From new pet-loving city dwellers to multi-species suburban homes, the latest statistics reveal that America's affection for our animal companions has not only rebounded but soared to record heights, with 70% of U.S. households now opening their doors and hearts to a pet.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 70% of U.S. households owned a pet, up from 67% in 2022
- 86.9 million U.S. households owned pets in 2023 according to APPA survey data
- Pet ownership rate among millennials reached 33% of total pet-owning households in 2023
- 65.1 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
- 46.5 million households owned cats in 2023 APPA data
- Dog ownership among families with kids under 6 was 52% in 2023
- 46.5 million U.S. households owned cats in 2023
- Indoor-only cats made up 78% of owned cats in 2023 AVMA
- Siamese breed was top purebred cat with 4.5% share 2023
- 11.1 million U.S. freshwater fish tanks in 2023 households
- 9.6 million bird-owning households in U.S. 2023 APPA
- 6.2 million small animal households (hamsters etc.) 2023
- U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023
- Dog food expenditures totaled $58.1 billion in 2023 APPA
- Vet care costs for pets averaged $537 per household 2023
Pet ownership in the U.S. is high, diverse, and deeply cherished by families.
Cat Statistics
- 46.5 million U.S. households owned cats in 2023
- Indoor-only cats made up 78% of owned cats in 2023 AVMA
- Siamese breed was top purebred cat with 4.5% share 2023
- 25 million senior cats (11+ years) in U.S. homes 2023
- Cat ownership in single-person homes was 31% in 2023
- Shelter cat adoptions totaled 1.8 million in 2023
- Female cats outnumbered males by 8% in 2023 surveys
- Ragdoll cat breed rose to 5.1% popularity 2023 CFA
- 42% of cat owners had multiple cats in 2023 data
- Maine Coon held 4.8% of purebred cat market 2023
- 67% cat owners spay/neuter per 2023 vet reports
- Persian breed at 4.2% ownership in 2023 rankings
- British Shorthair popular with 3.9% share 2023
- 19 million declawed cats still in U.S. homes 2023 est.
- Abyssinian breed niche at 2.1% purebreds 2023
- Sphynx hairless cats grew 12% in ownership 2023
- 55% cat owners use litter boxes automated in 2023
- Bengal breed exotic ownership at 2.7% 2023 CFA
- Scottish Fold rose in popularity 3.4% share 2023
- Exotic Shorthair at 3.6% of purebreds 2023
- Devon Rex niche breed 1.9% ownership 2023
- Russian Blue steady 2.5% in 2023 cat stats
- Oriental Shorthair at 2.3% popularity 2023
- Birman breed 3.1% share in purebred cats 2023
- American Shorthair top domestic at 18% 2023
Cat Statistics Interpretation
The nation's feline landscape reveals a domesticated and devoted society where indoor solitude, senior snuggles, and automated litter boxes reign, proving that while we may not let cats rule the world, we've certainly let them thoroughly furnish our homes and our hearts.
Dog Statistics
- 65.1 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
- 46.5 million households owned cats in 2023 APPA data
- Dog ownership among families with kids under 6 was 52% in 2023
- Purebred dogs comprised 53% of all owned dogs in 2022 AVMA survey
- Small dog breeds (<25 lbs) owned by 42% of dog households in 2023
- 38% of dog owners reported adopting from shelters in 2023
- Labrador Retriever was the most popular dog breed with 9.2% ownership in 2023 AKC
- Male dogs outnumbered females by 10% in U.S. households 2023
- 27 million dogs were seniors (7+ years) in 2023 estimates
- Dog ownership in California led states with 12.5 million dogs in 2023
- 62% of dog owners walk their dogs daily per 2023 surveys
- French Bulldog rose to #2 most popular breed in 2023 with 7.8% share
- 15% of dogs were mixed breeds over 50 lbs in 2023 data
- Dog ownership rate among renters was 33% in 2023 apartment surveys
- Golden Retriever held 6.1% of dog population in 2023 AKC ranks
- 48% of military families owned dogs in 2023 DoD survey
- Puppy adoptions peaked at 2.1 million in 2023 shelters
- 71% of dog owners buy pet insurance increasingly in 2023
- German Shepherd ranked #3 breed with 5.9% ownership 2023
- 29% of dogs lived in multi-dog households in 2023
- Poodle varieties owned by 4.7% of dog households 2023
- Texas had 8.9 million pet dogs in 2023 state data
- 56% of dog owners train with professional help annually
- Bulldog breed share at 4.2% in 2023 rankings
- 22 million working dogs (service/hunting) in U.S. 2023
- Dachshund popular in 12% of small dog homes 2023
- Florida's dog population hit 6.3 million in 2023
- 64% dog owners microchip their pets per 2023 vet surveys
- Beagle breed at 3.8% ownership nationally 2023
- New York state had 2.1 million household dogs 2023
- Rottweiler ownership steady at 3.2% in 2023
Dog Statistics Interpretation
While America's love affair with dogs is a democratic and diverse tail-wagging tapestry—from California to New York, purebreds to shelter pups, and frisky Frenchies to senior statesmen—the prevailing truth is that we are a nation hopelessly devoted to our canine companions, with our statistics proving we’re more likely to walk, insure, and train them than we are to agree on anything else.
