Pet Ownership Statistics 2026: 25 Key Facts About America’s Pets

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How many American households own a pet? How much do we actually spend on our dogs and cats? This page collects 25 verified pet ownership statistics for 2026, drawn exclusively from primary sources — the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), NAPHIA’s pet insurance industry report, the ASPCA, and the National Retail Federation. Every figure links to its original source.

About this data

All statistics below were verified against their original sources in July 2026 and reflect the most recent available data (2024–2026 survey years). Where major surveys disagree — APPA and AVMA measure ownership differently — we present each framework separately and say so. This page is updated annually. You’re welcome to cite any statistic here; please link back to this page as the source.

How many Americans own pets?

Per the APPA 2026 State of the Industry Report:

• 95 million U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2025.
• 53% of households own a dog (about 71 million households), up from 51% in 2024.
• 39% of households own a cat (about 53 million households), with cat ownership growing 5% year over year.

The AVMA’s Pet Ownership Sourcebook, which uses a different survey methodology, counts 87.3 million pet dogs and 76.3 million pet cats in the U.S., with 42.6% of households owning dogs and 32.6% owning cats. The two surveys differ because they sample and weight households differently — but both agree on the trend: ownership keeps climbing.

How much do Americans spend on pets?

Source: APPA industry expenditure data.

• Total U.S. pet industry spending hit $158 billion in 2025, up 3.7% from 2024.
• APPA projects $165 billion for 2026 (~4.4% growth).
• Where it goes: $68.3B on pet food & treats, $41.0B on vet care & products, $34.4B on supplies and OTC medicine, $14.3B on services like grooming, boarding, and insurance.

What does it cost to own a dog or cat?

Source: Rover’s True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report (2025) and AVMA.

• A dog costs $1,390–$5,295 per year — roughly $34,550 over a 10-year lifetime.
• A cat costs $760–$3,495 per year — about $32,170 over a 16-year lifetime.
• Dog food alone runs $655–$1,905 per year for an adult dog.
• Average household veterinary spending: $598/year for dogs and $529/year for cats.

Vet costs and pet insurance

• 6 in 10 pet owners lack confidence they could afford a medical emergency for their pet, and over 40% aren’t sure they can cover routine care — ASPCA survey, March 2026.
• 7.6 million pets were insured in North America at the end of 2025, up 8.5% in a year — NAPHIA 2026 State of the Industry Report.
• Pet insurance premiums reached $6.2 billion in 2025, up 19.4% year over year (NAPHIA).
• The average accident & illness policy costs about $749/year for dogs (~$62/month) and $386/year for cats — NAPHIA premium data.
• Despite the growth, only about 5.5% of U.S. dogs and 2% of U.S. cats are insured — AVMA.

How pet owners spend (and who they are)

• Americans planned to spend $860 million on Halloween costumes for their pets in 2025; 23% of Halloween celebrants dress up their pet — National Retail Federation.
• About half of owners kept pet spending unchanged despite economic pressure in 2025; 22% cut back — APPA.
• Premium pet food keeps rising: 41% of dog owners and 38% of cat owners bought premium food in 2024, and purchases of food mixers/toppers for dogs are up 129% since 2018 — APPA 2025 Dog & Cat Report.
• Growth is led by Gen Z and Millennial owners, with Millennials the largest cohort at roughly 30% of pet owners; Gen X ownership jumped 12% in 2025 as empty-nesters adopted (APPA).

Fun pet statistics

• 21% of cat owners threw their cat a birthday or holiday party in 2024 — up 250% since 2018 (APPA).
• Households with 3 or more cats grew 36% since 2018; single-cat homes fell from 64% to 58% (APPA).
• 74% of owners who travel with their dogs flew with them in the past year, up from 68% in 2023 (APPA).
• 49% of dog owners would bring their dog to the office if allowed (APPA).

Cite this page

Writing about pets? Feel free to use any statistic on this page — just credit the original source listed with each figure and link back here: StorehouseDirect, Pet Ownership Statistics 2026.

Keep reading

If you’re one of the 95 million pet households, our research-backed guides can help you spend those dollars well — see our picks for pet health essentials every new pet parent needs, stylish pet products that look good in your living room, and beating pet boredom and anxiety.