Rockville, MD — Pets now live in 67 million U.S. households, and multicultural pet owners are a key reason why —Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans are an influential and growing segment among owners of dogs, cats, and other pets, reports market research firm Packaged Facts in its study “Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets” (3rd edition). More than half (54%) of American households have a pet.
A key trend shaping today’s pet owner population is its increasing diversity. Compared to a decade ago, pet owners are now more likely to be a member of a multicultural population segment (28% in 2018 vs. 22% in 2008).
“Between 2008 and 2018 the increase in the number of Hispanic, African American, Asian, and other multicultural pet owners was five times higher than the increase in the number of non-Hispanic white pet owners,” says Packaged Facts Research Director David Sprinkle.
According to the AVMA’s Pet Ownership and Demographic (2017-18), which surveyed 50,000 pet-owning households, there were more than 48 million dog-owning households in the U.S. in 2017-18, and they made an average of 2.4 annual visits to the vet (mean), spending an average of $410 per year (mean). The more than 31 million cat-owning households visited 1.3 times in 2017-18 (mean) and spent $182 (mean).
Multicultural Pet Owners — The Facts
Packaged Facts reports that among multicultural pet owners:
• Hispanics have become an especially significant part of the population of pet owners. The number of Latinos owning pets increased 44% from 15 million in 2008 to 22 million in 2018, a growth rate vastly greater than that experienced among non-Hispanic white pet owners.
• Although a much smaller population, the number of Asian pet owners grew at the same rate (45%), between 2008 and 2018.
• During the same period, the number of African American pet owners also increased at a healthy rate (24%).
• The impact of Latinos on dog or cat ownership has been especially pronounced. Over the past decade the number of Hispanic dog owners increased 59%. The number of Latino cat owners likewise increased 50%.
In addition to its insights on multicultural pet owners, Packaged Facts also reports that the two most popular pets, dogs and cats, live in 39% and 24% of U.S. households, respectively. One in eight households has other pets — including fish, birds, reptiles, or small animals such as rabbits, hamsters or gerbils.
The report analyzes trends in the size and characteristics of the pet population and provides projections of the size of the population of dogs and cats. It includes an analysis of changes in pet ownership over the past decade and a demographic profile of the population of pet owners as well as highlights of the consumer behavior and attitudes of pet owners. The report contains separate chapters on Hispanic pet owners and Gen Z and Millennial pet owners.
Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 3rd Edition (225 pages) is available for $3,995 from Packaged Facts.
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