United States Pet Population and Ownership Trends Report 2017 - Focus on Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets


Dublin, July 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 2nd Edition" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The idea of pet ownership remains firmly imbedded in the American psyche. No matter where American pet owners live and whatever their age or ethnicity, they stand united in believing that their pets make a positive contribution to their lives. For example, more than 90% of dog owners across a wide range of demographic segments agree that their dog has a positive impact on their mental or physical health. The profound connection between pet owners and their pets leads three in four pet dog or cat owners to admit that they enjoy buying pet products that pamper their pets.

Yet, besides shedding light on the common ground inhabited by pet owners, this new report uncovers stark differences among pet owners that can pose significant challenges for retailers and marketers. The way pet owners view their pets and the criteria they use when deciding which pet products to buy are closely tied to whether they live in urban areas, suburban or outer suburban locales, or rural parts of the country.

For example, compared to rural pet owners, the report finds that urban pet owners are much more likely to agree that they have pets with special nutrition needs or to be concerned about their pets having food allergies or intolerances. Urban pet owners also are much more likely than their rural counterparts to agree that natural/organic brand pet products are often better than standard national brand products or to concur with the statement that fear of pet food contamination/product safety is a key consideration in the dog foods they buy.

The report also identifies a number of demographic trends that likely will hearten marketers and retailers in the pet industry. For one thing, Millennials clearly have bought into the idea of pet ownership. Those in the 18- to 34-year-old age group already have the highest likelihood of owning a pet, while 43% of those in this key demographic cohort who do not have a pet now say they want one in the future.

Aging Boomers offer another, perhaps unexpected, bright spot for the American pet industry. A decade ago, just 34% of adults in the 70-and-over age group owned pets. In 2015 and 2016, when the leading edge of the Boomer generation began to turn 70, this percentage jumped to around 40%. If this incipient trend continues, the overall rate of pet ownership likely will increase in coming years.

Furthermore, pet ownership has become a marker of acculturation within the rapidly expanding Latino population. As second- and third-generation Hispanics continue to make up an ever growing share of the Hispanic population in the United States, the number of Hispanic pet owners likely will continue to grow exponentially.

The report also includes data from the 2017-2018 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, which was fielded in 2016. The report also cites data from a September 2016 survey conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Cohen Research Group.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Scope and Methodology

Topline Trends And Opportunities
- 55% of American Households Have Pets
- Dogs Rule
- Growth in Pet Ownership Outpaced Total Household Growth Over Past Decade
- Profile of Pet Owners Shifted Over Past 10 Years
- Dog Owners Drive Growth in Pet Ownership and Pet Population
- Multi-Pet Households Key Growth Factor
- Merchandising Key Factor in Success of New Products
- Urban-Rural Divide Provides Challenges for Pet Product Marketers
- Aging Boomers More Likely Than Previous Generation to Own Pets

Dog Population And Ownership Trends
- Dog Ownership Up 29% in Past Decade
- Multiple-Dog Households Grow at Faster Rate
- Growth in Number of Dog Owners Far Exceeds Population Growth
- Millennials and Boomers Drive Growth in Dog Ownership
- Multicultural Segments Boost Dog Ownership
- High-Income Segments Propel Increase in Dog Ownership
- Number of Unmarried or Childless Dog Owners Jumps
- Boomers Are More Attached to Large Dogs
- Large Dogs Foster Feeling of Extra Security, Small Dogs Seen as Offering Other Benefits
- Millennials or City Dwellers Most Likely to Have Dogs with Stress Issues
- Aging Boomers Maintain Interest in Owning Dogs
- Non-Hispanic Whites Overrepresented in Population of Dog Owners
- Half of Dog Owners Live in 25 Largest Metro Markets
- Owners of Multiple Dogs More Likely to Splurge on Their Pets

