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Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 2nd Edition
Around 67 million households, or 55% of all households, own pets. This second edition of Packaged Facts’ Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets analyzes trends in pet ownership and provides a demographic profile of the population of pet owners as well as highlights of the consumer behavior and attitudes of pet owners.
Around 67 million households, or 55% of all households, own pets. This second edition of Packaged Facts’ Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets analyzes trends in pet ownership and provides a demographic profile of the population of pet owners as well as highlights of the consumer behavior and attitudes of pet owners.
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Scope and Methodology
- Topline Trends and Opportunities
- 5% of American Households Have Pets
- Dogs Rule
- Growth in Pet Ownership Outpaced Total Household Growth Over Past Decade
- Profile of Pet Owners Shifted Over Past 10 Years
- Dog Owners Drive Growth in Pet Ownership and Pet Population
- Multi-Pet Households Key Growth Factor
- Merchandising Key Factor in Success of New Products
- Urban-Rural Divide Provides Challenges for Pet Product Marketers
- Aging Boomers More Likely Than Previous Generation to Own Pets
- Dog Population and Ownership Trends
- Dog Ownership Up 29% in Past Decade
- Multiple-Dog Households Grow at Faster Rate
- Growth in Number of Dog Owners Far Exceeds Population Growth
- Millennials and Boomers Drive Growth in Dog Ownership
- Multicultural Segments Boost Dog Ownership
- High-Income Segments Propel Increase in Dog Ownership
- Number of Unmarried or Childless Dog Owners Jumps
- Boomers Are More Attached to Large Dogs
- Large Dogs Foster Feeling of Extra Security, Small Dogs Seen as Offering Other Benefits
- Millennials or City Dwellers Most Likely to Have Dogs with Stress Issues
- Aging Boomers Maintain Interest in Owning Dogs
- Non-Hispanic Whites Overrepresented in Population of Dog Owners
- Half of Dog Owners Live in 25 Largest Metro Markets
- Owners of Multiple Dogs More Likely to Splurge on Their Pets
- Cat Population and Ownership Trends
- 59 Million Americans Own Cats
- Most Cats Live with Others of Their Kind
- Little Growth in Cat Population Ownership Over Past Decade
- Increase in Multi-Cat Households Helps Stem Decline in Cat Population
- Cat Owners Get Additional Cats for Their Cats and Themselves
- Women Responsible for Most of the Growth in Cat Owner Population
- Cat Ownership Among Seniors Up 43% in Last Decade
- Cat Ownership Way Up Among Hispanics
- Affluent Consumers Help Stem Decline in Cat Ownership
- 24% of Owners Have Overweight Cats
- Cats Most Likely to Be Fed in Kitchen
- Urban Cat Owners Like to Pamper Their Cats, Rural Cat Owners Not So Much
- Owners of Multiple Cats More Likely to Turn to Discount Stores for Pet Products
- Cat Owners Look for Cat Foods with the Right Protein and a Taste Their Cats Like
- Owners of One Cat More Prone to Use of Pet Services
- Pet Population and Ownership Trends: Other Pets
- Birds, Fish and Other Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pets Live in 15 Million Households
- 23% of Pet Owners Have a Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pet
- Population of Other Pets Reaches 86 Million
- Some Categories of Other Pets Have Declined in Popularity
- Boomers Less Interested in Pets Other Than Cats or Dogs
- Latinos Most Likely to Own Pet Birds
- Regional Differences in Other Pet Ownership Patterns
- High Income Closely Associated with Ownership of Other Pets
- Children Major Factor in Ownership of Other Pets
- Introduction
- Insights and Opportunities
- The Pet Population and Pet Ownership Today
- 55% of American Households Have Pets
- Table Number of Households with Pets by Type of Pet, 2016 (in thousands)
- Table Number of Adults with Pets by Type of Pet, 2016 (in thousands)
- Dogs Rule
- Table Pet Population by Type of Pet, 2016 (in thousands)
- Dog Owners Least Likely to Have Other Pets
- Table Cross-Ownership of Pets by Type of Pet Owned, 2016
- Demographic Profile of Pet Owners Varies Widely Across Different Types of Pets
- Table Demographic Profile of Pet Owners by Type of Pet Owned, 2016
- Growth in Pet Ownership Outpaced Total Household Growth Over Past Decade
- Profile of Pet Owners Shifted Over Past 10 Years
- Growth in Pet Ownership Slowed in Past Five Years
- Ownership Trends Vary by Type of Pet
- Dog Owners Drive Growth in Pet Ownership and Pet Population
- Table Change in Number of Households and Adults with Pets and Number of Pets by Type of Pet, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Multi-Pet Households Key Growth Factor
