In the wake of COVID-19, pet ownership rates in the U.S. have plateaued. The percentage of U.S. households owning pets slipped slightly from 54% in 2018 to 52% in 2022, for a current total of 68 million pet-owning households.
There is no debate over a pandemic-fueled spike in pet care spending in recent years, and a pet adoption bump did occur in response to the sudden stay-at-home/work-from-home dynamics of this COVID-19 era. Nonetheless, as detailed in this report from the publisher, the peak years of pet population gains occurred in the middle of the past decade, rather than post-COVID in the early 2020s.
Focusing on dogs and cats, Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S. provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of pet ownership rates, pet population characteristics, and pet owner demographics. This report also provides topline coverage of ownership rates for other types of pets (fish, small mammals, herptiles, and birds).
In addition to laying out key pet owner psychographics and their market implications, this report covers post-pandemic pet acquisition trends by nature of pet adoption (planned, impulse, gift), type of pet, source of pet adoption or acquisition, age of dogs or cats adopted, and size of dogs adopted.
This report includes numerous detailed tables showing historically trended household ownership rates and pet-owner demographics across several metrics:
- by ownership of dogs and/or cats, dogs, cats, and dogs as well as cats
- by number of dogs or cats owned
- by age of dogs or cats owned
- by size (in lbs.) of dogs owned
The analysis in this report also covers demographic changes - from pre-COVID 2017 to post-COVID 2022 - in the key pet owner variables of gender(s) in household, generational cohort, race/ethnicity, household income, household composition by marital status and presence/absence of children, and type of residence.
Methodology
In addition to drawing on the publisher's extensive catalog of pet reports, Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S. features proprietary consumer survey results from January through August of 2022, along with Spring 2022 and historically trended syndicated pet ownership data from MRI-Simmons. Topline coverage of pets other than dogs or cats includes American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey data.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
- Two Consumer Survey Sources
- Publisher Data
- MRI-Simmons Data
- Figure 1-1 U.S. Census Regional Divisions and Sub-Divisions
- PET OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW
- Pet Population Overview
- Topline Pet Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 1-1 Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type, 2018 - 2022P (percent of overall households)
- Mixed Pet Ownership Trends in Wake of COVID-19
- Increase in Upper-Income, Decrease in Lower-Income Pet Owners
- Key Pet Owner Psychographics
- Pet Parenting and Pets as Family
- Pet Parenting Day and Night
- The Pet Market as Health Market
- Pet Parents Hunt for Pet Health Products
- Addressing Pet Stress Among Dogs and Cats
- Addressing Aging, Weight Conditions of Dogs and Cats
- Veterinarians’ Status as Pet Care Arbiters Is Under Pressure
- Pet Food as Health Care
- Telemedicine and “Smart” Health Product Trends
- Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
- Overall Pet Acquisition Trends: Dogs, Cats, Other Pets
- Pet Acquisition Sequence by Type of Pet
- Industry-Wide Focus on Pet Adoption
- Annual Pet Acquisition Trends
- Pet Acquisition Patterns by Type
- Age of Dogs Adopted
- Size of Dogs/Cats Adopted
- Impulse vs. Planned: Nature of Pet Acquisition
- Sources of Pet Acquisition
- Influencers on Pet Adoption
- Overall Pet Owner Demographics
- Key Demographic Variables to Pet Ownership Rates
- PET POPULATION PROJECTIONS
- Table 1-2 Household Pet Ownership Rates, 2018 vs. 2022P vs. 2026P (percent)
- FOCUS ON DOGS AND CATS
- Dog or Cat Ownership Demographics
- Topline Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Dog and Cat Ownership Demographics
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Dog Ownership Trends
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Trends by Number of Dogs Owned
- Over Half of Dog Owners Have Senior Dogs
- Trend Away From Smallest Dogs
- Most Popular Breeds of Dog Owned
- Overweight and Special Needs Dogs
- Cat Ownership Trends
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Cats Gain Market Representation
- Trends by Number of Cats Owned
- Size of Cats Owned
- Growth in Share of Cat Owners with Senior Cats
- FOCUS ON OTHER PETS
- Topline Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- 14% of Households Own “Other Pets”
- A Return to Form for Other Pets
- Types of Freshwater Fish Owned
