The study was conducted in 2012, but is based on numbers from December 31, 2011; results are drawn from a survey of more than 50,000 households in the United States.
So far we’ve given the animals plenty of attention. But is there more we can learn about pet owners? For example, how does pet ownership vary along generational lines in the U.S.? Here’s what the latest data shows.
From food to toys to veterinary visits, here’s what the cost of pet ownership looks like in the U.S.
American pet owners spend the most on pet food and treats: $42 billion in 2020.¹
U.S. pet owners were estimated to spend $9.7 billion in 2021 on services other than veterinary needs, including insurance, grooming, training, and boarding.¹
In 2020, the U.S. spent $31.4 billion on vet care & product sales, which was projected to grow to $32.3 billion by 2021.¹
Americans spent $22.1 billion on supplies, live animals, and over-the-counter medicine in 2020.¹
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent just over $500 per year on their pets in 2011.¹²
As pet ownership has steadily grown in the United States, the data shows that pet industry expenditures have increased as well.
In 2021, pet expenditures were projected to reach $109.6 billion in the U.S. alone.¹
From 2010 to 2020, U.S. pet industry expenditure grew by 114%.¹
In 2020, the U.S. spent $103.6 billion on the pet industry**.¹
In 2018, total U.S. pet industry expenditures were $90.5 billion, compared to $97.1 billion in 2019.¹
U.S. pet industry expenditure grew by 6.69% from 2019 to 2020.¹
Based on estimates, U.S. pet spending on services outside of vet care grew by 16.5% from 2020 ($8.1 billion) to 2021.¹
Most pet owners would probably tell you that their pet improves their lives. But did you know that data shows tangible health benefits of animal companionship?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets can help manage loneliness and depression with their companionship.¹³
Regularly walking or playing with a pet can decrease blood pressure, cortisol levels, and triglyceride levels.¹³
Animals can provide emotional support and decrease feelings of anxiety and symptoms of PTSD.¹³
For older adults, regular outdoor activities with pets can improve cognitive function.¹³
Providing proper health care for your pet is a must (and pet insurance can help take the bite out of some of those bills). Here’s a look at how much Americans are spending to keep their pets in tip-top shape.
Spoiler alert: Unsurprisingly, the cost of owning and caring for a dog seems to end up being significantly more than the cost of owning a cat.
As of 2020, there were 118,624 licensed veterinarians in the U.S., which means the ratio between U.S. households with dogs and veterinarians is approximately 582:1.¹⁴
The ratio between the number of U.S. households with cats and total veterinarians in the U.S. is approximately 382:1.¹⁴
On average, dog owners spend more than twice as much (127.9%) as cat owners for surgical vet visits ($458 per visit vs. $201).¹
Dog owners spend 36% more per routine vet visit than cat owners on average ($242 vs. $178).¹
In the U.S., dog owners spend 72.34% more per year on vitamins than cat owners on average ($81 vs. $47).¹
As of 2016, 34% of pet dogs appeared to be overweight or obese, compared to 36% of pet cats.²
Pet health care has become more expensive over the years. Fortunately, the pet health insurance industry has grown at the same time, and the right policy can help offset those costs.
In 2020, roughly 3.45 million pets were covered by a pet insurance policy in North America.¹⁵
In the U.S., dogs made up roughly 83% of all insured pets in 2020.¹⁶
U.S. pet health insurance premiums reached $1.99 billion by the end of 2020.¹⁷
The U.S. pet health insurance market has grown an average of 23.2% per year between 2016 and 2020.¹⁵
In 2020, Americans spent roughly $1.855 billion on combined insurance, which includes Accident & Illness and Insurance With Embedded Wellness.¹⁷
Lemonade insures more dogs and cats in Brooklyn, NY than anywhere else in the United States.
