeds by US state.

• Alabama: Chihuahua
• Alaska: German Shepherd
• Arizona: Chihuahua
• Arkansas: Chihuahua
• California: French Bulldog
• Colorado: Golden Retriever
• Connecticut: Golden Retriever
• Delaware: German Shepherd
• Florida: French Bulldog
• Georgia: Chihuahua
• Hawaii: French Bulldog
• Idaho: Goldendoodle
• Illinois: Golden Retriever
• Indiana: Chihuahua
• Iowa: Shih Tzu
• Kansas: Chihuahua
• Kentucky: Chihuahua
• Louisiana: Chihuahua
• Maine: Golden Retriever
• Maryland: Yorkshire Terrier
• Massachusetts: Golden Retriever
• Michigan: Golden Retriever
• Minnesota: Golden Retriever
• Mississippi: Chihuahua
• Missouri: Chihuahua
• Montana: German Shepherd
• Nebraska: Golden Retriever
• Nevada: Chihuahua
• New Hampshire: Golden Retriever
• New Jersey: Shih Tzu
• New Mexico: Chihuahua
• New York: Shih Tzu
• North Carolina: Chihuahua
• North Dakota: Golden Retriever
• Ohio: Golden Retriever
• Oklahoma: Chihuahua
• Oregon: Chihuahua
• Pennsylvania: German Shepherd
• Rhode Island: Shih Tzu
• South Carolina: Chihuahua
• South Dakota: Chihuahua
• Tennessee: Chihuahua
• Texas: Chihuahua
• Utah: Goldendoodle
• Vermont: Golden Retriever
• Virginia: Golden Retriever
• Washington: Chihuahua
• Washington, D.C.: Yorkshire Terrier
• West Virginia: Chihuahua
• Wisconsin: Golden Retriever
• Wyoming: German Shepherd

Source: US News

Most popular dog breeds at TrustedHousesitters, US

Most popular dog breeds at TrustedHousesitters, UK

Cat ownership statistics, US

With all cat-owning US states combined, 32.1%of US households owned a cat in 2024 - that’s 42.2 million households. Below find the percentage of US households owning a cat by US state in 2024. Find the percentage of households with a cat in ten US states below.

• Vermont: 44.6%
• Maine: 43.6%
• West Virginia: 37.7%
• Indiana: 37.5%
• New Hampshire: 36.4%
• Iowa: 35.6%
• Arkansas: 34.8%
• Idaho: 33.3%
• Kansas: 32.4%
• Wisconsin: 32.4%

Source: Statista

The US cat population is steadily increasing

The number of cat-owning households has been historically lower than those with dogs - in 2024, it was found that 42.2 million households owned a cat, which is 73.8 million domestic cats altogether.

Source: Avma

US cat population key takeaways:

• The US cat population has increased from 59.8 million in 1996 to 73.8 million in 2024.
• The US cat population saw a peak in 2006, when there were 81.7 million domestic cats in the US.
• In 2024, 42.2 million households owned a cat.
• In 2024, there were 73.8 million domestic cats in the US.
• People between the ages of 18 and 24 are more likely to get a cat as a pet.
• Since 2019, cat adoptions have increased by 14%.

Sources: Avma, World Animal Foundation, Catster

Top 10 most common cat breeds, US

2024 is a similar picture to 2023, with the Ragdoll coming in as the most popular cat breed in the United States.

1. Ragdoll
2. Maine Coon
3. Persian
4. Exotic
5. Devon Rex
6. British Shorthair
7. Abyssinian
8. Scottish Fold
9. Siberian
10. Sphynx

Source: Trupanion

Most popular cat breeds at TrustedHousesitters, US

Most popular cat breeds at TrustedHousesitters, UK

Other pet ownership statistics, US

Below find the percentage of US households that owned pets other than cats and dogs in 2024.

