Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.

Another important question that Pet Population and Ownership trends in the U.S. considers: Why are Hispanic consumers key drivers in buttressing pet ownership rates, and consequently pet populations in the U.S., in the future? Packaged Facts expects that as U.S.-born generations of Latinos grow in numbers, the dog population in the U.S. will increase dramatically along with the Latino demographic. As Hispanic consumers become more acculturated, their pet ownership trends have been found to be more likely to own dogs. The most acculturated Hispanics (those who have relatively low attachment to their original culture and who are English-dominant or bi-lingual) are even more likely than U.S. adults on average to be dog owners (43% vs. 41%), and are becoming the most prominent drivers of the dog population in the U.S. 

Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S. takes an in-depth look at these emerging pet ownership trends and other trends affecting the future of the pet industry. Included within the report are detailed estimates of the size of pet populations in the U.S. today, as well as projected growth totals in the dog and cat populations. Also contained within the report are demographic and attitudinal profiles of owners of dogs, cats and other pets, such as fish, birds and reptiles.

Scope and Methodology

Pet Population and Ownership Trends analyzes trends in the growth of the pet population and highlights the demographic and psychographic characteristics of pet owners. The report is based on two primary data sources. The first source of data is compiled from Packaged Facts National Online Consumer Surveys conducted in January/February, April/May and July/August 2014. These surveys reflect a panel of 2,000 U.S. adults (age 18+) balanced to the national population on the primary demographic measures of gender, age bracket, race/ethnicity, geographic region, marital status, presence or absence of children in the household and household income.

The other source of primary data is Simmons National Consumer Study (NCS) for Spring 2014 from Experian Marketing Services. This survey was fielded from April 2013 through June 2014. (The report uses the Spring 2004 NCS in the case of 10-year-trend tables and figures and Spring 2009 for 5-year-trend tables and figures.) Experian Marketing Services regularly conducts booklet-based surveys of a large and random sample of consumers (approximately 25,000 for each 12-month survey compilation) who in aggregate represent a statistically accurate cross-section of the U.S. population. The report is also based on a review of industry sources.

The report is organized in terms of the categorization of pet population data collected by Simmons NCS. In addition to capturing information on dog and cat ownership, Simmons NCS asks respondents to identify the number of pets they own in the following categories: fish, birds, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters and other pets. Small animals such as gerbils, ferrets and guinea pigs are the primary pets accounted for in the other category. Other pets also include animals ranging from horses to poultry.