In 2025, 94 million U.S. households own a pet of some species, according to the most recent American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey. In the 2023-2024 survey, respondents’ answers reflect that 66% of U.S. households owned a pet in 2023.
In the most recent survey, U.S. households reported ownership of approximately 68 million dogs, up from 65.1 million in the 2023-2024 survey. Cat ownership also rose, from 46.5 million to 49 million over the same period. These gains continue a long-term trend of steady growth in the two largest pet segments, driven by the continued humanization of pets and fueling increased spending on premium pet food.
Tim Wall using DALL-E
Meanwhile, ownership of freshwater fish declined to 10 million in 2025, down from 11.1 million in 2023-2024. Small animal ownership also fell slightly, from 6.7 million to 6 million. Saltwater fish and horse ownership both dropped marginally by 0.2 million households.
Other segments, including birds, reptiles, and horses, remained relatively flat, with only minor numerical adjustments between years. Reptile ownership stayed steady at 6 million, while bird ownership held at 6 million, just below the previous survey’s 6.1 million.
US pet ownership by generation
Younger generations remain roughly tied with older groups in pet ownership rates, according to the 2025 survey. Millennials make up the largest share at 30%, followed by Gen X and Baby Boomers at 25% each, and Gen Z at 20%.
Tim Wall using DALL-E
“Gen Z is driving a remarkable shift in pet ownership,” said Ingrid Chu, APPA’s vice president of Insights and Research, in a press release. “This generation is also leading in multi-pet ownership and relies heavily on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram to discover and purchase pet products. As pet brands look to the future, leveraging visual and digital-first strategies will be key to capturing the attention of this rapidly growing demographic.”