- Table Number of Households by Number and Type of Pets, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- 55% of American Households Have Pets
- Consumer Highlights
- Urban Pet Owners Spend More Even As They Feel More Stressed by Economy
- Older or Rural Pet Owners Least Likely to Buy Pet Products Online
- Owners of Multiple Dogs or Cats More Likely to Choose Online Pet Product Vendors
- Walmart Top Choice for Pet Owners Buying Pet Foods and Other Pet Supplies
- Table Top 10 Bricks-and-Mortar Channels Used by Pet Owners to Purchase Pet Products in Last Three Months by Product Type, 2017
- Calming Products Gain in Popularity
- In-Store Merchandising Can Help New Products Succeed
- Younger Pet Owners Look to Internet and Social Media for Information about Pet Foods
- Urban-Rural Divide Provides Challenges for Pet Product Marketers
- Table Key Psychographic Indicators by Place of Residence of Pet Owners, 2016-2017
- Factors Affecting Growth in Pet Ownership
- Pet Ownership Retains Hold on American Psyche
- Aging Boomers More Likely Than Previous Generation to Own Pets
- Millennials Buying In to Pet Ownership
- Hispanics Will Help Drive Growth
- Table Number of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Adults Owning Pets, 2007 vs. 2016 (in thousands)
- The Pet Population and Pet Ownership Today
- Dog Population and Ownership Trends
- Dog Ownership Trends
- Dog Ownership Up 29% in Past Decade
- Table Number of Households with Dogs by Number of Dogs in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- 105 Million Americans Own Dogs
- Table Number and Percent of Dog Owners by Number of Dogs in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Most Dogs Have Canine Companions of Their Own
- Table Number and Percent of Dogs by Number of Dogs in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Multiple-Dog Households Grow at Faster Rate
- Table Growth in Number of Households with Dogs by Number of Dogs in Household, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Number and Percent of Households with Dogs and Dog Population by Number of Dogs in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Additional Cost Seen as Barrier to Owning More Than One Dog
- Growth in Number of Dog Owners Far Exceeds Population Growth
- Table Growth in Number of Households with Dogs vs. Households Without Dogs, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Growth in Number of Dog Owners, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Millennials and Boomers Drive Growth in Dog Ownership
- Table Growth in Population of Dog Owners by Age Group, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Multicultural Segments Boost Dog Ownership
- Table Growth in Population of Dog Owners by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Smaller Cities and Rural Areas Post Major Gains in Number of Dog Owners
- Table Growth in Population of Dog Owners by Place of Residence, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- High-Income Segments Propel Increase in Dog Ownership
- Table Growth in Population of Dog Owners by Household Income, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Number of Unmarried or Childless Dog Owners Jumps
- Table Growth in Population of Dog Owners by Marital Status and Household Structure, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Dog Ownership Up 29% in Past Decade
- Key Characteristics of the Dog Population
- Nearly Half of Dogs Are Under Four Years Old
- Smaller Dogs Favored by Most Pet Owners but Boomers Remain Attached to Large Dogs
- Table Size of Dogs Owned by Presence of Children in Household, 2016-2017
- Small Dogs More Likely to Be Overweight
- Large Dogs Foster Feeling of Extra Security
- Small Dogs Seen as Offering Other Benefits
- Millennials or City Dwellers Most Likely to Have Dogs with Stress Issues
- Table Percent of Dog Owners Reporting Owning Dogs with Behavioral Problems or Anxiety/Stress Issues by Demographic Characteristic of Dog Owner, 2017
- Demographic Profile of Dog Owners
- Wide Demographic Gap Between Those Owning and Not Owning Dogs
- Table Key Demographic Differences between Dog Owners and Non-Dog Owners, 2016
- Dog Ownership Highly Correlated with Age
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Age Group, 2016
- Non-Hispanic Whites Overrepresented in Population of Dog Owners
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016
- Dog Ownership Less Prevalent in Largest Metro Areas
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Region and Place of Residence, 2016
- Dog Ownership Tied to Affluence
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Household Income, 2016
- Most Dog Owners Live in Households Without Children
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Presence and Age of Children, 2016
