Pet possession within the United States has remained regular on common throughout the previous 14 years. In 2010, 62% of U.S. households included a pet of any form. In 2024, that figured had risen to 63%. However, that modest improve adopted fluctuations in possession charges. Ingrid Chu, vp of analysis and insights for the American Pet Products Association (APPA) shared that data and extra of her organization’s analysis on pet possession throughout her Global Pet Expo 2024 presentation on March 21 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
“Generally, things are stable,” she stated. “We did see that we got a nice bump, especially among dogs, during COVID… We are seeing that things are starting to normalize going back to where they were before COVID. We are forecasting more stabilization. It’ll probably go back up to around two thirds, and then stay like that for the next several years, which is a good thing. That’s an opportunity for us.”
COVID wasn’t the one time pet possession charges elevated above the long-term development. Particularly in 2012, 2016 and with the pandemic disruptions of 2020, pet possession elevated past the present fee of 63%. The general development of possession has ranged into the excessive 60’s vary, however not beneath that baseline of 62% in 2010. By 2020, APPA analysts predict that the general pet possession fee within the US will climb to 67%.
Dog possession has constantly outpaced cat possession. In 2010, 39% of U.S. households owned a canine. Dog possession peaked in 2020 throughout the pandemic, settling right down to 44% in 2024. APPA analysts forecast that canine possession would rise slowly to 46% by 2030.
Although cat possession will lag canine into the longer term, the quantity of households with pet cats could improve extra quickly. In 2010, 33% of U.S. households saved cats. That determine truly declined to 30% in 2024, whereas not seeing the pandemic bulge that canine possession did. By 2030 although, APPA market researchers consider cat possession will climb to 35%.
Future pet possession traits
Changes in human dwelling patterns, together with urbanization, together with mandates that staff return to their brick-and-mortar workplaces, could enhance the expansion of cat possession.
“We’ve seen a growth in cat,” David McLain, CEO and president of Alphia, instructed Petfood Industry. “We do a lot of great stuff in cat because of our focus on palatability. I think that you’ve seen a little bit of ownership fall off for dogs. You’ve seen less with cats. There’s more sustainability there. I think it’s because some people are going back to work. Cats are easier to support with that lifestyle.”
The proportion of households proudly owning pets has held comparatively regular since 2010, whereas the general variety of pet-owning households has grown together with the rising inhabitants of the U.S. In 2010, 73 million households included pets, rising to 82 million by 2024. Dog-owning households grew the most, rising from 46 million to 58 million. Households with pet cats elevated from 39 million to 40 million.
However, APPA analysts don’t forecast a major improve in pet-owning households. By 2030, the quantity could rise by just one million, with canine possession declining to 57 million households and cat rising to 45 million.
