The Most Important Pet Ownership Statistics and Facts for 2024

If you’ve been looking for a complete list of dog ownership stats, cat ownership stats, and other fun facts about animals, you’ll love your list of 100 facts and statistics. Give it a look so you can learn more about your furry friends!

Dog Ownership Statistics and Facts

Our dog ownership statistics relate to breeds, diet, exercise, and so much more.

Dog-Related Statistics

1. January is National Train Your Dog Month (Association of Professional Dog Trainers).
2. Feeding a dog costs between $400 and $700 a year (The Zebra).
3. The 10 most popular dog breeds in the U.S. in order are as follows (U.S. News):

4. Children who grow up with pets have a lower rate of allergies and asthma (National Library of Medicine).
5. Dog owners get an average of 20 minutes more physical activity per day than those without pets (Dutch Pet, Inc.).
6. Does your pet follow you around all day? Having a pet is a great way to reduce feelings of loneliness (Dutch Pet, Inc.).
7. According to Forbes, dog expenses cost around $1,533 annually. This includes a week of dog boarding, veterinary care, and pet insurance.
8. 55% of dog owners use calming products for their pups (American Pet Products Association).
9. 71% of dog parents say that their pups have made them happier people (Pets for Patriots).

10. Have you ever wondered just how small the smallest dog is? Guinness World Records states that the smallest dog ever recorded was named Miracle Milly. Milly was born in 2011. She weighed one pound and stood at 3.8 inches tall (Kennel to Couch).
11. The oldest dog to ever live was a hound named Bobi who lived to be 31 years and 165 days old. We are saddened about Bobi’s passing, which happened in October of 2023 (NPR).
12. As of 2023, there are more than 350 different types of dog breeds around the world (Pure Wow).
13. The first guide dog school was created in 1916 in Germany. These guide dogs then went on to help veterans who were returning from WWI (International Guide Dog Federation).

Fun Dog Facts

14. Dogs sweat from the bottoms of their feet, with panting being their other method of discharging heat (Nationwide).
15. Many popular dog movies have been created over the years, including A Dog’s Purpose, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, A Dog’s Journey, Hotel for Dogs, Marley & Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and more.
16. Dogs are capable of making 10 vocal sounds (Nationwide).
17. Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not actually color blind. In fact, they see blue and yellow (American Kennel Club).
18. One of our favorite dog ownership stats is that February 20 is National Dog Biscuit Day. Don’t forget to stock up on your pup’s favorite snacks and treats (Pet Sitters International).
19. A study showed that dogs assist in the classroom by helping children with ADHD to focus their attention. The results indicated that kids who read to animals showed better social skills and fewer behavioral problems (National Institutes of Health). We sure love our furry friends!
20. Dogs help humans with their jobs in many ways, but the most notable animal helpers are therapy dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
21. Did you know that dogs, specifically the lagotto romangnolo, have a keen sense of smell and are sometimes trained to search for truffles? Back in the day, this was a pig’s job. However, pigs tended to eat the truffles, defeating the purpose of having an animal do the task. Luckily, lagotti have a keen sense of smell but have no desire to eat the truffles (American Kennel Club).
22. Some popular books that revolve around dogs include Where the Red Fern Grows, The Art of Racing in the Rain, A Dog’s Purpose, Because of Winn-Dixie, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and more.

Cat Ownership Statistics

Check out our list of cat ownership stats for some great insights on sleeping patterns, physicality, vocalization, and much more.

23. People 18-24 have a greater likelihood of becoming cat parents (World Animal Foundation).
24. As of 2024, 45.3 million U.S. households have at least one cat (Petpedia).
25. Cats can spend up to 50% of their day grooming themselves (Catster).
26. Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees (Drake Center).
27. Did you know that cats spend 15 hours sleeping each day (Purina)?
28. 53% of cat owners use calming products for their pets (American Pet Products Association).
29. The most popular breeds of cat include the following (Forbes):

• Ragdoll
• Main coon
• Devon rex
• Exotic shorthair
• Persian
• British shorthair
• Abyssinian

30. Cats have more bones than humans do, at 250. If you are familiar with human anatomy, you’d know that humans have around 206 (World Animal Foundation).

Fun Facts

31. Most kittens are born with blue eyes (LifeLearn).
32. The year is 1997, and one of the mayors of Alaska was… A CAT? Stubbs the cat was a write-in candidate who won the election (World Animal Foundation).
33. A cat’s nose print is as unique as human fingerprints, which means no two cat noses are the same (LifeLearn).

34. Have you ever wondered who the oldest cat to live was? Her name was Creme Puff, and she lived to be 38 years and 3 days old (Guinness World Records).
35. The average lifespan of a cat is 13 to 14 years (International Cat Care).
36. Cats only meow at humans, never at other cats (Mommy Poppins).
37. Cats can make over one hundred vocal sounds (Nationwide).

