The 20 most popular pets in America (updated 2023)
The 20 most popular pets in America (updated 2023)
Note: The data in this article is from a third party and does not represent the views of our network.
Americans love animals very much and devote a lot of time and energy to caring for their pets. This should come as no surprise! Our beloved pets are important members of our family. They give us company, entertainment, exercise, love and comfort.
We looked at America’s most popular pets to see how this changes across demographics and across states. We’ll start with the eight most popular pets and expand from there.
We hope these numbers give you some idea of how important pets are to Americans. These statistics fall into the following categories:
Statistics of the most popular pets
State statistics on popular pets
Pet owner statistics
Dogs are the most popular pet, with dogs in 69 million American homes.
45.3 million households have cats.
11.8 million U.S. homes have freshwater fish.
Birds can be seen in 9.9 million American homes.
6.2 million American households have small animals in them.
5.7 million American households own a reptile.
Three and a half million households own horses.
Saltwater fish can be found in 2.9 million American homes.
Wyoming is the state with the highest rate of pet ownership at 72 percent.
The District of Columbia had the lowest number of households with pets, at 38 percent.
Idaho has the highest number of dog owners at 58 percent.
Vermont had the highest percentage of cats at 45 percent.
The most searched dog in the United States is the Doberman.
Millennials have the highest number of pet owners at 32 percent.
Millennials spend more on pets during the holidays, averaging $51.
Dog owners spend about $1,201 per year and cat owners about $687 per year.
Seventy-nine percent of American pet owners consider their pets their best friends.
Eighty-nine percent of pet owners said their pets brought them comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most popular cat breed in the United States is the ragdoll cat.
The most popular dog breed in the United States is the Labrador Retriever.
(photoelectric)
Dogs are the most common pets in the United States. About 69 million U.S. households will have at least one dog during the 2021-22 period.
(photoelectric)
Unsurprisingly, cats are the most popular pet, with 45.3 million American households owning a furry feline.
(photoelectric)
It may come as a surprise, but 11.8 million American homes have freshwater fish.
(photoelectric)
Fourth, we found that 9.9 million American households have birds.
(photoelectric)
The fifth most common type of pet in American homes is a small animal. We don’t have a breakdown of the most popular critters, but we can assume rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs are at the top of the list.
(photoelectric)
Reptiles are the sixth most common pet in the United States, with 5.7 million households owning them. As with small animals, we don’t know which reptiles are the most popular, but snakes are probably the most popular, along with lizards and tortoises.
(photoelectric)
The seventh most popular pet is the horse. Three and a half million families own a horse, whether they keep them on their ranch or in a stable.
(photoelectric)
Saltwater fish are the eighth most popular pet in the United States. They require higher maintenance, which may account for their unpopularity.
(Veterinarian)
As of 2016, Wyoming had the highest number of households with pets, followed by West Virginia at 71 percent and Nebraska at 70 percent.
(Veterinarian)
The District of Columbia had the lowest percentage of households with pets at 38 percent, followed by Rhode Island (45.4 percent) and South Dakota (46.4 percent).
(Veterinarian)
It was followed by Montana at 52 percent, Arkansas at 52 percent and Mississippi at 51 percent. It is thought that more dog owners tend to live in warmer, rural states, even though there are many dogs in colder states.
(Veterinarian)
Maine was second at 44 percent, followed by West Virginia at 38 percent and Indiana at 38 percent. Many states with cats tend to be cooler states.
(Franchising opportunities)
These numbers come from 2017 Google Trends data as the most popular or searched dog breed in each state. Dobermans were the most popular, searched the most in seven states. The French Bulldog ranked second in five states and the Rottweiler in three.
(Statista)
Millennials, defined as people born between 1981 and 1996, are the age group with the most pets. Millennials are followed by baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) at 27 percent. They were followed by Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), at 24 percent, in third place.
(Statista)
Millennials have the most pets and spend the most on them during the holidays, at an average of $51. That compares with an average income of $28 for baby boomers.
(TD Ameritrade)
In 2020, dog owners spent about $442 on dog food alone, while cat owners spent about $329 on cat food.
(TD Ameritrade)
That number is high across all age groups: 79% for millennials, and 78% for both Gen Xers and baby boomers.
(TD Ameritrade)
Of those generations, 84 percent are millennials, 87 percent are Gen Xers and 95 percent are baby boomers.
(CFA)
For the second year in a row, the ragdoll breed was the most popular in 2020. He was followed by Exotic Cat in second place and Maine Coon Cat in third.
(AKC)
Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dog in the United States since 1991. That’s over 30 years! Laboratories are also among the best in many other countries around the world.
In 2021-22, as many as 70 percent of Americans will have pets! That works out to about 90.5 million households with some kind of pet. This figure has risen from 56% in 1988 to 67% in 2019-20. (photoelectric)
Americans spent $103.6 billion on pets in 2020: $42 billion on pet food and snacks, $22.1 billion on new pets and supplies, $31.4 billion on veterinary care and veterinary products, and $8.1 billion on other services. These include insurance, grooming, boarding, training and pet walking and sitting. (photoelectric)
Spending is estimated at $109.3 billion in 2021. That’s $6 billion more than the year before. (photoelectric)
In December 2020, 10 percent of Americans said they had gotten a new pet because of the pandemic. (Statista)
The most common place for Americans to find their new cat is at an animal shelter or humane society, at 31 percent. However, 34% of dogs are typically purchased from breeders. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Our beloved pets mean everything to us and these statistics really underline that. Pets can provide much-needed love and companionship during difficult times, and save us from really challenging times.
Dogs are often the most popular pets in the country, but preferences for cats and dogs vary depending on the state. We suspect it has to do with urban versus rural and temperature. After all, if you live in a cold area, taking your dog outside several times a day is not what most people would consider a good time.
The statistics we see today are constantly changing as countries and the world change. The outbreak has had a major impact on pet ownership, and we may see more changes when things finally return to normal. But no matter what happens, as long as we cherish our pets, they will always give us unconditional love and dedication.