346 million pets live in the USA

The National Pet Owners Survey (NPOS) shows that 63 per cent of all U.S. households own a pet. This equates to more than 69 million households, up from 64 million in 2002. Americans own approximately 73 million dogs, 90 million cats, 139 million freshwater fish, 9 million saltwater fish, 16 million birds, 18 million small animals and 11 million reptiles. According to the survey, nearly all pet owners say companionship, love, company and affection are the number one benefits to owning a pet. 95 per cent say pets are good for their health and the health of their family and help them relax. 40 per cent say that owning a dog motivates them to exercise on a regular basis. All this might explain why pets are an integral part of the family. 75 per cent of dog owners regard their dog like a child or family member and more than 50 per cent of cat owners say the same. Which animals live in America? (in Mio) (download pdf-file) But there are many other interesting trends emerging from the NPOS, including the following: giving gifts to pets continues to rise, with 80 per cent of dog owners buying dog gifts and 63 per cent of cat owners purchasing gifts for the family feline. And gifts aren’t just purchased at Christmas, but also for birthdays, Easter and on no special occasion. There’s also a growing number of parties for pets, with 9 per cent of dog owners and 5 per cent of cat owners hosting birthday parties for their pets. A growing number of dog owners are taking their pet with them when they hit the road: 19 per cent of dog owners bring along their dog when travelling, up from 16 per cent in 2002. The majority of dogs and cats also sleep indoors, with most preferring to sleep in their owner’s bed, on a blanket or pet bed. And pet owners are paying more attention to nutrition, with table scraps on the decline and gourmet food and food fortified with supplements and added vitamins and minerals showing gains. 1 per cent of dog owners also feed their dogs kosher food. Who give their pet the most treats? (download pdf-file) The number of cat and dog owners with health insurance is on the increase. Currently 3 per cent of dogs and 1 per cent of cats have health insurance, up from 2 per cent of dog owners and less than 1 per cent of cat owners in 2002. 3 per cent of dog owners and 9 per cent of cat owners use homeopathic remedies, and the use of vitamins and supplements has also increased. Giving pets treats continues to increase significantly, with 88 per cent of dog…