According to a 2024 survey, dogs were the most commonly owned pet in UK households. The share of households reporting dog ownership stood at 36 percent. The second most common house pet among UK households were cats, with around 26 percent of respondents stating their ownership. Pet ownership in the UK In the past year, pet ownership levels in the UK decreased by five percent when compared to 2022. This decrease could be explained by the change in owner's routines since pandemic restrictions have lifted. The share of UK households owning a dog or cat also decreased in comparison to previous years. Happiness, companionship, and man’s best friend A 2020 survey asked dog owners to state their reasons for owning a dog and all linked their ownership to either improving their happiness and/or providing companionship. Happiness was the most common response, with 51 percent stating ‘because they make me happy’. Whereas 47 percent stated their dogs provided ‘love/affection’ and 35 percent stated their dogs provided ‘companionship’. It seems the old saying “man’s best friend” still holds true to this day.

According to an online survey conducted in 2024, it was estimated that 13.5 million dogs and 12.5 million cats were living in UK homes in that year. In addition, the pet population in the United Kingdom also included around 1.3 million indoor birds and 1 million rabbits. Expenditure on pets in the UK In 2021, consumers spent over 9.6 billion British pounds on pets and related products in the United Kingdom, almost double the pet expenditure levels ten years prior, when pet owners in the UK spent a total of 5.13 billion British pounds in 2011. Since dogs and cats were the most common pet animals in UK homes, dog food and cat food were also the most valuable segment in the pet market in the UK. For instance, the UK dry dog food market was valued at 576 million British pounds. Pets at Home Pets at Home is a British pet supplies retailer operating more than 452 stores in the United Kingdom. It is one of the leading pet retailers in Europe, with an annual turnover of 948 million euros in 2019. Pets at Home revenue amounted to more than 1.14 billion British pounds in 2021. Over the last decade, the British pet retailer witnessed its revenues increase every year from a figure of approximately 517 million British pounds generated in 2011.

This statistic shows a ranking of the leading pets owned by households in the United Kingdom (UK) between 2016 and 2019, broken down by region. In London, 14 percent of people were cat owners, while 9 percent owned a dog, making this the only region were cats were more popular than dogs.

In total, 45 percent of the UK population own a pet . This figure has increased by five percent since 2016. Over 90 percent of pet owners in the UK say that owning a pet makes them feel happy and 88 percent feel that pet ownership improves their overall quality of life.

With such as high ownership of pets in the United Kingdom, this leads the path for retailers in a growing and dynamic market. Pet food has a key role to play, with dog and cat food alone estimated at 2.5 billion British pounds in 2017.

The share of households owning a pet in the United Kingdom remained relatively stable between 2012 and 2018, hovering around an estimated percentage of 47 to 45 percent. However, pet ownership levels peaked to an unprecedented high of 62 percent in 2022, likely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and increased time spent at home. In 2024, this figure shrank to 60 percent. Pet ownership in the UK With more than half of UK households owning at least one pet in 2024, dogs and cats were the most common household pets in that year, with an estimated 13.5 million dogs and 12.5 million cats living in homes. As of 2023, the United Kingdom was the highest-ranking European country in terms of its dog population, followed by Germany. Consumer spending on pets in the UK As the pet population in the United Kingdom increased in size, so did consumer spending on pet food and pet-related products and services. Spending on pets and related products reached 11.3 billion British pounds in 2023, a notable increase from a mere 2.9 billion British pounds in 2005. Among the most expensive pet-related expenditures are veterinary and pet services, which constituted 7.2 billion British pounds in 2023.

Pet care is one of UK’s many thriving industries where consistent growth is happening year-on-year. The most recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics revealed that expenditure on pets and related products reached an annual value of ***** billion British pounds in 2024, representing a *** percent increase from the beginning of the survey period in 2005. Dogs are UK households’ best friend The nation’s most popular pets in 2024 were dogs, with just under one-third of households owning a pet dog. Some ** percent of households owned a cat in the same year. Pet care With such affection towards pets also comes the need to care for them. Indeed, over the last decade, spending on veterinary services in the UK rose tremendously, particularly in 2022 when veterinary and other pet care related services reached over *** billion British pounds.

