Pet Ownership Statistics and Facts in 2023 – Forbes Advisor

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Pet Ownership Statistics 2023

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Pet ownership in the US has jumped dramatically over the past three decades. As of 2023, 66% of US households (86.9 million homes) own a pet.[1] That’s up from 56 percent in 1988, pet ownership statistics show. From companionship to emotional support, pets are an integral part of their owners’ lives. In fact, 85% of dog owners and 76% of cat owners consider their pets to be members of the family.[2]

Forbes Advisor dives deep into the latest pet owner statistics to find out which pets are the most popular, how pet ownership and spending habits differ by generation, the cost of pet ownership and the most common lifestyle sacrifices pet owners make.

Pet Ownership in America at a Glance

  • 66% of US households (86.9 million homes) own a pet.[1]
  • Dogs are the most popular pets in the US (65.1 million US households own a dog), followed by cats (46.5 million households) and freshwater fish (11.1 million households).[1]
  • Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners (33%), followed by Gen X (25%) and baby boomers (24%). [1]
  • In the year Americans will spend $136.8 billion on pets in 2022, up 10.68 percent from 2021 ($123.6 billion).[1]
  • Dog owners spend an average of $730 a year on their dogs. [4]
  • 42% of dog owners and 43% of cat owners got their pets from a store, while 38% of dog owners and 40% of cat owners got their pets from an animal shelter or rescue.[2]

Pet owner statistics

According to pet ownership statistics analyzed by Forbes Consulting, the percentage of American pet owners has risen over the past 35 years.

The ever-increasing rate of pet ownership in the US comes at a time when pet insurance is rapidly gaining in popularity. The once obscure insurance product has doubled from 2018 to 2021. [8]

Pet insurance prevents you from paying the full cost of unexpected pet bills if your pet is injured or sick. It’s a smart way to add a layer of financial security to your budget. Here are more interesting facts related to pet ownership

  • As of 2023, 66% of US households (86.9 million homes) own a pet.[1]
  • Pet ownership has increased dramatically over the past three decades. In the year In 1988, 56% of American households owned a pet.[1]
  • 78% of pet owners polled by Forbes had pets during the pandemic.[3]
  • Households with annual incomes of $100,000 or more are most likely to own a pet: 63% of households in this income bracket own dogs and 40% own cats.[2]
  • Homeowners are more likely than renters to own a pet: 58% of homeowners own a dog and 36% have a cat.[2]
  • 42% of dog owners and 43% of cat owners got their pets from a store, while 38% of dog owners and 40% of cat owners got their pets from an animal shelter or rescue.[2]
  • 23% of dog owners say they got their dog from a breeder compared to 7% of cat owners.[2]
  • While the number of pet-owning households increased between 2016 and 2020, pet owners are more likely to own fewer pets.[2]
  • 65% of dog-owning households owned only one dog in 2020, compared to 60% in 2016 and 56% of cat-owning households owned only one cat in 2020, compared to 53% in 2016.[2]

Pet ownership by generation

Pet ownership statistics show that millennials make up the highest percentage of pet owners in the U.S. Among these generations are:

  • Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners (33%), followed by Gen X (25%) and baby boomers (24%).[1]

  • Gen Z pet owners (ages 18 to 25) are more likely to own a variety of pets than other age groups.[3]
  • Gen X pet owners (ages 42 to 57) are less likely to own pets other than cats and dogs, such as hamsters, birds and fish.[3]

The most popular pets in the US

The most common pets in America are dogs and cats, but there is still a lot of love for other animals and breeds. Millions of households include fish, birds and small animals such as hamsters and rabbits.

They are the most popular pets in the US [1]:

  1. Dogs (65.1 million households)
  2. Cats (46.5 million households)
  3. Freshwater fish (11.1 million households)
  4. Small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice and ferrets (6.7 million households)

Are cats or dogs more popular?

Whether cats or dogs make the best companions, it has long been a debate among many pet parents. Popularity certainly has nothing to do with how much a pet is loved by the human family. But in terms of ownership, more households include dogs than cats.

  • Dogs are more popular than cats in America. In 2022, 44.5% of American households own dogs, and 29% of households own cats.[2]
  • In the year Between 2016 and 2022, the percentage of American households that own a dog increased by 6.1 percentage points, from 38.4% to 44.5%, while the percentage of households that own a cat increased by 4 percentage points, from 25% to 29%.[2]
  • In 2020, the number of pet dogs is estimated at 83.7 million to 88.9 million, and the number of cats is estimated at 60.2 million to 61.9 million.[2]

The cost of pet ownership

The love of a pet is priceless, but the price of owning one is not. Veterinary treatment, care, food, medicine and other costs add up quickly. For example, in a survey of more than 5,000 American dog owners, Forbes Consulting found that 41% of dog owners spend between $500 and $1,999 a year on their dogs, and 8% spend more than $2,000. [4] And if an unexpected pet bill pops up for a big event, you could end up running into thousands of dollars just for that—42% of pet owners say they can’t afford a surprise pet bill of $999 or less.[6]

Pet insurance can pay you a portion of the bill for your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses. While you may not want to add another expense to your pet care expenses, you may be surprised to learn how affordable pet insurance can be.

The average pet insurance for dogs is $44 per month and the average pet insurance for cats is $30 per month, according to Forbes Advisor analysis. Having pet insurance is like putting a limit on pet expenses that keep them from spiraling out of control. That can leave you with more money to spoil your furry friend.

