August 12, 2011
U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics
The following statistics were compiled from the American Pet Products Association 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey.
Dogs
- There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States
- Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
- Most owners (60 percent) own one dog
- Twenty-eight percent of owners own two dogs
- Twelve percent of owners own three or more dogs
- On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.69 percent)
- The proportion of male to female dogs is even
- Twenty-one percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
- On average, dog owners spent $248 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
- Seventy-eight percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered
Cats
- There are approximately 86.4 million owned cats in the United States
- Thirty-three percent of U.S. households own at least one cat
- Fifty-two percent of owners own more than one cat
- On average, owners have two cats (2.2)
- More female cats are owned than male cats (80 percent vs. 65 percent respectively)
- Twenty-one percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
- Cat owners spent an average of $219 on routine veterinary visits
- Eighty-eight percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered
For additional information on pet ownership statistics, contact the AAPA at 255 Glenville Rd., Greenwich, CT 06831, 203-532-0000, or visit www.americanpetproducts.org.
