Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th edition

Publisher Packaged Facts

Published Feb 20, 2026

Length 140 Pages

SKU # LA20892741

Description

Current consumer confidence trends point to more positive prospects for cat population than for dog population growth. The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment was reported at 56 in January 2026, down by nearly half from its historical benchmark. This reverts to the ultra-low consumer confidence levels back in the territory of pandemic-era lows (which saw attrition in the pet population, despite mixed signals at the time), and far below indexes in the 90s for the years 2015 through 2019. From this consumer confidence perspective, puppy adoption patterns show a rough relationship to consumer sentiment trends, a relationship that does not hold for kitten adoption.

With detailed investigation of diverging dog vs. cat population patterns and of pet population growth factors, Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th edition, provides up-to-date, wide-ranging, and data-rich analysis. Report coverage includes the national population and macroeconomic context, pet ownership rates, pet population characteristics, pet owner demographics, and pet population projections for 2025 vs. 2029. An extensive set of tables and figures lay out pet ownership rates and pet owner demographics across several metrics, based on Packaged Facts’ proprietary National Surveys of Pet Owners and on historically trended MRI-Simmons National Consumer Survey data.

CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: SCOPE & METHODOLOGY; Scope of Report; Methodology; Generational Breakouts; Geographic Region Breakouts; Illustration 1-1. National Map by State, Geographic Region, and Census Region; OVERVIEW; Pet Ownership Psychographics; Topline Pet Ownership Rates; Figure 1-1. Change in Number of Households: Total Households, Dog Households, Dogs/Cat Households, and Cat Households, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent); COVID-19 and Pet Ownership Rates; Puppy vs. Kitten Adoption Trends; The Macro Context for Pet Population Growth; Projections Through 2029; OPPORTUNITIES; Affordability; Positive Prospects for Cat Population Growth; Pet Owner Psychographics; Macroeconomic Context
CHAPTER 2: PET OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: PET OWNER PSYCHOGRAPHICS; Motivations for Pet Ownership; Table 2-1. Reasons for Keeping Pets: Dog Owners, Cat Owners, and Other Pet Owners, 2025 (percent agreeing); Pets as Family; Table 2-2. Selected Pet Owner Psychographics: Dog Owners vs. Cat Owners, 2025 (percent agreeing); Pets in the House; Figure 2-1. Patterns for Keeping Dogs and Cats Inside or Out, 2025 (percent of pet owners); Figure 2-2. Patterns for Where Dogs and Cats Are Fed, 2025 (percent of pet owners); Figure 2-3. Patterns for Where Dogs and Cats Sleep, 2025 (percent of pet owners); Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February ii 2026 © Packaged Facts; OVERVIEW OF PET OWNERSHIP TRENDS; Topline Pet Ownership Rates; Figure 2-4. Change in Number of Households: Total Households, Dog Households, Dogs/Cat Households, and Cat Households, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent); Table 2-3a. Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type: Overall, Dogs, and Cats, 2019 – 2025 (percent of overall households); Table 2-3b. Number of Pet-Owning Households by Type: Overall, Dogs, and Cats, 2019 – 2025 (millions); Historical Dog vs. Cat Ownership Rates; Table 2-4. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs vs. Cats, 1990 – 2025 (percent); Puppy vs. Kitten Adoption Trends; Figure 2-5. Percent of Dog Owners with Puppies vs. Percent of Cat Owners with Kittens, 2010 – 2025 (% of dog/cat-owning households); Figure 2-6. Kitten Household Population as a Share of Puppy Household Population, 2019 – 2025 (percent); Table 2-5. Number of US Households with Dogs/Puppies vs. Cats/Kittens, 2010 –2025 (thousands); Widening Ownership by Age Bracket Drove Dog Population Growth; Table 2-6. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs by Pet Owner Age Bracket, 1990 – 2025 (percent); Generational Trends in Pet Ownership; Dog Ownership; Figure 2-7. Dog-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2020 – 2025 (thousands); Cat Ownership; Figure 2-8. Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2020 – 2025 (thousands); Table 2-7a. Dog/Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2020 – 2025 (thousands); Table 2-7b. Dog/Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2015 – 2019 (thousands); Table 2-7c. Dog/Cat-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2010 – 2014 (thousands); Length of Pet Ownership; Figure 2-9. Length of Pet Ownership: Dog Owners, Cat Owners, and Other Pet Owners, 2026 (thousands); Table 2-8. Length of Pet Ownership: Dog Owners, Cat Owners, and Other Pet Owners, 2026 (percent)
CHAPTER 3: THE MACRO CONTEXT AND PET POPULATION PROJECTIONS