- Apartments Unfriendly to Dog Owners
- Table Ownership of Dogs by Kind of Residence, 2016
- Owners of Multiple Dogs Differ
- Table Demographic Profile of Dog Owners by Number of Dogs Owned, 2016
- Wide Demographic Gap Between Those Owning and Not Owning Dogs
- Consumer Highlights
- Owners of Multiple Dogs More Likely to Splurge on Their Pets
- Table Pet Products Bought in Last 12 Months by Dog Owners by Number of Dogs Owned, 2016
- Grooming Tops List of Services Sought by Dog Owners
- Table Use of Pet Services in Last 12 Months by Dog Owners by Number of Dogs Owned, 2017
- High-Quality Protein Top Factor in Choice of Dog Food
- Table Product Attributes Most Important to Dog Owners When Buying Pet Foods, 2017
- Owners of Multiple Dogs More Likely to Splurge on Their Pets
- Dog Ownership Trends
- Cat Population and Ownership Trends
- Cat Population and Ownership Trends
- 59 Million Americans Own Cats
- Table Number and Percent of Households with Cats by Number of Cats in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Table Number and Percent of Cat Owners by Number of Cats in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Most Cats Live with Others of Their Kind
- Table Number and Percent of Cats by Number of Cats in Household, 2016 (in thousands)
- Little Growth in Cat Population Ownership Over Past Decade
- Table Growth in Number of Households with Cats vs. Households without Cats, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Growth in Number of Cat Owners, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Increase in Multi-Cat Households Helps Stem Decline in Cat Population
- Table Growth in Number of Households with Cats by Number of Cats in Household, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Cat Population by Number of Cats in Household, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Cat Owners Get Additional Cats for Their Cats and Themselves
- Lack of Time, Energy or Funds Keep Many Cat Owners From Owning More Cats
- Table Barriers to Owning More Than One Cat by Demographic Characteristic of Owners, 2017
- 59 Million Americans Own Cats
- Growth Drivers
- Women Responsible for Most of the Growth in Cat Owner Population
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Age and Gender, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Cat Ownership Among Seniors Up 43% in Last Decade
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Age Group, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Cat Ownership Way Up Among Hispanics
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Rural Residents Boost Cat Ownership
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Region and Place of Residence, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Affluent, Educated Consumers Help Stem Decline in Cat Ownership
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Educational Attainment, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Growth in Population of Cat Owners by Household Income, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Women Responsible for Most of the Growth in Cat Owner Population
- Key Characteristics of the Cat Population
- Cat Population Split Between Those Under and Over Four Years of Age
- Table Age of Cats Owned by Number of Cats Owned, 2017
- Younger Owners Have Younger Cats
- 24% of Owners Have Overweight Cats
- Cats Most Likely to Be Fed in Kitchen
- Table Where Cat Owners Feed Their Cats, 2017
- Dental Hygiene or Breath Odor of Cats a Common Complaint
- Behavioral or Anxiety/Stress Issues Concern Majority of Cat Owners
- Table Percent of Cat Owners Reporting Owning Cats with Behavioral Problems or Anxiety/Stress Issues by Demographic Characteristic of Cat Owner, 2017
- Cat Population Split Between Those Under and Over Four Years of Age
- Demographic Profile of Cat Owners
- Many Differences Between Cat Owners and Others
- Table Key Demographic Differences between Cat Owners and Non-Cat Owners, 2016
- Cat Ownership More Prevalent Among Women
- Table Ownership of Cats by Age Group and Gender, 2016
- Cat Owners Remain Disproportionately Non-Hispanic White
- Table Ownership of Cats by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016
- Cat Ownership Flourishes Outside Major Metro Areas
- Table Ownership of Cats by Place of Residence, 2016
- Table Ownership of Cats by Region, 2016
- Affluent Adults Most Likely to Own Cats
- Table Ownership of Cats by Household Income, 2016
- Cats More Common in Households with Teens
- Table Ownership of Cats by Presence and Number of Children, 2016
- Table Ownership of Cats by Age of Children in Household, 2016
- Apartment Dwellers Spurn Cats
- Profile of Owners of Multiple Cats Differs
- Table Demographic Profile of Cat Owners by Number of Cats Owned, 2016
