In 2023, cats were the most populous pet in Europe, continuing a multi-year trend. As with per capita ownership rates of dogs, data from six major European pet food markets show that cat ownership rates don’t always follow raw population numbers.
The Fédération Européenne de l'Industrie des Aliments pour Animaux Familiers (FEDIAF, European Pet Food Industry Federation) released pet population data for 2023 in their 2025 Facts and Figures report. Russia was not included.
Tim Wall, Microsoft Excel
Per capita cat ownership in Europe 2023
France had one of the highest cat populations in Europe at 14.9 million, with the highest per capita cat ownership rate of 21.8%, meaning nearly one cat for every 4.6 people. This rate places France ahead of all other countries in the group, suggesting a particularly strong cultural affinity in France for feline friends.
Poland followed closely with a per capita rate of 20.5%, despite having a comparatively smaller overall cat population of 7.5 million. The country's high per capita figure, in line with its elevated dog ownership rate, signals a robust companion animal culture relative to population size.
Germany led in absolute cat numbers, with 15.7 million cats, but its per capita rate was 18.6%, placing it mid-range among the group. This difference underscores the importance of looking beyond total pet populations when evaluating pet ownership behavior and market potential.
Similarly, the United Kingdom, with 11.4 million cats, posted a per capita cat ownership rate of 16.7%, somewhat lower than its dog ownership rate (17.1%). This near parity suggests balanced household pet preferences, contrasting with countries like France, where cats significantly outnumber dogs.
Italy recorded a per capita cat ownership rate of 17.4% with 10.2 million cats, also reflecting relatively balanced pet ownership trends when compared to its dog population. However, Spain’s cat ownership rate stood out on the lower end. Despite having nearly 6 million cats, its per capita cat ownership rate of 12.4% was the lowest among the countries analyzed.
Taken together, these data highlight that while population size may influence total pet numbers, per capita figures may be a more accurate gauge of market saturation and consumer behavior. For pet food manufacturers and suppliers, understanding which countries maintain higher per capita pet ownership can inform formulation, packaging and marketing strategies.
The term “per cat-pita” was avoided in the writing of this article, but it wasn't easy.
Human population data was taken from Eurostat.
| Cat population | Human population 2023 | Per capita cat | |
| Germany | 15,700,000 | 84,400,000 | 0.186 |
| France | 14,900,000 | 68,200,000 | 0.218 |
| United Kingdom | 11,400,000 | 68,350,000 | 0.167 |
| Italy | 10,240,000 | 59,000,000 | 0.174 |
| Poland | 7,546,000 | 36,800,000 | 0.205 |
| Spain | 5,954,000 | 48,100,000 | 0.124 |