- Types of Birds Owned
- Types of Herptiles Owned
- Types of Small Mammals Owned
CHAPTER 2: PET OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW
- CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Topline Pet Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 2-1a Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type, 2018 - 2022P (percent of overall households)
- Table 2-1b Number of Pet-Owning Households by Type, 2018 - 2022P (in millions)
- Mixed Pet Ownership Trends in Wake of COVID-19
- Table 2-2 Topline Pet Ownership Growth, 2011/12 - 2021/22 (number of pet-owning households and percentage growth)
- Table 2-3a Pet Ownership Rates: Overall and by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent of overall households)
- Table 2-3b Number of Pet-Owning Households: Overall and by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (in thousands)
- Increase in Upper-Income, Decrease in Lower-Income Pet Owners
- KEY PET OWNER PSYCHOGRAPHICS
- Pet Parenting and Pets as Family
- Figure 2-1 Level of Agreement with Statement: “I consider my dogs/cats/other pets to be part of the family,” 2022 (percent of pet owners)
- Figure 2-2 Level of Agreement with the Statement, “My pets are central to my home life,” 2022 (percent of pet owners)
- Pet Parenting Day and Night
- Figure 2-3 Where Pets Are Typically Kept, 2022 (percent of dog and cat owners)
- Figure 2-4 Where Pet Owners Feed Their Pets, 2022 (percent of dog and cat owners)
- Figure 2-5 Where Pets Sleep, 2022 (percent of dog and cat owners)
- The Pet Market as Health Market
- Table 2-4 Level of Agreement with Statement: “My pets are important to my physical/mental health,” January 2022 (percent of dog, cat, and other pet owners)
- Pet Parents Hunt for Pet Health Products
- Figure 2-6 Level of Agreement with the Statement, “I look for products to improve my pet’s health and wellness,” 2022 (percent of pet owners)
- Figure 2-7 Pet Owner Concerns about Pet Health and Wellness, Nov/Dec 2020 vs. Jan 2022 (percent of pet owners)
- Addressing Pet Stress Among Dogs and Cats
- Figure 2-8 Pet Experiencing Anxiety and Behavioral Problems, 2022 (percent of dog and cat owners)
- Addressing Aging, Weight Conditions of Dogs and Cats
- Veterinarians’ Status as Pet Care Arbiters Is Under Pressure
- Table 2-5 Most Important Sources of Pet Care Information: By Generational Cohort, 2022 (percent)
- Pet Food as Health Care
- Figure 2-9 Pet Health Products Considered Most Important: Dog vs. Cat Owners, 2022 (percent)
- Telemedicine and “Smart” Health Product Trends
- Table 2-6 Levels of Agreement with Selected Veterinary Care Statements: By Generational Cohort, 2022 (percent)
- Figure 2-10 Use of Technology in Pet Care, 2022 (percent of pet owners)
- Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
- Figure 2-11 New Wave Pet Product Purchasing Priorities by Generation (percent of pet owners)
- Figure 2-12 Sustainability Behaviors and Attitudes Regarding Pet Food by Generation (percent of pet owners)
- OVERALL PET ACQUISITION TRENDS: DOGS, CATS, OTHER PETS
- Pet Acquisition Sequence by Type of Pet
- Table 2-7 Sequence of Pet Acquisition by Type of Pet, 2022 (percent)
- Industry-Wide Focus on Pet Adoption
- Illustration 2-1 Industry-Wide Focus on Pet Adoption
- Annual Pet Acquisition Trends
- Table 2-8 Changes in Household Levels of Pet Ownership Compared with Previous Year, 2020 vs. 2021 (percent of pet owners who have had pets 2+ years)
- Table 2-9 Types of Pets Adopted/Acquired in Last 12 Months, 2020-2022 (percent of households)
- Pet Acquisition Patterns by Type
- Table 2-10 Types of Pets Adopted/Acquired Since 2021 (percent of households)
- Age of Dogs Adopted
- Table 2-11 Age of Dogs/Cats Adopted in Last 12 Months, 2022 (percent of recent dog/cat adopters)
- Size of Dogs/Cats Adopted
- Table 2-12 Size of Dogs Adopted in Last 12 Months, 2022 (percent of recent dog adopters)
- Impulse vs. Planned: Nature of Pet Acquisition
- Table 2-13 Nature of Pet Acquisition in Last 12 Months: By Type of Pet, 2022 (percent of recent pet acquirers)
- Sources of Pet Acquisition
- Table 2-14 Source of Pet Acquisition in Last 12 Months: By Type of Pet, 2022 (percent of recent pet acquirers)
- Influencers on Pet Adoption
- Table 2-15 Influencer on Pet Acquisition in Last 12 Months: By Type of Pet, 2022 (percent of recent pet acquirers)
- OVERALL PET OWNER DEMOGRAPHICS
- Key Demographic Variables to Pet Ownership Rates
- Table 2-16 Pet Ownership Rates by Key Demographic Variables, Spring 2022 (percent who own, percent of owners, number of households in thousands, and index)
- Key Demographic Variables and Pet Ownership Growth
