A new demographic report from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) noted the U.S. dog population has increased to 87.3 million in 2025, up from 52.9 million in 1996. According to the AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, the cat population has grown to 76.3 million in 2025, compared with 73.8 million in 2024 and 59.8 million in 1996.
Recent acquisition trends show the gap narrowing between dogs and cats. Among owners who acquired a pet in the past two years, 54.5% obtained a dog in 2025, down from 57.3% in 2023. The proportion acquiring cats increased from 43.5% in 2023 to 47.6% in 2025. Acquisitions of other animals, including horses, fish and pocket pets, decreased from 11.7% to 9.8% during the same period.
The AVMA report includes 2025 demographic data showing dog owners maintained an average of 1.6 dogs per household, consistent since 1987. The average number of cats per household decreased from 2.2 in 1987 to 1.8 in 2025. About two-thirds of dog owners and 60.4% of cat owners owned their homes. Eighty-six percent of pet-owning households included two or more adults, 54% had children 17 years old or younger, and 41% had just one pet.
Pet owners reported spending approximately $1,700 annually on their pets in 2025, about $200 more than in the previous two years. Veterinary care accounted for 32.4% of total pet-related expenditures. Dog owners spent an average of $598 on veterinary care, cat owners spent $529, and other pet owners spent $552, noted the report.
The 2025 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook is available for free to AVMA members and for $475 to nonmembers.