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: NATIONAL POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD TRENDS; National Population Growth Patterns; Table 3-1. National Population at Decennial Censuses, 1910 –2020 (number and percent change); Table 3-2. Population Change for the US, 2022 –2035P (thousands and percent change); Figure 3-1. Total Fertility Rates in the US, 1960 – 2024 (selected years) (children per woman); Figure 3-2. US Immigrant Population Levels, 1850 – 2025 (percent of US population); Household Population Growth Patterns; Table 3-3. Annual Estimates of Housing Units for the US: Overall and by Region, 2020 – 2024 (thousands and percent change); Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February 2026 © Packaged Facts iii; Figure 3-3. Projected Homeowner Household Growth: Low-Immigration Scenario, 2001 – 2025 (percent of US population); Table 3-4. Projected Homeowner and Renter Household Patterns by Age Bracket and Race/Ethnicity: Low-Immigration Scenario, 2025 vs. 2035 (percentages and numerical change); MACROECONOMICS AND PET POPULATION; Housing Affordability; Figure 3-4. Home Price Index and Annual Change, 2010 – 2025 (index and percent); Housing Prices; Figure 3-5. Median Sales Price of Houses Sold in the United States, Q1 1963 –Q2 2025 (dollars); Mortgage Rates; Figure 3-6. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey: Average 30-Year and 15-Year Fixed Rates, January 2012 – January 2026 (percent); Table 3-5. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey: Average 30-Year and 15-Year Fixed Rates, January 2000 – January 2026 (percent); Home Insurance Premiums; Consumer Credit and Debt; Figure 3-7a. Total Housing and Non-Housing Debt Balance, Q1 2004 – Q3 2025 (trillion dollars); Figure 3-7b. Non-Housing Debt Balance, Q1 2004 – Q3 2025 (trillion dollars); The Student Loan Factor; Table 3-6. Student Loan Patterns by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent with loans, thousands of borrowers, percent of total borrowers, and index); Consumer Sentiment Trends; Figure 3-8. Consumer Sentiment Index, 2015 – 2026 (index); Consumer Sentiment Index and Puppy/Kitten Adoption Patterns; Table 3-7. Consumer Sentiment Index and Puppy/Kitten Population Patterns, 2015 – 2025 (index and percentages); Pet Shelter Adoption Patterns for Dogs vs. Cats; PET POPULATION PROJECTIONS; Projections Through 2029; Table 3-8. Projected Number of Pet-Owning Households by Type: Overall, Dogs, and Cats, 2025 vs. 2029P (millions and CAGR); Table 3-9. Projected Number of Dog-Owning Households: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 – 2029P (thousands and CAGR); Table 3-10. Projected Number of Cat-Owning Households: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 – 2029P (thousands and CAGR)
CHAPTER 4: PATTERNS BY DOG OR CAT OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: OVERVIEW BY DOG/CAT OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION; Topline Ownership Rates and Population; Table 4-1a. Household Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 – 2025 (percent); Table 4-1b. Household Ownership Base by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 – 2025 (thousands); Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February iv 2026 © Packaged Facts; Figure 4-1. Growth in Number of Pet-Owning Households by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent); Table 4-2a. Household Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification, 2003 – 2025 (percent); Table 4-2b. Number of Pet-Owning Households by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2003 – 2025 (thousands); Distribution Trends by Dog vs. Cat Ownership; Table 4-3. Distribution Trends by Dog vs. Cat Ownership, 2018 – 2025 (percent of overall dog/cat households); Key Demographics by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification; Table 4-4a. Pet Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2019, 2022, and 2025 (percent); Table 4-4b. Pet Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2019, 2022, and 2025 (index); Table 4-5a. Pet Ownership Propensity by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2019, 2022, and 2025 (percent); Table 4-5b. Pet Ownership Propensity by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification and Demographic, 2019, 2022, and 2025 (index)
CHAPTER 5: FOCUS ON DOG POPULATION TRENDS
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: DOG OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW; Note on Chapters 5 & 6; Topline Ownership Rates and Population; Table 5-1. Dog Ownership, 2018 – 2025 (percent and million households); Trends by Number of Dogs Owned; Table 5-2. Household Ownership Rates for Dogs: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2025 (percent of US households); Table 5-3. Dog Ownership Distribution by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2025 (percent of dog-owning households); Table 5-4. Household Base of Dog Owners: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2025 (thousands); Size of Dogs Owned; Figure 5-1. Distribution of Dog Ownership by Size/Weight of Dogs, 2025 (percent of dog owners); Table 5-5. Dog Ownership Trends by Size of Dog, 2018 – 2025 (percent and number of dog-owning households); Puppy and Senior Dog Populations; Table 5-6a. Percentage of Dog-Owning Households by Age Bracket of Dogs, 2019 – 2025 (percent); Table 5-6b. Number of Dog-Owning Households by Age Bracket of Dogs, 2019 – 2025 (thousands); Overweight and Special Needs Dogs; Table 5-7. Share of Dog Owners With Special-Need Dogs, 2025 (percent); DOG OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS; The Top Demographics; Table 5-8. Top Demographics for Dog Ownership, 2019 vs. 2025 (index); Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February 2026 © Packaged Facts v; Table 5-9. