Are you a dog lover or a cat lover? Perhaps you are both, but it seems like most people lean towards one or the other. Some may prefer a cat because they’re pretty self-sufficient, while others prefer dogs so they have more of an excuse to go outside for a walk. There are several other reasons, but which one is owned by more people?
In a survey done in November 2022, pet owners from five different countries were asked whether they owned a dog or a cat. The countries were the U.S., China, the U.K., Germany, and Japan. In all of the countries surveyed, there were more dog owners than cat owners. However, it was a pretty even split in Germany (Statista, 2022). The number of pet owners surveyed was 1000+, but it would be interesting if it included which city or cities were surveyed. Would the results be different if more cities and regions were surveyed? In the search for more statistics, other reports indicated that more people own dogs rather than cats worldwide, so perhaps the results wouldn’t vary much.
While many pets are treated as part of the family, they weren’t always viewed this way. Cats were kept so they could catch mice and dogs were used for hunting. Some parts of the world may still view dogs and cats as just animals, especially in more rural areas. However, there are several countries that truly view pets as family members and have even passed laws regarding a pet’s welfare when custody is being decided after a divorce or break up. “According to PetGuide.com, besides France, Portugal, and Spain, other countries with laws in place recognizing animals as sentient beings include Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. All have laws in place that recognize animals as having emotions, so “legal proceedings work towards their welfare.”” (Hasco, 2022).
Many pet owners spend money or treats and toys for their furry friends. An article on Forbes.com stated that about $730 is spent on dogs per year in the U.S.(Megna, 2023). Another website, Pet Keen, has a post listing several facts about pet spending including “In the European Union, pet owners spent an estimated €21.2 billion on pet products and services in 2020” and “Australians spent an estimated $30.7 billion AUD on their pets in 2021” (Gray, 2023).
Whether you’re Team Dog or Team Cat, there’s no denying that pets are becoming more important to people and the pet industry continues to grow globally.
Sources:https://www.statista.com/chart/28906/dog-vs-cat-ownership-in-selected-countries/
One reply on “Cats vs Dogs”
Hi Mallory, I was interested to learn that there are countries that actually pass welfare laws to protect animals. As someone who loves dogs, it makes me happy that countries are taking this initiative. Im surprised to learn that 21 billion is spent annually on dogs, which makes sense. Every time I buy dog toys they seem to add up a lot.