Be aware: This text’s statistics come from third-party sources and don’t symbolize the opinions of this web site.
Cats have change into rather more common pets in recent times. Whereas canines stay the commonest pet in most nations, cats aren’t that far behind, and the hole between pet cats and canines appears to shut extra with every passing 12 months.
Increasingly households all through the world are adopting pet cats, and cat possession developments are altering because of this. Listed below are a number of the newest statistics on pet cats and the way present developments search for cat possession.
The 16 Cat Possession Statistics
- In 2024, the US, China, and Russia have the best cat possession charges on this planet.
- Between 2023 and 2024, 46.5 million US households personal a cat.
- Vermont is the state with the best price of cat possession at 44.6%.
- Millennials have the best price of pet possession at 33%.
- 39% of house owners have pet cats, whereas 29% of renters have pet cats.
- 43% of cat homeowners get their cats from a pet retailer, and 40% of cat homeowners undertake their cats from an animal shelter or rescue.
- Asheras are listed as probably the most costly cat breeds in 2024 and may price as much as $125,000 per cat.
- 3 million cats entered animal shelters and rescues in 2023.
- 6 million shelter cats have been adopted in 2023.
- Cat adoptions have elevated by 14% since 2019.
- Cat homeowners spent between $314 to $755 on preliminary cat care prices.
- Cat homeowners spend between $961 to $2,487 on their cats yearly.
- Cat homeowners spend probably the most on meals, with $310 being the common annual spending.
- The common price of pet insurance coverage for cats is $30 a month.
- Gen Z cat homeowners are 16 instances extra probably than Child Boomers to get pet insurance coverage.
- 38% of cat homeowners thought they have been financially prepared for pet care bills however really weren’t.
Cat Possession Demographics
1. In 2024, the US, China, and Russia have the best cat possession charges on this planet.
(World Inhabitants Assessment)
The US is a pet-loving nation and much surpasses different nations in pet possession. There are an estimated 74 million domesticated cats within the US. China is second, with about 53 million pet cats, and Russia is third, with roughly 23 million pet cats. Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Ukraine, Japan, and Poland are subsequently among the many high 10 nations with the best variety of pet cats.
2. Between 2023 and 2024, 46.5 million US households personal a cat.
(APPA)
Cats are the second hottest pets within the US, with about 46.5 million US households having not less than one pet cat. Canine stay the most well-liked pet, with about 65.1 million US households having not less than one pet canine. The third hottest pet is birds, and about 6.1 million US households have birds.
3. Vermont is the state with the best price of cat possession at 44.6%.
(World Inhabitants Assessment)
Most US states have extra pet canines than cats. Nonetheless, Vermont is among the many few states which have households with extra pet cats than canines. 44.6% of pet homeowners in Vermont have pet cats, whereas 28.3% of pet homeowners have canines. Maine is the one different state with extra pet cats than canines, with 43.6% of pet homeowners having cats and 35.9% of pet homeowners having canines. The state with the bottom cat possession price throughout the contiguous US is Rhode Island. Rhode Island has a typically low pet possession price, and simply 16.7% of pet homeowners have cats.
4. Millennials have the best price of pet possession at 33%.
(APPA)
Millennials surpass Gen Z, Gen X, Child Boomer, and Builder generations on the subject of pet possession. Gen X comes second with a pet possession price of 25%. 24% of pet homeowners are Child Boomers, and 16% of pet homeowners are Gen Z.
5. 39% of house owners have pet cats, whereas 29% of renters have pet cats.
(AVMA)
Nearly all of cat homeowners are additionally householders. It’s probably that cat possession amongst renters is decrease resulting from restricted rental housing choices and pet charges that landlords cost to pet homeowners.
Cat Adoptions
6. 43% of cat homeowners get their cats from a pet retailer, and 40% of cat homeowners undertake their cats from an animal shelter or rescue.
(AVMA)
Cats usually tend to be adopted by means of a pet retailer or animal shelter. Many pet shops companion with native pet adoption businesses by quickly housing adoptable cats and coordinating cat adoptions. Solely about 7% of pet cats are acquired from a breeder.
7. Asheras are listed as probably the most costly cat breeds in 2024 and may price as much as $125,000 per cat.
(FinancesOnline)
Asheras have been developed by crossbreeding African Servals, Asian Leopard Cats, and domesticated cats. They’re extraordinarily uncommon as a result of they’re difficult to breed, and one Ashera cat breeder produces about 5 Ashera kittens a 12 months. Different costly cat breeds embody Savannahs, Bengals, Persians, and Peterbalds.
8. 3 million cats entered animal shelters and rescues in 2023.
(Shelter Animals Depend)
The speed of cat intakes at animal shelters has fluctuated barely for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 price is 3.2% decrease than the 2019 price. When in comparison with 2022, there was a 0.2% enhance in cat intakes at animal shelters in 2023. Cat intakes and canine intakes are practically the identical, with 51% of animal intakes being cats and 49% of intakes being canines.
9. 6 million shelter cats have been adopted in 2023.
(Shelter Animals Depend)
In 2023, cat adoptions have been barely greater than canine adoptions. 54% of pet adoptions concerned a cat, whereas 46% concerned canines. 2023 additionally noticed a rise in stay outcomes, resembling adoptions, being returned to homeowners, or feral cats being returned to the sector. When in comparison with 2022 information, 166,000 extra animals had a stay final result.
10. Cat adoptions have elevated by 14% since 2019.
(ASPCA)
The variety of cat adoptions has elevated typically since 2019, with about 319,000 extra cats getting adopted in 2023 than in 2019. The speed of intakes that led to adoptions elevated from 59% in 2019 to 65% in 2023. There has additionally been a rise within the variety of animals ready for an final result, together with these in foster care and people transferring to completely different adoption organizations. In comparison with 2022, 177,000 extra animals have waited for an final result in 2023.