- Table 2-17 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 2-18 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 2-19 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 2-20 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 2-21 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 2-22 Pet Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type/Kind of Residence, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES FOR PET OWNERSHIP OVERALL
- Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 2-23a Ownership Rates for Any Pets: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 2-23b Customer Base for Ownership of Any Pets: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- PET POPULATION PROJECTIONS
- Figure 2-11 University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, July 2018 - July 2022
- Figure 2-12 U.S. Population Growth Rate, 2000-2030P
- Figure 2-13 U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2016, 2030P, and 2060P (number in thousands)
- Table 2-24 Pet Owner Population by Race and Ethnicity, 2018 - 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 2-25 Household Population Composition Patterns, 2018 vs. 2028P (number in millions and percent of total)
- Table 2-26 Homeowner Population Composition Patterns, 2018 vs. 2028P (number in millions, percent of homeowners, and percent of households)
- Table 2-27 National and Pet Owner Population of Households with Income of $100,000 or more, 2013 - 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 2-28 Household Pet Ownership Rates, 2018 vs. 2022P vs. 2026P (percent)
CHAPTER 3: FOCUS ON DOGS AND CATS
- CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
- DOG OR CAT OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS
- Topline Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 3-1 Dog or Cat Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent and number of overall households)
- Key Demographic Variables to Dog or Cat Ownership Rates
- Table 3-2 Dog or Cat Ownership Rates by Key Demographic Variables, Spring 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Key Demographic Variables and Dog or Cat Ownership Growth
- Table 3-3 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-4 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-5 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-6 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-7 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-8 Dog or Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type/Kind of Residence, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES FOR OWNERSHIP OF DOGS OR CATS
- Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 3-9 Dog or Cat Ownership Rates: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 3-10 Dog or Cat Owner Customer Base: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- DOG AND CAT OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Table 3-11 Dog and Cat Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent and number of overall households)
- Key Demographic Variables to Dog + Cat Ownership Rates
- Table 3-12 Dog and Cat Ownership Rates by Key Demographic Variables, Spring 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Key Demographic Variables and Dog and Cat Ownership Growth
- Table 3-13 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2017, 2019, 202 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-14 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-15 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-16 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-17 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, number in thousands, and share of total owners)
- Table 3-18 Dog and Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type/Kind of Residence, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES FOR OWNERSHIP OF DOGS AND CATS
- Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 3-19 Dog and Cat Ownership Rates: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 3-20 Dog and Cat Owner Customer Base: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- DOG OWNERSHIP TRENDS
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Table 3-21 Dog Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent and number of overall households)
- Trends by Number of Dogs Owned
- Table 3-22a Household Ownership Rates for Dogs: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent of U.S. households)
- Table 3-22b Dog Ownership Distribution by Number of Dogs, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent of dog-owning households)
- Table 3-22c Household Base of Dog Owners: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (in thousands)
- Over Half of Dog Owners Have Senior Dogs
- Table 3-23 Percent of Dog-Owning Households With Puppies Under Age 1 or Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2011/22 - 2021/22 (percent)