Cat Population And Ownership Trends
- 59 Million Americans Own Cats
- Most Cats Live with Others of Their Kind
- Little Growth in Cat Population Ownership Over Past Decade
- Increase in Multi-Cat Households Helps Stem Decline in Cat Population
- Cat Owners Get Additional Cats for Their Cats and Themselves
- Women Responsible for Most of the Growth in Cat Owner Population
- Cat Ownership Among Seniors Up 43% in Last Decade
- Cat Ownership Way Up Among Hispanics
- Affluent Consumers Help Stem Decline in Cat Ownership
- 24% of Owners Have Overweight Cats
- Cats Most Likely to Be Fed in Kitchen
- Urban Cat Owners Like to Pamper Their Cats, Rural Cat Owners Not So Much
- Owners of Multiple Cats More Likely to Turn to Discount Stores for Pet Products
- Cat Owners Look for Cat Foods with the Right Protein and a Taste Their Cats Like
- Owners of One Cat More Prone to Use of Pet Services

Pet Population And Ownership Trends: Other Pets
- Birds, Fish and Other Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pets Live in 15 Million Households
- 23% of Pet Owners Have a Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pet
- Population of Other Pets Reaches 86 Million
- Some Categories of Other Pets Have Declined in Popularity
- Boomers Less Interested in Pets Other Than Cats or Dogs
- Latinos Most Likely to Own Pet Birds
- Regional Differences in Other Pet Ownership Patterns
- High Income Closely Associated with Ownership of Other Pets
- Children Major Factor in Ownership of Other Pets

2. Insights And Opportunities

The Pet Population And Pet Ownership Today
- 55% of American Households Have Pets

Dogs Rule
- Dog Owners Least Likely to Have Other Pets

Demographic Profile of Pet Owners Varies Widely Across Different Types of Pets
- Growth in Pet Ownership Outpaced Total Household Growth Over Past Decade

Profile of Pet Owners Shifted Over Past 10 Years
- Growth in Pet Ownership Slowed in Past Five Years
- Ownership Trends Vary by Type of Pet
- Dog Owners Drive Growth in Pet Ownership and Pet Population
- Multi-Pet Households Key Growth Factor
Consumer Highlights
- Urban Pet Owners Spend More Even As They Feel More Stressed by Economy
- Older or Rural Pet Owners Least Likely to Buy Pet Products Online

Owners of Multiple Dogs or Cats More Likely to Choose Online Pet Product Vendors
- Walmart Top Choice for Pet Owners Buying Pet Foods and Other Pet Supplies
- Calming Products Gain in Popularity
- In-Store Merchandising Can Help New Products Succeed
- Younger Pet Owners Look to Internet and Social Media for Information about Pet Foods
- Urban-Rural Divide Provides Challenges for Pet Product Marketers

Factors Affecting Growth In Pet Ownership
- Pet Ownership Retains Hold on American Psyche
- Aging Boomers More Likely Than Previous Generation to Own Pets
- Millennials Buying In to Pet Ownership
- Hispanics Will Help Drive Growth

3. Dog Population And Ownership Trends

Dog Ownership Trends
- Dog Ownership Up 29% in Past Decade
- 105 Million Americans Own Dogs
- Most Dogs Have Canine Companions of Their Own
- Multiple-Dog Households Grow at Faster Rate
- Additional Cost Seen as Barrier to Owning More Than One Dog
- Growth in Number of Dog Owners Far Exceeds Population Growth
- Millennials and Boomers Drive Growth in Dog Ownership
- Multicultural Segments Boost Dog Ownership
- Smaller Cities and Rural Areas Post Major Gains in Number of Dog Owners
- High-Income Segments Propel Increase in Dog Ownership
- Number of Unmarried or Childless Dog Owners Jumps

Key Characteristics Of The Dog Population
- Nearly Half of Dogs Are Under Four Years Old
- Smaller Dogs Favored by Most Pet Owners but Boomers Remain Attached to Large Dogs
- Small Dogs More Likely to Be Overweight
- Large Dogs Foster Feeling of Extra Security
- Small Dogs Seen as Offering Other Benefits
- Millennials or City Dwellers Most Likely to Have Dogs with Stress Issues

Demographic Profile Of Dog Owners
- Wide Demographic Gap Between Those Owning and Not Owning Dogs
- Dog Ownership Highly Correlated with Age
- Non-Hispanic Whites Overrepresented in Population of Dog Owners
- Dog Ownership Less Prevalent in Largest Metro Areas
- Dog Ownership Tied to Affluence
- Most Dog Owners Live in Households Without Children
- Apartments Unfriendly to Dog Owners
- Owners of Multiple Dogs Differ

