December 30, 2009

U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics

The Humane Society of the United States

The following statistics were compiled from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey.

Dogs

 

  • There are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States
  • Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
  • Most owners (67 percent) own one dog
  • Twenty-four percent of owners own two dogs
  • Nine percent of owners own three or more dogs
  • On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.7)
  • The proportion of male to female dogs is even
  • Nineteen percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
  • On average, dog owners spent $225 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
  • Seventy-five percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered

Cats

 

  • There are approximately 93.6 million owned cats in the United States
  • Thirty-three percent of U.S. households (or 38.2 million) own at least one cat
  • Fifty-six percent of owners own more than one cat
  • On average, owners have two cats (2.45)
  • More female cats are owned than male cats (70 percent vs. 65 percent respectively)
  • Twenty-two percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
  • Cat owners spent an average of $203 on routine veterinary visits
  • Eighty-seven percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered

For additional information on pet ownership statistics, contact the APPMA at 255 Glenville Rd., Greenwich, CT 06831, 800-452-1225, or visit www.appma.org.

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