Pet Ownership Statistics by State: Complete Data & Trends Guide in 2025

Published May 21, 2024 |Updated May 31, 2025 | By SpendMeNot Editorial Team

Pets make our lives better, and many people consider them equal members of their families. They're amazing companions, and from "simple" pets to therapy and seeing-eye dogs are an integral part of the lives of many Americans.

With all that in mind, it's no surprise the pet ownership and spending on pet accessories is on the rise. Pet ownership statistics by state bear out this fact and show some interesting trends that we'll share with you in this article.

Pet Industry Statistics (Editor's Choice):

An estimated 71% of all households in the US own at least one pet.
Roughly 51% of all households in the US own a dog.
Around 37% of US households own at least one cat.
Dogs are by far the most popular pets, with 94 million households owning them across the country.
7.03 million pets are insured in the US.
Gen Z now represents 20% of all pet owners in the US, with a 43.5% increase from 2023.
Wyoming has the highest pet ownership rate at 72%.
California has the lowest percentage of pet ownership at 40.1%.

This showcases just how immense the industry is. Now let's take a closer look and the stats and facts.

How Many U.S. Households Own a Pet in 2025?

According to the American Pet Products Association's 2025 survey, 94 million U.S. households own a pet, representing a significant market to tap into, especially when we take into account that a majority of pet-owning households own more than one pet. In addition, 20% have owned a pet but no longer do. Only 13% of households were never pet owners.

Basic Pet Ownership Stats: A Broad Overview

Let's start with some basic facts and stats about pets and the pet industry in the US. We'll tell you everything you need to know in order to understand the topic and the rest of the article. Have you ever wondered how many people own dogs in the US? Or cats? Read on to find out.

1. Dogs are the most popular pets.

(Source: APPA)

This really shouldn't come as a surprise. There are 68 million households with dogs in the US, and dogs are found in 51% of all households. Other types of pets don't even break double digits. They're also the most loved, with 85% of households considering them equal family members and 14% companions.

2. 37% of all US households own a cat.

(Source: APPA)

Cat ownership statistics show that felines hold a solid second place when it comes to pet popularity. Americans own cats in 49 million households. Over three-quarters (76%) of cat-owning households feel they're members of their families, while 20% consider them companions. Around 3% consider them property under their care.

3. 29% of households own both cats and dogs.

(Source: APPA)

Not everyone only picks one type of pet and sticks with them. In fact, almost a third of all US households are multi-pet and own both cats and dogs.

Pet Ownership Statistics by State: States with Most Pet Owners

We already know that Americans love their pets, but let's check out which states have the most pet owners.

4. Wyoming has the highest percentage of pet-owning households at 72%.

(Source: World Population Review)

This is significantly above the national average and puts the state in the solid first place when it comes to pet ownership. Of course, Wyoming is not a populous state, and that means that roughly 172,000 out of 240,000 households own at least one pet.

5. 71% of West Virginian households have one pet or more.

(Source: World Population Review)

According to pet owner statistics, the second place goes to West Virginia, and by a very thin margin of a single percentage point. In absolute numbers, this amounts to 534,000 households out of the total of 755,000.

6. California has the highest number of households with pets.

(Source: AVMA)

This is not surprising, considering it's the most populous state. 7.959 million households in California own at least one pet. However, pet ownership stats indicate that the state is far below the national average at 40.1%.

7. Texas has 5.88 million pet-owning households.

(Source: AVMA)

This makes Texas the state with the second-highest absolute number of pet owners. Despite having lower absolute numbers than California, a higher percentage of Texans own pets. In total, 58.2% of 10.105 million households own pets.

Pet Ownership Statistics by State: States with Least Pet Owners

Even in states with the fewest pet owners per capita, pet ownership is still high. There are only eight (nine if you count Washington DC) states where pet ownership is under 50%. Let's see what more we can discover about them.

8. California is the state with the lowest percentage of pet owners.

(Source: DataPandas)

Only 40.1% of people in California own a pet, making it the state with the lowest pet ownership rate. Despite that, pet owner statistics show that the absolute numbers are still higher than Wyoming (the state with the highest percentage of pet owners), with millions of households having pets due to the state's large population.

9. 45.4% of households in Rhode Island own pets.

(Source: AVMA)

This is the state with the second-lowest number of pet owners. Around 204,000 out of 450,000 households have at least one pet. Rhode Island consistently ranks among the states with lower pet ownership rates.