- Many Differences Between Cat Owners and Others
- Consumer Highlights
- Owners of Multiple Cats Feel Financial Strain
- Urban Cat Owners Like to Pamper Their Cats, Rural Cat Owners Not So Much
- Owners of Multiple Cats More Likely to Turn to Discount Stores for Pet Products
- Table Where Cat Owners Purchase Pet Products by Number of Cats Owned, 2016
- Table Pet Products Bought in Last 12 Months by Cat Owners by Number of Cats Owned, 2016
- Cat Owners Look for Cat Foods with the Right Protein and a Taste Their Cats Like
- Owners of One Cat More Prone to Use of Pet Services
- Table Use of Pet Services in Last 12 Months by Cat Owners by Number of Cats Owned, 2017
- Cat Population and Ownership Trends
- Pet Population and Ownership Trends: Other Pets
- Population and Ownership Trends
- Introduction
- Birds, Fish and Other Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pets Live in 15 Million Households
- Table Number and Percent of Households with Other Pets by Category, 2016 (in thousands)
- 23% of Pet Owners Have a Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pet
- Table Number and Percent of Adults with Other Pets by Category, 2016 (in thousands)
- Population of Other Pets Reaches 86 Million
- Table Number and Percent of Other Pets by Category, 2016 (in thousands)
- Some Categories of Other Pets Have Declined in Popularity
- Table Number of Households with Other Pets by Type of Pet, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Population of Other Pets Shrinks
- Table Change in Other Pet Population by Type of Pet, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Table Change in Number of Households with Other Pets by Number and Type of Pets, 2006-2016 (in thousands)
- Demographic Profile of Owners of Other Pets
- Boomers Less Interested in Pets Other Than Cats or Dogs
- Table Ownership of Fish, Birds, Reptiles and Rabbits or Hamsters by Age, 2016
- Latinos Most Likely to Own Pet Birds
- Table Ownership of Birds, Fish, Reptiles and Rabbits or Hamsters by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016 (in thousands)
- Regional Differences in Other Pet Ownership Patterns
- Table Ownership of Birds, Fish, Reptiles and Rabbits or Hamsters by Region and Place of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- High Income Closely Associated with Ownership of Other Pets
- Table Ownership of Birds, Fish, Reptiles and Rabbits or Hamsters by Household Income, 2016 (in thousands)
- Children Major Factor in Ownership of Other Pets
- Apartment Dwellers Less Likely to Have Other Pets
- Table Ownership of Birds, Fish, Reptiles and Rabbits or Hamsters by Type of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- Boomers Less Interested in Pets Other Than Cats or Dogs
- Demographic Profile of Owners of Pet Fish
- 73% of Fish Owners Are Below the Age of 50
- Table Ownership of Pet Fish by Age, Gender and Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016 (in thousands)
- No Urban-Rural Split Among Owners of Pet Fish
- Table Ownership of Pet Fish by Region and Place of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- Fish More Likely to Swim in Affluent Households
- Table Ownership of Pet Fish by Household Income, 2016 (in thousands)
- Pet Fish More Likely To Be Found in Larger Households
- Table Ownership of Pet Fish by Marital Status, Household Structure and Type of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- 73% of Fish Owners Are Below the Age of 50
- Demographic Profile of Owners of Pet Birds
- Hispanics Key Segment of Population of Bird Owners
- Table Ownership of Pet Birds by Age, Gender and Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016 (in thousands)
- Significant Regional Differences in Bird Ownership
- Table Ownership of Pet Birds by Region and Place of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- Bird Owners More Likely to Live in Middle-Income Households
- Table Ownership of Pet Birds by Household Income, 2016 (in thousands)
- Households with Teens Most Likely to Have Birds as Pets
- Table Ownership of Pet Birds by Marital Status, Household Structure and Type of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- Hispanics Key Segment of Population of Bird Owners
- Demographic Profile of Owners of Pet Reptiles
- 47% of Pet Reptile Owners Are Millennials
- Table Ownership of Pet Reptiles by Age, Gender and Race and Hispanic Origin, 2016 (in thousands)
- Residents of Pacific Region Lead in Ownership of Pet Reptiles
- Table Ownership of Pet Reptiles by Region and Place of Residence, 2016 (in thousands)
- Affluent Adults More Likely to Keep Reptiles as Pets
- Adults with Children in Household More Likely to Own Pet Reptiles
- 47% of Pet Reptile Owners Are Millennials
- Population and Ownership Trends
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