Are Cats Outnumbering Dogs?

Robert Granader is the founder of MarketResearch.com and the CEO of Packaged Facts. The rivalry between dog enthusiasts and cat lovers has been ongoing since animals were first domesticated. If extraterrestrials had visited any American city over the last few decades, they would have clearly seen which side had prevailed. Public spaces like sidewalks, parks, and beaches were filled with humans interacting with dogs. However, the situation is changing.

According to my research firm Packaged Facts, U.S. households now own more kittens than puppies for the first time since our data collection began. In 2014, there were 1.8 households with a young dog for every household with a kitten. This ratio reached equilibrium in 2025. This year, it shifted to 0.94 to 1 in favor of kittens. Fewer puppies now means fewer dogs later.

This development isn’t due to a surge in cat ownership but rather a decline in dog ownership. The number of U.S. households with dogs has decreased by 5% since 2019, while cat ownership has remained steady. Although dogs still dominate with around 71 million households compared to 53 million with cats, that’s changing rapidly.

The market hasn’t adjusted to this shift. Many cat owners feel retailers don’t treat cats equally. A 2026 survey from Packaged Facts indicates about half of cat owners feel overlooked by pet marketers and retailers. In contrast, dog owners often find an extensive range of products and services including food, toys, travel gear, and more. Services like grooming and boarding also focus heavily on dogs.

There are numerous facilities for dogs such as parks, beaches, and dog-friendly hotels. Cats often don’t receive such attention, frequently left with mere boxes from deliveries.

Several factors contribute to this shift away from dogs. Cats offer practicality—they’re quieter, easier to care for alone, and more suited for compact living spaces. Conversely, dogs require more attention and planning.

The economy plays a role too. Real estate prices, slow wage growth, and high mortgage rates have stifled home buying, a key trigger for dog ownership. Homeownership decline impacts dog ownership rates, as homeowners are twice as likely as renters to have dogs.

Demographic changes also influence pet ownership. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projects future household growth among older adults and minorities, who typically have lower pet ownership rates.

Post-pandemic lifestyle changes further reduce dog ownership. Smaller households, prevalent apartment living, increased travel, and rising costs discourage dog ownership. Economic pressures contribute as well. Owners spend about $1,300 annually on dogs compared to $750 on cats. This disparity could lower future pet industry revenue. Dogs account for two-thirds of pet industry sales, but economic changes might lead people to choose less costly options or abandon pet ownership.

This story isn’t about cats replacing dogs but rather Americans embodying feline characteristics: adapting to smaller, independent living spaces.

If aliens returned in a few years, they might find empty recreational spaces with cats happily watching from window sills.