The population of dogs kept as pets in the United Kingdom (UK) was estimated at **** million in 2024, which is an increase of around *** million from the previous year. Dog ownership in the UK As the population of dogs grew in the United Kingdom over the last decade, so did the share of dog-owning households in the UK. Between 2019/20 and 2021/22, the share of UK households owning a pet dog jumped from ** percent to around ** percent. This sudden increase could be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting government-imposed quarantines that forced people to stay at home. UK households own pet dogs from various breeds. However, Labrador Retrievers were by far the most popular dog breed in the UK, with around ****** registrations in 2020. French Bulldogs were also equally popular with ****** registrations in that year. How much does it cost to own a dog in the UK? Consumer spending on pets and related products went up significantly in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2020, with expenditure levels peaking at **** billion British pounds in 2020. The annual cost of keeping a pet dog in the UK amounted to an estimated ***** GBP as of 2022. Broken down by expense type, boarding for two weeks cost approximately *** GBP per year and is the costliest part of owning a pet dog, followed by pet insurance estimated at around *** GBP annually.

Cats and dogs are European households’ favorite animals to keep, although more unconventional choices such as reptiles and small mammals are chosen as pets in high numbers too. In 2023, the population of pet cats in Europe was over 108 million. Germany and France were the two countries where the number of cats was the highest. What about dogs? The number of dogs in Europe was lower than the number of cats, although dogs are a constant presence for a considerable share of Europeans as well. In 2023, about one in four households in Europe owned at least one pet dog. Dog ownership per household showed a slight increase compared to previous years and the number of dogs in Europe generally increased as well. Pet care in Europe Pets are invaluable companions to us all, but also predictably tied to a valuable industry. Fressnapf, headquartered in Germany, was the leading pet care retailer in Europe based on turnover. UK-based Pets at Home ranked in second place among pet care retailers. Typically, pet care products consist of pet food as well as accessories and veterinary supplies.

According to the most recent pet population survey in 2024, approximately ** percent of responding households in the United Kingdom (UK) owned at least one dog. Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of households who own at least one dog remained between ** and ** percent. In 2021, the survey changed its format from face-to-face to online, meaning that data should not be directly compared with previous years. Pet dogs in the United Kingdom A downward trend is also reflected in the number of pet dogs owned in the UK, which was approximately ** million in 2023. This constitutes a decrease of *** million compared to 2022. The majority of British dog owners get their pets from a breeder of one specific breed. Approximately ** percent get their dog from a rescue or rehoming center/shelter based in the UK. Most popular dog breeds in the United Kingdom The most frequently registered dog breeds in the UK are Labrador Retrievers and French Bulldogs. Since 2011, the number of registered French Bulldogs has increased from approximately ***** to over ******. The number of Labrador Retrievers remained relatively stable between 2011 and 2020. Both breeds saw a notable increase in registrations during the pandemic year of 2021. For example, the number of Labrador Retrievers increased from around ****** in 2020 to over ****** in 2021.

When it comes to the most well-known pet supply online shops in the UK, Pets at Home is the clear winner. The largest retailer of pet supplies in the United Kingdom is recognized by 87 percent of internet respondents, more than twice as much as the second placed Paws. Third on this list is PetShop.co.uk, followed by PetsCorner and Jollyes.

For this study, brand awareness was surveyed employing the concept of aided brand recognition, showing respondents both the brand's logo and the written brand name.

Interested in more detailed results covering all brands of this ranking and many more? Explore GCS Brand Profiles. These statistics show results of the Brand KPI survey.

The top dog breed in the UK in 2022, as measured by number of registrations, was the Labrador Retriever breed. Some 44,311 retrievers were newly registered in the UK in 2022. French Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels rounded out the top three dog breeds in the UK that year.

Surge in UK dog registrations

In 2022, many dog breeds saw a decrease in registrations after large growth in 2021. Over 17 thousand fewer Labrador Retrievers were registered in 2022 than in 2021. Registrations of French Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels also saw significant decreases in the UK that year.

UK pet food market

Europe and North America produce the most pet food worldwide. In 2022, Europe produced about 11.8 million metric tons of pet food. Though less pet food is produced in North America overall, the United States has the highest pet food revenue worldwide by far. The UK has the second highest revenue, reaching over 6.8 billion U.S. dollars that year.

***** and ***** are the top two answers among UK consumers in our survey on the subject of "Household pets".The survey was conducted online among 26,710 respondents in the UK, in 2025. Looking to gain valuable insights about pet owners worldwide? Check out our reports about pet owners across the globe. These reports provide readers with a detailed understanding into pet owners, highlighting their demographics, preferences, opinions, and ways to engage with them effectively.

Pet food was the category with the largest market value in the pet care industry in the United Kingdom (UK), generating a market value of *** billion British pounds in 2023. Veterinary services had a market value of *** billion pounds in that year. Pet ownership in the UK In the UK, approximately ** percent of households own a pet, with the most popular pet type being a dog. In 2023, ** percent of UK households owned a pet dog, compared to ** percent who owned cats, and two percent who owned rabbits. As a result, the dog food market is the most profitable, valued at around **** billion British pounds. Dog food in the UK As of 2023, approximately ** million pet dogs were living in the United Kingdom. Due to the big number of dogs living in UK households, different brands compete in the dog food market in the UK, most notably Bakers and Tesco. In 2022, Bakers brands were dominating the market for dog biscuits, mixers, and treats. An estimated *** million people in the UK were using any Bakers product, compared to about *** million people buying dog biscuits, mixers and treats from Tesco. Bakers Complete was the leading brand of complete dry dog food in 2021.