Random Facts About House Pets

If you’re a fan of pets in general and want information beyond dog and cat ownership statistics, this is the section for you.

Famous Pets

38. Audrey Hepburn took in a fawn, whom she named Pippin. Pippin was her shadow, and would even go to the grocery store with her (Literally media Ltd.).
39. Paris Hilton has an Instagram page dedicated to the “Hilton Pets,” which are her fur babies. Talk about a famous dog ownership stat!
40. More people use home cameras to check on their pets than they do their front doors. In fact, 94% say that checking in on their pet is one of the best parts of their day (Comcast).

Household Pet Statistics

43. 8% of Wyoming residents have pets, making it the state with the most pet owners in the U.S. (Earth Web).
44. 70% of U.S. households have a pet (American Pet Products Association).
45. When compared to those without pets, pet owners are 60% more likely to get to know their neighbors and people who live around them (Harvard Medical School).
46. 22% of pet owners strongly agree that organic pet foods are safer than regular pet foods (Petfood Industry).
47. As of 2020, around 11.5 million homes have freshwater fish as pets (Earth Web).

Did You Know?

46. One in ten people are actually allergic to pets (Petpedia).
47. Hamsters only blink one eye at a time. How cool is that (Nationwide).
48. Did you know that guinea pigs don’t take advantage of beauty rest? They can be active for up to 20 hours a day (RSPCA).
49. A ferret’s normal heart rate is between 200 and 250 beats per minute (FDA).
50. On average, ferrets sleep between 15 and 16 hours a day (Facts.net).
51. Birds must eat at least half of their body weight in food each day (Nationwide).
52. A goldfish’s memory isn’t as short as you think. In fact, their memory lasts for at least 5 months (The Goldfish Tank).
53. Rabbits are considered to be obligate nasal breathers, which means that they rely exclusively on their noses for breathing (USA.gov).
54. Rats are ticklish animals and they might even let out a laughter sound when they are tickled (Mommy Poppins).
55. Interacting with animals decreases the level of cortisol and lowers blood pressure in humans. Other studies have shown that animals reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost mood (National Institutes of Health).
56. There are a few sports that involve the use of animals, including horse racing, sled dog racing, and polo.

Facts and Statistics About Exotic Animals

While these aren’t considered dog or cat ownership statistics, we still think the rest of these stats are really cool, especially for our pet and animal lovers out there!

57. The fingerprints on a koala very closely resemble the fingerprints on a human. So much so that the two can practically be indistinguishable from one another (WGBH Educational Foundation).
58. Hummingbirds are the only animals that can fly backward (Animal Medical Clinics of St. Paul).
59. Crocodiles are unable to stick their tongues out (Animal Medical Clinics of St. Paul).
60. As a defense mechanism, some lizards detach their tails when they feel they are in danger. This confuses their predator and helps them escape (Science Daily).
61. Polar bears are commonly referred to as white, but their hair is actually colorless (Lonely Planet).
62. Since butterflies don’t have tongues, they actually taste with their feet. This is where most of their taste buds are found, which is the reason for this phenomenon (Florida Museum of Natural History). 

63. Some of the most exotic animals in the world include the slow loris, mandarin duck, tapir, leafy sea dragon, and fanfin angler, just to name a few (AnimalWised).
64. There are approximately 17.6 million exotic pets kept in 9 million households across the U.S. Of these, 51% are reptiles and 26% are birds (Gitnux). However, this doesn’t account for any animals that are illegally imported into the U.S.

Holiday-Themed Pet Facts

65. In 2021, Statista conducted a survey of over 8,000 respondents to identify the most popular Halloween costumes for pets. “Pumpkin” represented 10% of respondents, followed by “hot dog” with 5% and “superhero” with 4%. The more you know (Statista).
66. In 2023, the NY Post conducted a survey of 2,000 cat and dog owners. Of those, 48% said that they do something special for their pet during the holiday season (NY Post). We also enjoy spreading holiday cheer with our furry friends, so we get it!
67. SoFi conducted another survey on a group of 1,200 adults across the United States who own pets. Of those, 68% dress up their pets for the holidays. Holiday sweaters, holiday-themed collars, and holiday hats were the most popular forms of costume (Social Finance).
68. 9% of dog owners will throw a birthday party for their furry friend (Animal Medical Clinic).

69. Holiday plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, and Christmas rose around the house can be toxic to pets. Mistletoe can lead to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal issues, while holly can cause nausea and vomiting. Be sure to remember this during the holiday season to keep your pets safe (NC State University).