• 2.9% of US households own a fish - that’s 3.9 million households. 
• 1.8% of US households own a reptile - that’s 2.3 million households. 
• 1.6% of US households own a bird - that’s 2.1 million households. 
• 0.7% of US households own a rabbit - that’s 0.9 million households.
• 0.5% of US households own a horse - that’s 0.7 million households. 
• 0.5% of US households own a poultry - that’s 0.7 million households. 
• In 2020, around 11.5 million homes own freshwater fish at pets.
• 67% of New York landlords allow pets in rental properties.

Source: Avma, Earth Web

Other pet statistics

• Millennials were the highest percentage of US pet owners that viewed their pets as their children.
• 43% of men and 57% of women see their pets as part of their family, as much as a human family member.
• 64% of lower income pet owners and 43% of upper income owners see their pets as part of their family, as much as a human family member.
• 61% of urban and 50% of rural pet owners see their pets as part of their family, as much as a human family member.
• 43% of married pet owners and 63% of never married pet owners see their pets as part of their family, as much as a human family member.
• 32% of pet owners say there is not enough public emphasis on pet wellbeing, while 19% say there is too much.
• One in ten people are allergic to pets.

Sources: Pew Research Center, Petpedia, Statista

Pet sitting statistics

“Pet services like boarding, grooming, and pet sitting are in high demand due to the rise in pet ownership, pet humanization, and purchasing power.” - Grand View Research

• The global pet sitting industry was estimated to be worth 2.69 billion in 2024.
• The industry is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.8% from the year 2025 to 2030.
• Dogs were the most common pet to sit for in 2024, taking the largest share of 82.9%, which makes sense, with dogs being the most common pet in the US and many other countries.
• The cost of house and pet sitters USA average at a nightly rate of $80 in the US, with costs at an all time high in Miami, at $162.50.
• The average overnight rates for pet sitters UK are £36.74, with Leeds and Birmingham the most expensive cities, with an average nightly rate of £61.62.
• The average nightly rate for a pet sitter in Australia is $84.21, and the most expensive place is Melbourne, at $74.22.
• The average nightly rate for a house and pet sitters Canada is $61.06. The most costly place was Calgary, where sitters charge an average of $120.70 per night.
• 80.3% of US pet sitters are women.
• The average US pet sitter age is 31 years old.

Sources: Grand View Research, TrustedHousesitters, Zippia

Pet sitting statistics at TrustedHousesitters

The results are in - in 2024 we had a whopping 56,333 pets registered here at TrustedHousesitters in the US, and 39,513 in the UK. The UK saw 61,045 house sits in the UK, and an impressive 93,853 in the US.

House sitting in Portland was the most popular choice for pet sitters in the US, closely followed by Seattle and San Francisco.

UK pet sitters made London the most popular city for house sitting in the UK (as did the number of pets who needed looking after!), followed by Bristol and Edinburgh.

Pet shelter statistics

How many pets are in shelters in the United States? Take a look below for some key pet shelter statistics.

• Around 6.3 million pets enter shelters across the globe each year.
• 3.1 million dogs enter shelters every year.
• 3.2 million cats enter shelters every year.
• The number of pets entering US shelters is on the decline. In 2011, 7.2 million pets entered US shelters.
• Around 4 million dogs and cats are adopted from shelters every year.
• Of the dogs entering shelters, 65% are adopted.
• Of the cats entering shelters, 66% are adopted.

Source: ASPCA

How much do pet owners spend on their pets? US spending statistics

The total pet spend from dog owners continues to be more  than other pet owners on veterinary care.

The majority of cat and dog owners identify as having a regular veterinary practice or practitioner, and dog owners were more likely to frequent their local vet than cat owners.

Overall, dog owners spent over $1700 on their dogs in 2024, whereas cat owners under $1350 - including veterinary fees, and excluding purchase and adoption costs.

The average cost of a veterinary visit has decreased between the years of 2023 and 2024. Dog visits continue to be the most costly, with the average cost of a veterinary visit coming in at almost half the amount. The most common reason for these visits amongst dog and cat owners was a routine checkup and preventative care - one third of this was spent on veterinary care - the rest, on pet medication, entertainment and apparel.

The lower spends in the pet market from cat owners lines up with household income, with the average household owning a cat on a much lower annual income.