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Generational Cohorts; Table 5-10. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Figure 5-2. Gen Z Patterns for Living in Households with Dogs: Overall and by Household Head Status, 2019 vs.2025 (percent); Residence Types and Ownership; Table 5-11. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Residence Types and Ownership, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Household Income; Table 5-12. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Gender of Adults in Household; Table 5-13. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Gender of Adults in Household, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Race/Ethnicity; Table 5-14. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Geographic Regions; Table 5-15. Dog Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Census Region 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Detailed Demographics for Dog Ownership; Table 5-16. Dog Ownership Patterns by Selected Demographics, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent who own, percent of owners, and index)
CHAPTER 6: FOCUS ON CAT POPULATION TRENDS
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: CAT OWNERSHIP OVERVIEW; Note on Chapters 5 & 6; Topline Ownership Rates and Population; Table 6-1. Cat Ownership, 2018 – 2025 (percent and million households); Trends by Number of Cats Owned; Table 6-2. Household Ownership Rates for Cats: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2025 (percent of US households); Table 6-3. Cat Ownership Distribution: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2025 (percent of cat-owning households); Table 6-4. Household Base of Cat Owners: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2025 (thousands); Size of Cats Owned; Figure 6-1. Distribution of Cat Ownership by Size/Weight of Cats, 2025 (percent of cat owners); Kitten and Senior Cat Populations; Table 6-5a. Percentage of Cat-Owning Households by Age Bracket of Cats, 2019 – 2025 (percent); Table 6-5b. Number of Cat-Owning Households by Age Bracket of Cats, 2019 – 2025 (thousands); Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February vi 2026 © Packaged Facts; Overweight and Special Needs Cats; Table 6-6. Share of Cat Owners With Special-Needs Cats, 2025 (percent); CAT OWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS; The Top Demographics; Table 6-7. Top Demographics for Cat Ownership, 2019 vs. 2025 (index); Household Composition; Table 6-8. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Composition, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Generational Cohorts; Table 6-9. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Generational Cohort, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Residence Types and Ownership; Table 6-10. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Residence Types and Ownership, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Household Income; Table 6-11. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Household Income, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Gender of Adults in Household; Table 6-12. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Adult Gender(s) in Household, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Race/Ethnicity; Table 6-13. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Race/Ethnicity, 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, and thousand households); Geographic Regions; Table 6-14. Cat Ownership Trends by Key Demographic Variables: Census Region 2018 – 2025 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index); Detailed Demographics for Cat Ownership; Table 6-15. Cat Ownership Patterns by Selected Demographics, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent who own, percent of owners, and index)
CHAPTER 7: OWNERSHIP OF OTHER PETS
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: OWNERSHIP RATES FOR PETS OTHER THAN DOGS OR CATS; 13% of Pet Owners Have Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats; Table 7-1. Topline Ownership Rates for Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats, 2025 (percent of pet-owning households); Types of Fish Owned; Figure 7-1. Distribution of Pet Fish Ownership: Freshwater vs. Saltwater, 2025/26 (percent); Types of Birds Owned; Figure 7-2. Distribution of Pet Bird Ownership by Type, 2025/26 (percent); Types of Herptiles Owned; Figure 7-3. Distribution of Pet Herptile Ownership by Type, 2025/26 (percent); Types of Small Mammals Owned; Pet Population & Ownership Trends in the US, 9th Edition; February 2026 © Packaged Facts vii; Figure 7-4. Distribution of Pet Small Mammal Ownership by Type, 2025/26 (percent); Other Pet Owner Demographics; Figure 7-5. Years as Pet Owners by Type of Pet Owned, 2026 (percent of current pet owners by classification); Table 7-2. Household Patterns for Owning Pets Other than Dogs or Cats, 2019 vs. 2025 (percent, number, and index)

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