Dog and Cat Ownership U.S.

Did you know...

Dogs

• There are approximately 73 million owned dogs in the United States
• Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
• Most owners (60 percent) own one dog
• Twenty-five percent of owners own two dogs
• Fourteen percent of owners own three or more dogs
• On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.7)
• The proportion of male to female dogs is about even
• Sixteen percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
• On average, dog owners spent $211 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
• More than seventy percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered

Cats

• There are approximately 90 million owned cats in the United States
• Thirty-four percent of U.S. households (or 37.7 million) own at least one cat
• Fifty percent of owners own more than one cat
• On average, owners have two cats (2.4).
• Slightly more female cats are owned than male cats (66 percent vs. 64 percent respectively)
• Fifteen percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
• Cat owners spent an average of $179 on routine veterinary visits
• Eighty-four percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered

(Statistics compiled from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey.)