Number of pets continues to grow

Download: Number of pets continues to grow (PDF file)With 50.2 mio pets - including over 22 mio fish - the UK assumes a leading role in Europe. Nearly one in two households owns a pet on average. Enthusiasm for dogs, cats and other pets is greatest in the south-west (62 per cent of households have a pet) and the east of England (52 per cent), according to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), while it is lowest in London (21 per cent).Dogs and catsOpinion varies as to whether dogs are the most popular pets in the UK or whether they have been supplanted in this position by cats. While Euromonitor International puts the number of dogs at 6.7 mio, the PFMA gives a figure of 7.3 mio. This number is broken down into 75 per cent pedigree dogs and 25 per cent crossbreeds. According to Kennel Club data, there are 209 different breeds of dog in the UK; the most popular are the Labrador and the Border Collie (0.6 mio in each case), followed by the Jack Russell Terrier (0.5 mio) and Yorkshire Terrier (0.4 mio). Nevertheless, there is a marked trend in the UK towards smaller dog breeds. Euromonitor International gives a figure of 1.9 mio (2003: 2.89 mio) dogs of large breeds, 2.1 mio (2003: 1.69 mio) of medium-sized breeds and 2.7 mio (2003: 1.91 mio) dogs of small breeds. 22 per cent of all UK households, i.e. 5.7 mio households, own at least one dog.Cats are also very popular in the UK. Euromonitor estimates the number of cats at 10.2 mio, while the PFMA puts it at just 7.2 mio. 92 per cent of cats are crossbreeds, according to the PFMA, while just 8 per cent are pedigree cats. The association estimates that 18 per cent of all households have at least one cat, equivalent to 4.8 mio.As observed in many other countries, there is a pronounced trend in favour of small mammals in the UK. Euromonitor International assumes 5.8 mio mice, hamsters and other small animals are kept, compared with 4.5 mio five years ago. On the other hand, the number of cage birds fell between 2003 and 2008 from 3 to 2.7 mio. The market research institute has also noted a slight decline in the number of ornamental fish; whereas the figure was estimated at 23.1 mio in the UK in 2003, five years later it is 22.2 mio. Terrarium pets are enjoying a clear upward trend, with numbers rising from 1.9 mio in 2003 to 2.65 mio currently.Sales trendHow does the trend in the pet population affect sales in the sector? According to Euromonitor International, the overall volume of sales to be expected…