Number of pets (cats and dogs)

In 2025, the number of household cats and dogs in the United States is expected to reach 195.0 million, marking a 1.0% increase from the previous year. Recent economic expansion has encouraged greater pet adoption per household, with growth in disposable income supporting this trend. Slow growth in average household size may have provided families with additional resources, such as space, time, and money, to dedicate to domestic animals. As a result, pet ownership has increased moderately despite recent volatility in adoption rates.

Between 2020 and 2025, the pet population has exhibited fluctuations, but overall growth has remained positive. Following a 3.9% increase in 2020 as more individuals and families spent time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pets rose by 3.7% in 2021 to 196.0 million. However, as businesses fully reopened in 2022, the pet population declined 1.0% due to a reduction in available time for pet care. This downward trend continued in 2023 with a further 1.6% decrease, primarily related to significant inflation in the cost of living that limited disposable income available for pet-related expenses. In 2024, the pet population rebounded, rising by 1.0% to 193.0 million as inflation cooled. These shifts highlight the sensitivity of pet ownership to broader macroeconomic trends and societal shifts, such as employment patterns and consumer confidence.

Over the past five years, improved pet healthcare has extended average pet lifespans, contributing to a higher number of aging pets and an increased overall pet population. Despite short-term decreases, long-term trends indicate a resilient preference for pet ownership. Data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) reveals that a historically high proportion of US households now own pets, indicating stable demand growth. Broader trends such as rising median household incomes and persistently high public awareness of animal welfare have strengthened the social and economic conditions that underpin pet adoption.

For the five years through 2025, the number of household pets is estimated to have grown modestly, at an average annualized rate of 0.6%. This period was shaped by both cyclical factors, such as economic disruptions and labor market fluctuations, and by structural shifts, including increased life expectancy among pets and shifts in household composition.