August 15, 2021

Pet ownership continues to be high among U.S. households, according to the American Pet Products Association.

An estimated 70% of U.S. households owned a pet in 2020, compared with an estimated 67% in 2018, according to the APPA’s biennial National Pet Owners Survey, released June 21.

The 2021-22 edition of the study also found that, in 2020, millennials were the largest cohort of pet owners at 32%, followed closely by baby boomers at 27% and Generation X at 24%.

“2020 was a year of profound impact and change, and the pet industry experienced its share of both,” according to the executive summary of the study. “At the end of a year unlike any in recent memory, pet owners demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to the pets in their lives, with the premiumization and humanization trends continuing to drive pet owner behavior.”

Key findings from the survey include the following:

• Pet spending increased between 2019 and 2020, with 35% of pet owners spending more on their pet or pet supplies—including food, wellness-related products, and other pet care items.
• Among all respondents, 14% obtained a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, many pet owners of less than one year said the recent pet acquisition was influenced by the pandemic. The influence was seen in acquisitions of saltwater fish, 60%; dogs, 47%; birds, 46%; small animals, 46%; cats, 40%; freshwater fish, 34%; reptiles, 27%; and horses, 27%.
• The percentage of pet owners who purchased products online increased from 72% in 2018 to 86% in 2020. Before the pandemic, 60% of pet owners usually purchased pet products in person at brick-and-mortar stores, and 28% usually purchased pet products online and had them shipped to their home. During the pandemic, 41% of pet owners preferred shopping in person, while 46% of pet owners preferred to purchase online with products shipped to their home.
• About half of pet owners are willing to pay more for ethically sourced pet products, and about half are willing to pay more for eco-friendly pet products.
• The percentage of dog and cat owners who have pet health insurance increased between 2018 and 2020, particularly among cat owners.