A closer look at the cost of pet ownership:

  • In 2020, households spent an average of $326 on (veterinary and medical) care, accounting for 33% of total spending on pets.[2]
  • A Forbes Consulting survey of more than 5,000 American dog owners found that dog owners spend an average of $730 a year on their dogs.[4]
  • 36 percent of dog owners spend between $200 and $499 on their dogs each year. [4]
  • 41% of dog owners spend between $500 and $1,999 a year on their dog, and 8% spend more than $2,000. [4]
  • Dog owners spend the most on veterinary care ($367 per year), food ($339 per year) and grooming ($99 per year).[2]
  • Cat owners spend the most on food ($310 per year), veterinary care ($253 per year) and toys ($50 per year).[2]
  • Gen Z pet owners (ages 18 to 25) are more likely to spoil their pets with birthday cakes (34%), birthday presents (39%) and clothing or apparel (32%).[3]
  • Gen Z pet owners are most likely to spend money on behavior training (41%), doggy daycare (35%), specialty pet food (44%) and dog walking services (31%).[3]

Find the best pet insurance companies of 2023

Total pet industry costs

Expenses for pets are over, reflecting pet ownership and pet insurance sales include:

  • The Americans They spent $136.8 billion on pets in 2022, up 10.68 percent from 2021 ($123.6 billion).[1]
  • This includes $58.1 billion in pet food and medical expenses, $31.5 billion in supplies, live animals and prescription drugs, $35.9 billion in animal care, and $11.4 billion in other services (all non-veterinary services such as boarding). , care, pet insurance and training).[1]
  • In the year Between 2018 and 2022, spending on pets in the US will increase by 51.16% from $90.5 billion to $136.8 billion.[1]

Dog owner regrets.

There’s no denying the benefits of dog ownership, but being responsible for a dog comes with its own set of challenges. These obligations may make some regret owning a dog, according to a survey of 2,000 dog owners by Forbes Consulting. Dogs, the challenges of finding dog care and dog training are among the top reasons why people regret getting a dog. The cost of veterinary bills is a burden for some dog owners and can affect how often dogs go to the vet.

Here’s more about dog owner regrets and concerns about pet bills:

  • 54% of dog owners regret getting a dog.[5]
  • Dog owners cited cleaning up after the dog (27%), taking care of the dog when traveling or going to work (26%), training the dog (25%), expense (24%) and barking or crying (24%) as the biggest challenges associated with dog ownership. .[5]
  • A pet bill of $999 or less puts 42% of pet owners into debt, while a pet bill of $499 or less puts 28% of pet owners into debt.[6]
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 3% of pet owners gave up their pets.[6] The top reasons for selling or giving away pets are inflation (12%), rising rents (10%), inability to afford pet medical bills (7%) and pet deposits (5%). ).[6]

Great sacrifices made by dog ​​owners

Most dog owners (85%) and cat owners (76%) consider their pets to be family members.[2] And a Forbes Consulting survey of 10,000 dog owners found that dog owners make professional, financial and life sacrifices for their companions. [7]

The top lifestyle choices paid by dog ​​owners include:

  • 39.29% live on a tight budget to cover their dog’s expenses.
  • 13.96% moved from an apartment to a house so their dog could have a yard.
  • 7.47% stayed at a job they didn’t like because they could work remotely or have a dog-friendly office.
  • 6.78% broke up with an adult who didn’t like their dog.
  • They took a 5.25% pay cut or received fewer perks to work remotely or have access to a dog-friendly office.
  • 4.57% left a job they loved because another company allowed them to work from home or had a dog-friendly office.
  • 36% of dog owners said they spend $4,000 or more out of pocket for their dog’s life-saving medical care.

States with the most devoted dog owners

Colorado tops the list of states with the most loyal dog owners, followed by Virginia, Georgia, Alaska and Nevada.[7] These are not the only states that are home to loyal dog owners.

  • Five of the top 10 states with the most loyal dog owners are located in the Pacific and West, including Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, Washington and Oregon.[7]
  • Ohio dog owners are the most likely to report living on a budget, followed by Wisconsin (44.5%) and Montana dog owners (44%).[7]
  • Nevada dog owners were more likely to report that their dogs had moved from an apartment to a house, followed by Colorado (19.5%) and Kansas dog owners (19%).[7]
  • Nevada dog owners were more likely to leave a job they loved because another company allowed them to work from home or had a dog-friendly office (8.5%).[7]
  • Dog owners from Rhode Island are more likely to stay at a job they don’t like because they prefer to work remotely or have a dog-friendly office (15.5%).[7]

Most pet friendly cities

Features like hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and skyline views are nice, but for many pet owners, that’s not a priority. According to a Forbes Consulting survey, more than two-thirds of Americans would pass on the perfect home if it wasn’t pet-friendly.

If you’re a pet owner, we’ve compared the 91 most populous cities to find the best cities for pet owners to find nearby dog ​​parks, pet stores, and affordable pet hunting. We analyzed data in four key categories: cat and dog veterinary costs, access to veterinary care, and pet-friendly locations.

Sources

  1. American Pet Products Association (2023-2024)
  2. American Veterinary Medical Association, 2018 and 2022 Pet Ownership and Demographics Resource Book
  3. Forbes Advisor: Survey: 78% Have Pets During Pandemic
  4. Forbes Advisor: States with the Most Bad Dogs
  5. Forbes Advisor: 54% of dog owners regret getting a dog.
  6. Forbes Advisor: 42% of pet owners can’t afford unexpected pet bills amid inflation
  7. Forbes Advisor: States with the Most Loyal Dog Owners, Ranked
  8. Pet Health Insurance Association of North America: State of the Industry 2022 Report

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