About 94 million U.S. households own at least one pet, up from 82 million in 2023, according to the American Pet Products Association.
“The pet industry continues to demonstrate resilience, even amid economic uncertainty,” said APPA President and CEO Pete Scott. “What’s encouraging is that pet ownership is expanding.”
The organization’s 2025 State of the Industry report revealed that the majority of pet owners (77%) said the current economy hasn’t affected their pet ownership. In addition, total U.S. pet industry expenditures reached $152 billion in 2024, and sales are projected to hit $157 billion in 2025.
Other key highlights from the report include:
- 51% of households (68 million) own dogs, and 37% of households (49 million) own cats.
- 37% of pet owners are concerned about access to veterinary care. The top reasons include affordability (60%) and the ability to get to an appointment (32%).
- 20% of pet-owning households are in Generation Z (born between the late 1990s and early 2010s.)
- 70% of Gen Z pet owners have two or more pets.
- The most significant increase in cat ownership was among Gen Z and millennial men. Specifically, 38% of Gen Z and 46% of millennial cat owners are men, an 18% and 24% increase from 2023, respectively.
- 14% of people report that their workplace is pet-friendly.
- 80% of human resource professionals and senior leaders think pet-friendly workplaces help recruit and retain talent, and 75% say it helps promote return-to-office efforts.
- 68% of Gen Z dog owners and 71% of Gen Z cat owners use calming products on their animals, compared with 72% of millennial dog owners and 66% of millennial cat owners.
- 47% of pet owners shop for pet products in-store.
“Gen Z is driving a remarkable shift in pet ownership,” said Ingrid Chu, APPA’s vice president of insights and research. “This generation is also leading in multipet ownership. Social media platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, play a crucial role in their purchasing decisions. As pet brands look to the future, leveraging visual and digital-first strategies will be key to capturing the attention of this rapidly growing demographic.”