APPA Releases 2025 Dog & Cat Report, Reveals a New Era of Pet Ownership

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) has announced the release of its 2025 Dog & Cat Report, its second pet owner insights report this year. The report features the latest research and insights from APPA’s National Pet Owners Survey on the two largest segments of the pet industry, dog and cat owners, providing more than 200 pages of comprehensive analysis and visuals on owner shopping trends, sentiment, demographics and behaviors. The data shows a record-breaking rise in cat ownership, the evolving humanization of pets, a deepening human-animal bond relationship with pets, and a heightened focus on proactive pet wellness.

“Our latest Dog & Cat Report confirms what many in the industry have sensed – pet ownership continues to evolve in meaningful ways, with dogs and cats more integrated into our lives than ever before,” said APPA president and CEO Peter Scott. “From prioritizing pet nutrition to the rise of multi-cat households, today’s pet owners are redefining what it means to care for a companion animal. These insights reflect not only the powerful bond between humans and their pets, but a roadmap for where the pet industry is headed next.”

Key trends revealed in the report include:

Cat Ownership Trends: The Year of the Cat

Cat ownership is on the rise. A 23% increase in ownership in 2024, more multi-cat homes, and a growing appetite for quality time with their cats show today’s owners are redefining what it means to be a “cat person”.

• Forty-nine million (49) US households own a cat, up from 40 million in 2023.
• Cat owners are expanding their households to include more than one cat.
  • Single-cat households decreased from 64% in 2018 to 58% in 2024, a 9% decrease.
  • Meanwhile, households with two cats increased by 8% from 2018. Most significantly, households with three or more cats increased by 36% from 2018.
• Cat owners are strengthening the human-feline bond by purchasing products that support training and encourage quality time outside the home.
  • More owners train their cats. Forty-eight percent (48%) use some type of training method with their cat, a 41% increase from 2018.
  • More cat owners purchase leashes, harnesses and collars. Thirty-two percent (32%) have a leash, a 52% increase from 2018. Twenty-two percent (22%) own a harness, and 27% own a non-flea collar, a 69% and 50% increase from 2018, respectively.
• From pet parties to themed merchandise, celebrating cats has become a core component of modern cat ownership.
  • The percentage of owners hosting holiday/birthday parties for their cats in 2024 (21%) increased by 250% from 2018.
  • Thirty-four percent of cat owners purchased pet-themed merchandise, an 89% increase from 2018.

Dog Ownership Trends: The Rise of the Lifestyle Companion

Today’s dog owners prioritize shared experiences and deeper connections with their dogs, integrating them into active lifestyles, everyday routines and travel.

• Dog owners increasingly incorporate their pets into daily routines that support healthy, active lifestyles. At least once a week, 53% of owners take their dogs on foot for daily errands, a 6% increase from 2023.
• Owners continue to include dogs in their travel plans.
  • Of the owners traveling with their dog, a growing number (74%) have traveled by plane in the last year, up from 68% in 2023, while 87% traveled by car, a trend that has been consistent from 2023.
• A majority of dog owners want dog-friendly workplaces. Forty-nine percent (49%) say they are very/somewhat likely to take their pet to the office if permitted.

Pet Food Trends: Transforming Pet Nutrition

Dog and cat owners are taking a wellness-focused approach to pet nutrition. Over the past year, owners have made significant shifts in what they feed their pets, favoring premium diets and functional add-ons.

• After declining in 2023, premium pet food purchases regained momentum in 2024 while basic food purchases declined.
  • Forty-one percent (41%) of dog owners and 38% of cat owners purchased premium food, a 5% and 9% increase from 2023, respectively.
  • Twenty-six percent (26%) of dog owners and 38% of cat owners purchased basic food, a 7% decrease for both from 2023.
• Mixers/toppers have seen tremendous growth over the last six years. Sixteen percent of dog owners and 19% of cat owners purchased mixers/toppers in 2024, increasing by 129% and 138% from 2018, respectively.
• Functional diets like pre- and probiotics saw significant growth in 2024. Thirteen percent (13%) of dog owners and 12% of cat owners purchased pre- and probiotic diets, an 18% and 9% decrease from 2023, respectively.

Vitamin and Supplement Trends: Proactive Pet Wellness

Proactive pet wellness remains a top priority for dog and cat owners, fueling growing demand year-over-year for vitamins and supplements that support their pets’ well-being.

• Vitamin and supplement use continues to grow among dog and cat owners.
  • Fifty-three percent (53%) of dog owners give their dogs vitamins/supplements, a 6% increase from 2023. A six-year look back shows a 56% increase in vitamin/supplement purchases from 2018.
  • Thirty-four percent (34%) of cat owners give their cats vitamins/supplements, also a 6% increase from 2023. A six-year look back shows a 70% increase in vitamin/supplement purchases from 2018.
• Trends in the most popular types of vitamins and supplements vary among dog and cat owners.
  • In 2024, joint health/mobility, multivitamin, and skin/coat/nail supplements were the most popular types among dog owners.
  • Among cat owners, multi-vitamins, followed by pre- and probiotic and digestion supplements, were the most popular types.

“This year’s data paints a clear picture of shifting behaviors and priorities among pet owners, especially in the areas of wellness, lifestyle integration, and premium product adoption,” said Ingrid Chu, vice president of research and insights. “We’ve seen double and even triple-digit increases in categories like cat harnesses, pet birthdays, themed merchandise, and nutrition-enhancing food toppers – all evidence that consumers are embracing more personalized, intentional care for their pets.”

The American Pet Products Association is a membership organization serving the pet industry through services and programs designed to help its members prosper. Since 1988, APPA has published the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, the premier resource of its kind, providing in-depth data on consumer behavior. APPA’s research and insights monitor consumer habits, identify short- and long-term trends and discover new opportunities in pet ownership, pet product and service consumption published across four quarterly reports, including State of the Industry, Dog & Cat, Fish & Reptiles and Horse, Birds & Small Animals.