Cat Possession Spendings
11. Cat homeowners spent between $314 to $755 on preliminary cat care prices.
(Synchrony)
Preliminary cat care prices embody adoption charges, buying provides, and vet visits. These prices depend upon the cat’s age and well being situation. Spay and neuter charges are among the many most vital elements that have an effect on preliminary cat care prices, together with the kind of cat meals and pet insurance coverage.
12. Cat homeowners spend between $961 to $2,487 on their cats yearly.
(Synchrony)
Spending will depend upon a wide range of elements, together with meals, veterinary care visits, cat litter, and toys. Contemplating how the vary of spending is comparatively broad, it’s attainable to make important financial savings by selecting extra budget-friendly cat care merchandise. You may also expertise extra financial savings by selecting generic remedy, buying throughout gross sales, and signing up for subscription companies.
13. Cat homeowners spend probably the most on meals, with $310 being the common annual spending.
(AVMA)
Wholesome cats don’t actually have too many important common care prices aside from meals and cat litter. Cat homeowners can expertise some financial savings by selecting reasonably priced cat meals that doesn’t considerably sacrifice high quality. Scheduling mealtimes and monitoring how a lot a cat eats might help stop meals waste and guarantee cats are consuming simply the correct amount of meals.
14. The common price of pet insurance coverage for cats is $30 a month.
(Forbes)
Pet insurance coverage might help reduce the monetary stress that comes from sudden well being diagnoses in cats. Diagnostic assessments and coverings can simply attain hundreds of {dollars} that cat homeowners must pay out-of-pocket. Pet insurance coverage might help cowl these prices, and most pet insurance policy for cats have common premiums which might be decrease than premiums for canines. Pet insurance coverage premiums are sometimes affected by the cat’s age and breed, and cities with greater residing prices normally have the costliest pet insurance coverage premiums.
15. Gen Z cat homeowners are 16 instances extra probably than Child Boomers to get pet insurance coverage.
(MarketWatch)
Gen Z has been named the era with probably the most accountable pet homeowners resulting from having the best proportion of pet homeowners with pet insurance policy and the better probability of taking their pets to the vet.
41.5% of Gen Z pet homeowners have pet insurance coverage, and 33.1% are both or researching it. 14% of Gen Z pet homeowners assume pet insurance coverage is just too costly, and 9.4% consider it’s pointless.
In distinction, lower than 3% of Child Boomer pet homeowners have pet insurance coverage. 37.9% consider pet insurance coverage is just too costly, and 19.8% consider it’s pointless.
16. 38% of cat homeowners thought they have been financially prepared for pet care bills however really weren’t.
(Synchrony)
Cats are sometimes extra budget-friendly than canines, however they’ll nonetheless take up a good portion of your finances. Cat care charges fluctuate relying on a cat’s age and breed, and cats have the next threat of growing a continual well being challenge as they grow old. Many pet homeowners aren’t ready to pay for sudden veterinary care prices when their cats get sick, particularly in the event that they don’t have pet insurance coverage.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions About Cat Possession
What’s the hottest cat breed within the US?
The most typical cat breed you’ll discover in somebody’s house is the Home Shorthair, and lots of adoptable cats have Home Shorthair of their lineage. In relation to purebred cats, Ragdolls, Maine Coons, Devon Rexes, Unique Shorthairs, and Persians are among the many hottest breeds in American households.
Is cat possession inexpensive than canine possession?
Generally, cats are inexpensive than canines. As a result of their small dimension, they have an inclination to eat lower than canines, and lots of cat toys and treats are cheaper than canine toys and treats. Pet insurance coverage premiums are additionally normally decrease for cats than canines.
Nonetheless, taking good care of a cat nonetheless takes up a big a part of most individuals’s annual finances. So, it’s essential to calculate prices completely earlier than bringing residence a brand new pet cat.
What’s the common lifespan of pet cats?
A cat’s lifespan is affected by each genetics and life-style. Some cat breeds are recognized to stay longer lives, and cats which have wholesome life have a decrease threat of shortened lifespans. Typically, you may anticipate pet cats to stay anyplace from 12 to 18 years, and indoor cats have longer life expectations than out of doors cats.
How lengthy can cats be left alone?
Your cat’s potential to be residence alone will depend upon their particular person temperament and social wants. Some cat breeds are extra social than others, they usually don’t do nicely being by themselves for lengthy hours. Typically, it’s not really useful to depart your cat residence alone for greater than 8 hours at a time.
It’s a typical delusion that cats will be left alone for a number of days so long as they’ve meals and water. Nonetheless, most cats will really feel distressed when their homeowners go away and are left residence alone for greater than 24 hours.
Cats are able to forming sturdy bonds with folks, they usually have social wants. Failure to fulfill their social wants could cause emotional misery and result in behavioral points, together with separation nervousness and fascinating in harmful actions. Subsequently, in case you plan to depart your cats for a few days, be sure that to rearrange for cat sitters to care for your cats whilst you’re away.
Conclusion
Cats are common pets in lots of nations, and the commonest method to purchase them is thru pet adoptions. Cat adoptions have elevated steadily over the previous a number of years, and Millennials and Gen Z are almost certainly to personal cats.
Whereas taking good care of cats typically prices lower than caring for canines, many individuals nonetheless face challenges with budgeting resulting from rising pet care prices. Essentially the most important monetary problem is sudden medical payments. Monetary challenges have induced extra curiosity in pet insurance coverage and different strategies of budgeting for pet care. It’ll be fascinating to see how pet developments proceed to alter and adapt to fashionable cat possession and what cat possession will appear to be as we proceed to comply with pet developments within the US.
Featured Picture Credit score: evrymmnt, Shutterstock