Economic and Behavioral Statistics
- U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023
- Dog food expenditures totaled $58.1 billion in 2023 APPA
- Vet care costs for pets averaged $537 per household 2023
- Pet insurance policies grew 18% to 4.1 million in 2023
- Supplies/toys spending $33.6 billion in 2023 industry
- 40% of pet owners bought online pet products in 2023
- Boarding/grooming services $9.2 billion revenue 2023
- OTC meds/supplements $2.8 billion sales 2023
- Cat litter market $3.5 billion in U.S. 2023
- Pet apparel sales reached $1.1 billion 2023 data
- Average annual dog spending $1,500 per owner 2023
- 67% pet owners humanize feeding (table food) 2023
- Live animal purchases $2.4 billion yearly 2023
- GPS trackers used by 28% dog owners 2023
- Premium pet food 52% market share 2023 Nielsen
- Telemedicine vet visits up 25% to 12 million 2023
- Raw/fresh pet food sales $1.9 billion 2023
- 35% owners celebrate pet birthdays 2023 surveys
- CBD pet products $1.2 billion market 2023
- Subscription boxes for pets 15 million users 2023
- Grooming salon visits averaged 4.2 per dog yearly 2023
- 49% owners use pet cameras/apps 2023 data
- Exotic pet food niche $800 million 2023
- Annual vet visits per pet averaged 2.1 in 2023
- 72% pet owners vaccinate yearly per 2023 CDC
Economic and Behavioral Statistics Interpretation
Americans are treating their pets like furry, four-legged royalty, to the tune of nearly $150 billion a year, proving that unconditional love now comes with a premium subscription and a side of birthday cake.
Other Pets Statistics
- 11.1 million U.S. freshwater fish tanks in 2023 households
- 9.6 million bird-owning households in U.S. 2023 APPA
- 6.2 million small animal households (hamsters etc.) 2023
- Reptile ownership reached 5.7 million households 2023
- Saltwater aquariums in 2.1 million homes 2023 data
- Horses owned by 1.6 million households in 2023
- 3.4 million ferret owners in U.S. 2023 surveys
- Parakeets most popular birds at 22% of bird homes 2023
- Goldfish topped freshwater fish with 15% share 2023
- Rabbits in 1.5 million households 2023 AVMA
- Bearded dragons led reptiles 28% ownership 2023
- Guinea pigs owned by 1.3 million families 2023
- Cockatiels second bird choice 18% in 2023
- Ball pythons 12% of reptile pets 2023 data
- Betta fish exotic freshwater at 11% share 2023
- Lovebirds niche birds 8% ownership 2023
- Leopard geckos 9% reptile market 2023
- Hamsters top small mammals 35% of category 2023
- African cichlids saltwater 7% aquariums 2023
- Conures parrots 6% bird homes 2023
- Corn snakes 8% reptile beginners 2023
- Gerbils 12% small pets after hamsters 2023
- Canaries songbirds 5% birds 2023 data
- Crested geckos rising 6% reptiles 2023
- Chinchillas exotic small pets 4% 2023
- Finches flock birds 9% total birds 2023
- Blue-tongue skinks 5% lizards 2023
Other Pets Statistics Interpretation
Americans are quietly building a domestic ark, meticulously prioritizing aquatic housing for fish over equine estates, while debating the finer points of small mammal democracy and lizard monarchy.
Overall Ownership Trends
- In 2023, 70% of U.S. households owned a pet, up from 67% in 2022
- 86.9 million U.S. households owned pets in 2023 according to APPA survey data
- Pet ownership rate among millennials reached 33% of total pet-owning households in 2023
- 44% of pet owners acquired their pet during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020-2022
- Urban households pet ownership stood at 62% in 2022 compared to 75% in rural areas
- 97% of pet owners consider pets family members in 2023 surveys
- Pet ownership in the U.S. South region was 72% of households in 2022, highest regionally
- Multi-pet households comprised 52% of all pet-owning homes in 2023
- Senior citizens over 65 had a 38% pet ownership rate in 2022
- 25% increase in first-time pet owners from 2019 to 2023 per industry reports
- 76 million households owned dogs or cats in 2023
- Pet ownership among Gen Z reached 39% in 2023 surveys
- 62% of Americans have a pet according to 2023 Gallup poll
- Suburban pet ownership rate was 68% in 2022 data
- 41 million U.S. households owned multiple species of pets in 2023
- Hispanic households pet ownership grew 15% from 2020-2023
- 55% of pet owners are married couples per 2023 stats
- Ownership rates for pets in apartments rose to 49% in 2023
- Black/African American pet ownership at 45% in 2022 surveys
- 2023 saw 68% pet ownership in households with children under 18
- Asian American pet ownership rate was 51% in 2023 data
- Single-person households pet ownership at 59% in 2022
- Northeast U.S. pet ownership lagged at 58% in 2023
- 73% of veteran households owned pets in 2023 VA survey
- LGBTQ+ households pet ownership exceeded 80% in 2023 polls
- 2023 pet ownership in Midwest U.S. was 69% of households
- Households with income over $100k had 78% pet ownership in 2023
- Low-income households (<$50k) pet ownership at 54% in 2023
- 65% of college-educated adults owned pets in 2023
- Remote workers pet ownership surged to 82% in 2023
Overall Ownership Trends Interpretation
While the American Dream may be fraying at the edges, it is clearly being dutifully, lovingly, and increasingly shared with a non-human companion who is considered family, proving that the pursuit of happiness is now a bipartisan, multi-species endeavor.
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