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Since 1996, the cat population has remained stable while dog totals have increased steadily, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The number of cats in the U.S. went from 59.8 million in 1996 to 73.8 million in 2024, the data showed, with dogs rising from 52.9 million to a new high of 89.7 million during the period. Meanwhile, cat-owning households went from 27 million in 1996 to 42.1 million in 2024 as dog-owning households rose even higher, going from 31.3 million to 59.8 million.

Here are the average amounts spent on pets in a typical year.

  • Overall, pet owners spent $1,515 in 2023 and $1,516 in 2024.
  • Dog owners spent $1,852 in 2023 and $1,740 in 2024.
  • Cat owners spent $1,235 in 2023 and $1,311 in 2024.
  • On other pets, owners spent $1,459 in 2023 and $1,497 in 2024.
"Households with dogs now account for nearly half (45.5%) of all U.S. households compared with the low of 31.6% in 1996," the AVMA said. "Cat-owning households, on the other hand, comprised nearly a third (32.1%) of all households in 2024 versus 27.3% in 1996. For both dog and cat owners, an overwhelming majority (88.8% and 84.7%, respectively) view their pet as a member of the family." Related: Pet benefits: A solution to rising pet care costs and employee stress Other key AVMA insights include:
  • Nearly 87% of dog owners identified as having a regular veterinarian or veterinary practice.
  • Over 74.2% of dog owners in 2024 were among pet owners who said they visited a veterinarian in the past year.
  • More than 77.1% of cat owners identified as having a regular veterinarian or veterinary practice in 2024, with 57.3% reporting visiting the veterinarian in 2024. Among those respondents, the highest percentage of dog owners (56.5%) visited twice and the highest percentage of cat owners (44.9%) visited only once.
The slideshow above illustrates the best pet insurance companies for October 2024 as selected by Forbes Advisor.
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Joe Toppe

Joe Toppe serves as managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. Joe is also a father of three, an author, and longtime lover of baseball.