These are the most popular pets in America

American pet ownership has increased by a lot over the last three decades. So it should come as no surprise that tens of millions of people in the United States own a pet. What may come as a surprise is the weird pets people keep. 

Roughly 66% of American households, or over 83 million homes, have some kind of pet in their living arrangement in 2024 according to data from the American Pet Association quoted by Forbes Advisor—many of which are more than mere pets. 

Statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2022 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook revealed that 97% of U.S. pet owners think of their pets as part of the family, which shows how important pets are in our daily lives. 

Americans are so fond of their furry babies, fish, and amphibians that they spend a heck of a lot of money on them, too. More than $136 billion dollars in 2022 to be exact, which was up by 11% from $123.6 billion spent on pets in the U.S. in 2021.

The most interesting thing about American pet owners is that they’re likely to have more than a single pet in their home. Over one-third of U.S. households (35%) have more than one pet in their home and these can range from lots of different animals. 

America's most popular pets in 2024 were outlined by the American Pet Association and the numbers are very fascinating. Some animals are far more popular than others. Let’s take a look at the eight most popular pet types in America and a few other weird facts. 

2.2 million households

2.2 million households

6 million households

6.7 million households

This group includes animals like hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice, rats, and ferret

6.1 million households

11.1 million households

45.6 million households

65.1 million households

The age-old debate about whether or not dogs are more popular than cats may be settled based on data from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s found that 44.5% of U.S. households owned dogs compared to 29% who owned cats!

However, you may not want to own a dog if you live in Winston-Salem North Carolina since it's the most expensive city in the United States to own a pooch according to 2022 stats from Realtor.com quoted by Forbes Advisor. 

When it comes to cash spent on pets in the United States, we’ve already let you in on the money that was sent on American pets in 2022. But the real shocker is that $58.1 billion was spent on pet food and treats alone!

Pet supplies and medications set Americans back by $31.5 billion while vet costs were $39.5 billion. Americans spent another $11 billion on various pet services like grooming, training, insurance, and boarding. 

“From companionship to emotional support, pets are a vital part of their owners’ lives,” Forbes Advisor’s Michelle Megna explained in her extensive breakdown of pet statistics for the U.S. news company. But clearly Americans favor some types of pets over others. 

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