Farm- and Zoo-Related Pet Facts

70. Are you a fan of dinosaurs? The chicken is the closest living relative to the T-rex (Zareba).
71. A horse’s leg is essentially a single, large finger, making its hoof one giant fingernail (Mommy Poppins).
72. What animal has over 200 distinct noises for communication? The chicken (MSPCA-Angell).
73. If you’ve ever heard someone say “sounder,” they are referring to a group of pigs (MSPCA-Angell).
74. Goats have rectangular pupils, which allows them to see well in the dark (MSPCA-Angell).
75. Pigs roll in the mud to keep cool and prevent sunburns (MSPCA-Angell).
76. On average, a single hen will lay around 227 eggs in one year. That’s almost 19 dozen (Huffman’s Farm & Home).

77. Baby elephants are able to stand within 20 minutes of being born (We Are Teachers).
78. What animal is so slow in their native environment that algae grows on their fur? The sloth! In fact, these animals have an entire ecosystem living in their fur, which consists of algae, fungi, moths, and insects (The Sloth Conservation Foundation).

Pets and Animals in the Guinness Book of World Records

79. If you’ve ever wondered who the oldest llama in captivity is, the Guinness Book of World Records has answers for you! Dalai Llama, aka “DM Tommy Tune” is the oldest living llama in captivity, and was 27 in 2023 (Guinness World Records).
80. A Great Dane named Zeus is the tallest dog on record, with a height of 7 feet and 4 inches when he stood on his hind legs (Guinness World Records).
81. The world’s oldest living land animal that has been confirmed is a 191-year-old tortoise named Johnathan. This age is just an approximation, however, as his estimated, unofficial hatch date is Dec. 4, 1832 (The Washington Post).
82. Poncho, a Texas longhorn from Alabama has horns that span 10 feet, 7.4 inches (Guinness World Records).
83. The record for the longest tail recorded on a dog is held by a wolfhound named Keon. His tail measures 30.2 inches (Guinness World Records).
84. The Guinness World Record for the most tennis balls kept in the mouth of a dog at one time is held by Augie, a golden retriever. He made the world record on July 6, 2023 when he gathered and kept five regulation-sized tennis balls in his mouth (Guinness World Records).
85. Twin giant panda cubs were born to a captive mother and a wild father in China, making them the first set of twins with a half-captive/half-wild heritage. The set of twins were born on July 25, 2018, and were named He He and Mei Mei (Guinness World Records).
86. Bini the Bunny is an 8-year-old rabbit that broke the record for the number of basketball slam dunks in one minute. He managed to put a tiny basketball through a tiny hoop seven times (Guinness World Records). Who knows, he might be NBA-bound next!
87. Mochi “Mo” Rickert holds the record for having the longest tongue for a dog. She is a St. Bernard from South Dakota, and her tongue is 7.3 inches long (which is the equivalent of two and a half Jenga blocks in a row) (Guinness World Records).

Uncategorized Animal Facts That We Love!

88. The most popular pets in the U.S. in order are as follows (Forbes):

• Dogs (65.1M)
• Cats (46.5M)
• Freshwater fish (11.1M)
• Small animals like hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and more (6.7M)
• Birds (6.1M)

89. Birds have hollow bones, which allow them to take in the proper amount of oxygen required to take and sustain flight (Always the Holidays).
90. Have you ever wondered about the groundbreaking photo that had the honor of being part of the first Instagram post? It is a photo of a golden retrieverwith the caption “test.” Ones of the cofounders of the app, Kevin Systrom, was the mastermind behind this (Always the Holidays).
91. A grizzly bear has such a strong bite that it can crush a bowling ball with its teeth (We Are Teachers).
92. If you are a resident of Colorado or Maine, it is illegal to dye an animal’s fur (A-Z Animals).
93. Pets can be victims of custody cases when their owners get a divorce. Usually, the judge will grant custody to the parent who paid the most toward the pet’s veterinarian bills (Wag!).
94. In 2022, U.S. citizens spent approximately 58.1 billion dollars on pet food and treats (Canine Health Forward).
95. As of 2023, there were 1,669 PetSmart stores across North America (Statista).
96. With the rise of technology used in pet-related goods, the pet industry is expected to reach $360 billion (All Paws Pet Wash).
97. Some of the most famous dogs from television and movies include Toto of The Wizard of Oz, Lassie of Lassie, Scooby-Doo of Scooby-Doo, Rin Tin Tin who was featured in many films and is known as the unofficial mascot of Warner Bros. Studios, and Balto of Balto, just to name a few!
98. Pet ownership has increased significantly over the last three decades. Back in 1988, only 56% of households owned a pet (The Humane Society).
99. According to a survey by Forbes, 78% of pet owners acquired pets during the pandemic (Forbes).

100. As of 2024, Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners. Their age group holds 33% of the total population of pet owners (Forbes).

Calling All Dog and Cat Owners: Use the Best Grooming and Boarding in the Business!

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Categories: Cats, Dog Daycare, Dogs, News/Events, Pet Boarding, Pet Grooming, Tips for Your Pets