Source: Avma

US pet owner veterinary spending statistics: key takeaways

• Dog owner spending on veterinary care decreased between 2023 and 2024 by 7%.
• Dog owners spent an average of $580 in 2024 on veterinary care, excluding adoption and purchase costs.
• Cat owner spending increased between 2023 and 2024 by 6%.
• Cat owners spent an average of $433 in 2024, excluding adoption and purchase costs.
• Overall, pet owner spending on veterinary care decreased between 2023 and 2024 by 4%.
• 86.6% of dog owners identified as having a regular veterinarian or practice in 2024.
• 74.2% of dog owners said they visited a veterinarian in the past year in 2024.
• 77.1% of cat owners identified as having a regular veterinarian or practice in 2024.
• 57.3% of cat owners said they visited a veterinarian in the past year in 2024.
• The average cost of a veterinary visit has declined, from $190 in 2023 to $147 in 2024.
• The average cost of a veterinary visit for dogs in 2024 was $214.
• The average cost of a veterinary visit for cats in 2024 was $138.
• Over 25% of cat owners said they didn’t spend anything on veterinary costs for their cats in a typical year.
• 15% of dog owners said they had no yearly costs for veterinary care in a typical year.
• Vet care brought in the second highest revenue in the US pet industry in 2023, amounting to $38.3 billion. This was second to pet food.

Sources: Avma, Statistica

US pet owner overall spending statistics: key takeaways

• Pet owners spent an average of $1516 on pet-related care in 2024, excluding pet purchase and adoption fees.
• Dog owners spent over $1700 in 2024 on pet-related care in 2024, excluding pet purchase and adoption fees.
• Cat owners spent below $1350 in 2024 on pet-related care in 2024, excluding pet purchase and adoption fees.
• One third of pet owner spending in 2024 was on veterinary care.
• Two thirds of pet owner spending in 2024 was on pet entertainment, apparel and medication.
• The average pet insurance for cats is $30 per month.
• Gen Z are 16 times more likely than Baby Boomers to get pet insurance.

Sources: Avma,Catster

Additional pet industry statistics

With the cost of living crisis and a predicted dip in the pet care industry’s sales growth, let’s explore how that measures up when it comes to pet owners adding another pet into their pack, and pet industry growth itself.

Research on pet purchasing trends found that current pet owners are less likely to bring a new pet home than they were two years ago. Here are some of the reasons for this:

• Cost of vet care and prescriptions
• Other life priorities
• Cost of pet supplies
• Too many pets at home
• Pet food prices
• Changes in living situation
• General household cost commitments
• Cost of pet adoption

Pet industry statistics: key takeaways 

• Between the years of 2021 and 2024, pet industry sales growth has continued to rise. 
• In 2021, there was a growth of 12% pet industry sales growth, 2022 saw +11%, 2023 +10%, and 2024 saw 8% growth. It’s expected that 2025 will see a slight dip.
• Pet owners are 40% less likely to bring a new pet home than they were two years ago. 
• Pet store revenue reached over $23.5 billion in the US in 2022.
• The revenue of pet stores across the United States is predicted to reach around 24.66 billion U.S. dollars by 2028.

Source: Numerator, Statista

Pet food statistics

The sale of pet food and treats is on a steady increase, and represents the majority of the pet industry’s sales. Below explore pet food statistics on previous years, as well as forecasts for 2030.

Pet food statistics: key takeaways 

• The US exports over $4.7 billion worth of pet food each year.
• It’s predicted that US pet spending will be almost $200 billion by 2030.
• In Europe and Asia Pacific, vegan pet food is growing in popularity and taking up a growing proportion of US pet food exports.
• The vegan dog food market size is expected to be worth $25.1 billion by 2033.
• Conventional dog food takes up a 68.3% share of the dog food market.
• Dry dog food takes up over a 62.2% share of the vegan dog food market.
• Approximately 64.4 billion U.S. dollars of pet food and treats were sold in 2023.

Sources: Market, Statista, Capital One Shopping

Useful resources

• 10 signs your cat has imprinted on you
• How heavy should my cat be?
• 10 unmistakable signs your dog misses you