Stats About Dogs and Cats
Submitted by the animal health care team at
Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL)

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2001-2002 National Pet Owners Survey:

Dogs

• There are approximately 68 million owned dogs in the United States.
• Four in ten (or 40 million) U.S. households own at least one dog.
• Most owners own one dog (63%).
• About one-fourth (24%) of owners own two dogs.
• Thirteen percent of owners own three or more dogs.
• There is an equal number of male and female dogs owned in the United States.
• Twenty percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter.
• On average, dog owners spent $196 on veterinary related expenses in the past 12 months.
• Seven of ten owned dogs are spayed or neutered.

Cats

• There are approximately 73 million owned cats in the United States.
• Three in ten (or 34.7 million) U.S. households own at least one cat.
• One half of cat-owning households (49%) own one cat; the remaining (51%) own two or more.
• There are a similar number of owned female (51%) versus male (49%) cats in the U.S.
• Twenty percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
• Cat owners spent an average of $104 on veterinary related expenses in the past 12 months.
• Eight of ten owned cats are spayed or neutered.

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