- Trend Away From Smallest Dogs
- Figure 3-1 Size of Pet Dogs Acquired in Last 12 Months, February 2022 (percent of dog owners)
- Table 3-24 Distribution of Dog-Owning Households by Size of Dogs, 2011/12 - 2021/22 (percent of dog owners)
- Most Popular Breeds of Dog Owned
- Overweight and Special Needs Dogs
- Table 3-25 Share of Dog Owners Who Report Having Overweight, Special Needs, or Handicapped Dogs, 2022 (percent)
- DOG OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS
- Key Demographic Variables to Dog Ownership Rates
- Table 3-26 Dog Ownership Rates by Key Demographic Variables, Spring 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Key Demographic Variables and Dog Ownership Growth
- Table 3-27 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-28 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-29 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, number in thousands, and share of total owners)
- Table 3-30 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-31 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-32 Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type/Kind of Residence, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES FOR DOG OWNERSHIP
- Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 3-33 Dog Ownership Rates: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 3-34 Dog Owner Customer Base: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- CAT OWNERSHIP TRENDS
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Table 3-35 Cat Ownership, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent and number of overall households)
- Cats Gain Market Representation
- Figure 3-2 Agreement with the Statement, “Cats are sometimes treated as second-class citizens by…”, 2019 vs. 2022 (percent of cat owners)
- Trends by Number of Cats Owned
- Table 3-36a Household Ownership Rates for Cats: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent of U.S. households)
- Table 3-36b Cat Ownership Distribution by Number of Cats, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (percent of cat-owning households)
- Table 3-36c Household Base of Cat Owners: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018/19 - 2021/22 (in thousands)
- Size of Cats Owned
- Figure 3-3 Agreement with the Statement, “Cats are sometimes treated as second-class citizens by…”, 2019 vs. 2022 (percent of cat owners)
- Growth in Share of Cat Owners with Senior Cats
- Table 3-37 Percentage of Cat-Owning Households With Kittens Under Age 1 or Senior Cats Age 7+, 2011/12 - 2021/22 (percent)
- Overweight and Special Needs Cats
- Table 3-38 Share of Cat Owners Who Report Having Overweight, Special Needs, or Handicapped Cats, 2022 (percent)
- CAT OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS
- Key Demographic Variables to Cat Ownership Rates
- Table 3-39 Cat Ownership Rates by Key Demographic Variables, Spring 2022 (percent who own, percent of owners, number of households in thousands, and index)
- Key Demographic Variables and Cat Ownership Growth
- Table 3-40 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-41 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-42 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-43 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-44 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- Table 3-45 Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Type/Kind of Residence, 2017, 2019, 2022 (percent who own, share of total owners, and number of households in thousands)
- DETAILED DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES FOR CAT OWNERSHIP
- Ownership Rates and Customer Base
- Table 3-46 Cat Ownership Rates: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
- Table 3-47 Cat Owner Customer Base: By Demographic, Spring 2017, Fall 2019, and Spring 2022 (number in thousands)
CHAPTER 4: FOCUS ON OTHER PETS
- CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
- TOPLINE OWNERSHIP RATES AND CUSTOMER BASE
- 14% of Households Own “Other Pets”
- Table 4-1 Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type, 2018 - 2022P (percent of overall households)
- A Return to Form for Other Pets
- Table 4-2 Household Ownership Rates: Pets Other Than Dogs and Cats by Type, 2022 (percent of households)
- Types of Freshwater Fish Owned
- Figure 4-1 Types of Freshwater Fish Owned, 2020 (percent of freshwater fish owners)
- Types of Birds Owned
- Figure 4-2 Types of Pet Birds Owned, 2020 (percent of pet bird owners)
- Types of Herptiles Owned
- Figure 4-3 Types of Herptile Pets Owned: Turtles, Lizards, Snakes, and Other, 2022 (percent of herptile owners)
- Types of Small Mammals Owned
- Figure 4-4 Types of Small Animal Pets Owned: Guinea Pigs, Rabbits, Hamsters, 2022 (percent of small animal pet owners)
