According to the new AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook for 2026, there are 88,9 million pet dogs and 77 million cats in the United States. Cats are noticeably closing the gap: since 2016, their population has grown by 32%, while the dog population has grown by only 16%.
The data were presented by Maisie Kent, assistant director of statistics and data analysis in the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division, at the Veterinary Business and Economic Forum on 7–8 October 2026. Over ten years, the gap between the species has narrowed from 18,5 million to 11,9 million animals, and among recently acquired pets the share of cats is growing faster — by 6,1 percentage points versus 4,1 for dogs.
At the same time, average household spending on pets has declined: from 1727 dollars in 2025 to 1478 dollars in 2026. Veterinary services still account for about a third of spending, but owners are increasingly choosing convenience — online pharmacies, delivery, and automatic medication reminders.
Preventive care remains the main reason for visits: 82,4% of dog owners and 82,3% of cat owners cited it specifically as the reason for their most recent visit to the veterinarian. Most animals visit the clinic once or twice a year, and among both cats and dogs there is a noticeable share of older pets — more than 15% in each group are over ten years old.
For veterinary clinics, this is a signal to rethink their approach: offer convenient schedules for cats, transparent pricing, preventive care packages, and digital services. Understanding the real needs of households with different incomes and family compositions helps preserve trust and accessibility of care even when budgets are shrinking.