Consumer Highlights
- Owners of Multiple Dogs More Likely to Splurge on Their Pets
- Grooming Tops List of Services Sought by Dog Owners
- High-Quality Protein Top Factor in Choice of Dog Food

4. Cat Population And Ownership Trends

Cat Population And Ownership Trends
- 59 Million Americans Own Cats
- Most Cats Live with Others of Their Kind
- Little Growth in Cat Population Ownership Over Past Decade
- Increase in Multi-Cat Households Helps Stem Decline in Cat Population
- Cat Owners Get Additional Cats for Their Cats and Themselves
- Lack of Time, Energy or Funds Keep Many Cat Owners From Owning More Cats

Growth Drivers
- Women Responsible for Most of the Growth in Cat Owner Population
- Cat Ownership Among Seniors Up 43% in Last Decade
- Cat Ownership Way Up Among Hispanics
- Rural Residents Boost Cat Ownership
- Affluent, Educated Consumers Help Stem Decline in Cat Ownership

Key Characteristics Of The Cat Population
- Cat Population Split Between Those Under and Over Four Years of Age
- Younger Owners Have Younger Cats
- 24% of Owners Have Overweight Cats
- Cats Most Likely to Be Fed in Kitchen
- Dental Hygiene or Breath Odor of Cats a Common Complaint
- Behavioral or Anxiety/Stress Issues Concern Majority of Cat Owners

Demographic Profile Of Cat Owners
- Many Differences Between Cat Owners and Others
- Cat Ownership More Prevalent Among Women
- Cat Owners Remain Disproportionately Non-Hispanic White
- Cat Ownership Flourishes Outside Major Metro Areas
- Affluent Adults Most Likely to Own Cats
- Cats More Common in Households with Teens
- Apartment Dwellers Spurn Cats
- Profile of Owners of Multiple Cats Differs

Consumer Highlights
- Owners of Multiple Cats Feel Financial Strain
- Urban Cat Owners Like to Pamper Their Cats, Rural Cat Owners Not So Much
- Owners of Multiple Cats More Likely to Turn to Discount Stores for Pet Products
- Cat Owners Look for Cat Foods with the Right Protein and a Taste Their Cats Like
- Owners of One Cat More Prone to Use of Pet Services

5. Pet Population And Ownership Trends: Other Pets

Population And Ownership Trends
- Introduction
- Birds, Fish and Other Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pets Live in 15 Million Households
- 23% of Pet Owners Have a Non-Canine or Non-Feline Pet
- Population of Other Pets Reaches 86 Million
- Some Categories of Other Pets Have Declined in Popularity
- Population of Other Pets Shrinks

Demographic Profile Of Owners Of Other Pets
- Boomers Less Interested in Pets Other Than Cats or Dogs
- Latinos Most Likely to Own Pet Birds
- Regional Differences in Other Pet Ownership Patterns
- High Income Closely Associated with Ownership of Other Pets
- Children Major Factor in Ownership of Other Pets
- Apartment Dwellers Less Likely to Have Other Pets
- 73% of Fish Owners Are Below the Age of 50
- No Urban-Rural Split Among Owners of Pet Fish
- Fish More Likely to Swim in Affluent Households
- Pet Fish More Likely To Be Found in Larger Households

Demographic Profile Of Owners Of Pet Birds
- Hispanics Key Segment of Population of Bird Owners
- Significant Regional Differences in Bird Ownership
- Bird Owners More Likely to Live in Middle-Income Households
- Households with Teens Most Likely to Have Birds as Pets

Demographic Profile Of Owners Of Pet Reptiles
- 47% of Pet Reptile Owners Are Millennials
- Residents of Pacific Region Lead in Ownership of Pet Reptiles
- Affluent Adults More Likely to Keep Reptiles as Pets
- Adults with Children in Household More Likely to Own Pet Reptiles


For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/f9ws72/pet_population



            

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