10. According to pet ownership stats, District of Columbia has low pet-owning household rates.

(Source: AVMA)

The honorable mention goes to Washington DC. While it's technically not a state, it should still be included in this list. It has one of the lowest rates of pet ownership both per capita and in absolute terms. The latter is not surprising, considering it's a relatively small region, but only 38.2% of households own pets. That's 123,000 out of a total of 321,000.

Pet Ownership Statistics by State: Cats and Dogs

Now that we've seen the big numbers about general pet ownership, let's check which states are the best (and worst) when it comes to ownership of the most common pets in the US — cats and dogs.

11. 58.3% of Idaho households own dogs.

(Source: AVMA)

That's well above the national average, which makes Idaho by far the most dog-friendly state in the entire US. There are 645,000 dogs distributed among 378,000 households.

Pet Owner Demographics

We've talked about the states themselves, but people are the ones who actually own pets. Let's see how the average pet owner looks like and which demographic is the likeliest to own pets.

12. Gen Z is driving a remarkable shift in pet ownership, representing 20% of pet-owning households with significant growth.

(Source: APPA)

Millennials still hold a strong position with 32% of pet owners, followed by Gen X with 27% and baby boomers with 24%. Notably, 70% of Gen Z pet owners have two or more pets, making them the generation most likely to own multiple animals.

Pet Industry Statistics

Based on the amount of money spent by pet owners for all pet-related expenditures, it's clear that all sectors of this industry are experiencing sizable growth and that the pet market is booming both in the US and worldwide.

13. The pet care market is expected to reach $150.6 billion in 2024, up from $147 billion in 2023.

(Source: APPA)

Pet adoptions continue to rise, and technological advancement has further improved the pet care industry. The increasing demand for nutritious and plant-based foods will ensure steady and healthy growth of the market.

Additionally, the invention of products like AI-supported pet cameras, smart feeders, similar gadgets has made it easier for pet owners to care for their pets despite their busy schedules.

14. Dog owners spend close to $2,351 on their pets annually, while cat owners spend an average of $1,443.

(Source: Forbes Advisor)

We finally have an answer to the question of "how much do Americans spend on pets?" Pet owners spend a considerable amount on their furry best friends every year, and the first year of owning a pet can easily exceed $1,000. Due to dogs being the more popular choice of pet, companies produce more premium breed-specific dog products.

According to various surveys, 47% of dog owners and 41% of cat owners stated that their pet had been more expensive than they had anticipated.
The cost breakdown shows that food remains the largest expense category for pet owners.

15. Pet health insurance for the US totaled a gross premium of $3.91 billion in 2023.

(Source: NAPHIA)

Pet expenses don't only cover food, toys, and accessories; they also involve vet visits, which can become costly in the absence of pet insurance. While some pet owners wonder if pet insurance is worth it, it's clear that the rising cost of animal health care means few people can afford a serious vet visit out of pocket.

Almost half of the people surveyed say that they wouldn't be able to cover a $5,000 vet bill without insurance. Despite that, pet industry statistics show that 7.03 million pets in the US were insured by the end of 2024.

If this is something that concerns you, you might want to check out our pet insurance reviews and make sure your pet is taken care of in every situation.

16. More than 50% of dog and cat owners give their pet a Christmas gift or treat.

(Source: SPINS)

Pets are an important part of many households, and most people treat them like family members. So it's not uncommon for pets to get holiday gifts and be included in various celebrations.

One of the leading causes of pet industry growth has been the pampering we've been giving to our pets. Around 44% of dog owners and about 32% of cat owners celebrate their pet's birthday, up from previous years, and around a quarter of both give them treats to celebrate Halloween.

Key Takeaways

We can surmise from pet ownership statistics by state, owner demographics, and industry that there's a trend of increased pet ownership across the US. Pet owners are also spending more on their pets and are trying to take better care of them than ever before.

Dogs are the most popular pets globally, followed closely by cats and eventually fishes. Gen Z is showing remarkable growth as pet owners with a 43.5% increase, while millennials remain the largest age group of pet owners, so they should be the biggest target market for all pet care-related products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of American households own pets?

71% of US households own at least one pet, representing 94 million households nationwide.

Which state has the highest pet ownership rate?

Wyoming leads with 72% of households owning pets, while California has the lowest rate at 40.1%.

How much do Americans spend on their pets annually?

Dog owners spend an average of $2,351 per year, while cat owners spend $1,443 annually on their pets.

Pet Ownership Statistics by State: Complete Data & Trends Guide in 2025

Pet Industry Statistics (Editor's Choice):

How Many U.S. Households Own a Pet in 2025?