The UK cat population was estimated at **** million in 2024, marking a decrease of around one million from the previous year. 2024 reached the highest recorded figure since the survey began. It is important to note that the survey changed from face-to-face to online in 2021, making it difficult to compare years. Across the UK the share of households owning at least one cat is going strong, if a little behind those who choose the company of canines.  Cats make people happy  Dogs may reign supreme in the nation, but cats are still a popular choice for pets in the UK, and for the sweetest reasons too. It is safe to say that UK cat owners have strong emotional ties with their furry friends, with majority of people viewing cats not just as pets but as reliable sources for love, affection, and happiness.    EU loves cats more than UK   When compared with the rest of the EU, the United Kingdom fares relatively behind in pet ownership. In 2019, the share of UK households with at least one pet cat placed the country in the lower ranks. In contrast, Central European countries such as Romania, Latvia, and Hungary had the highest share of households with cats.

Owning a dog cost an estimated ***** British pounds a year in the UK as of 2025. Two weeks of boarding was estimated to cost *** British pounds per year, making up the largest share of total dog expenditure. Expenditure on pets The annual expenditure on pets in the UK has generally been increasing since 2005. As of 2021, expenditure exceeded **** billion British pounds, marking an increase of about 175 percent during this time period. Consumers between 30 and 49 years of age spend the most weekly compared to other age groups, spending an average of *** British pounds per week on pet food and other pet products. Rise in dog registrations in the UK Dog population in the UK surged in 2021. Since 2010, the dog population has been at about *** million, on average. In 2021, however, the population grew by over ** percent, reaching about ** million dogs. The top dog breeds in the UK are Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels according to dog registrations that year.

Among the leading pets YouTube channels, Pedigree UK was the most popular as of March 2021, with **** thousand subscribers, followed by Whiskas UK with **** thousand subscribers

According to a survey conducted in the United Kingdom in 2023, one quarter of pet owners in the country had a social media account dedicated to their pet. Overall, UK pet owners posted about their pets at least every two days, while 23 percent took photos of their pampered pets every day.

The figure illustrates the leading ten pets brands on YouTube in the United Kingdom (UK) as of March 2021 by total number of uploaded video views. Whiskas UK was the most viewed channel, with approximately ** million uploaded video views.

Despite having the highest number of total video views, Whiskas UK was not the most popular by number of subscribers. Pedigree was the most popular with **** thousand accounts subscribing to that channel.

This statistic displays the results of a survey conducted in 2019, in which cat owners in the United Kingdom (UK) were asked which treats they regularly give their cat. Among the various types, commercial cat treats are the most common, given by 54 percent of owners surveyed. Meat and fish products, other than that in cat food, rank in second and third place, popular among 34 percent and 31 percent of owners, respectively.

The value of the dog food market in the United Kingdom (UK) reached around two billion British pounds in 2024, making it the most lucrative market segment. Cat food followed in second place with a market value of 1.53 billion British pounds. The pet food market in the UK The growth rate of the pet food market in the UK stood at around nine percent annually in recent years. The growth rate of the pet food market slightly edges the growth rates of other pet market segments, such as those of veterinary and retail. The value of dog and cat food imports to the UK amounts to nearly 1.4 billion U.S. dollars annually. The majority of the UK’s dog and cat food imports come from France and Germany. Moreover, the UK also exports about 370 million U.S. dollars’ worth of dog and cat food annually. In general, countries from the European Union remain the UK’s main trading partners for both imports and exports of dog and cat food.

Dog population in the UK

The number of dogs kept as pets in the UK stood at approximately 12 million. The pet dog population has increased by almost 40 percent within the last decade. Close to one-third of households in the UK own at least one dog. A noticeable jump in dog ownership rates was seen in the year 2021 when the share of household-owning dogs increased by ten percent as compared to the previous year. It is important to note that the survey changed from face-to-face from online at this time. This sudden growth in dog owners could also be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common ways to purchase a dog in the UK are through breeders and private sellers. About 20 percent of dog owners receive their pet from a rescue or rehoming center/shelter.

The change in population of pet dogs in the UK has been significant in the past year. In 2023, **** million of them were cohabiting with their human owners in UK households, a decrease of close to *********** compared to 2022.   Dogs more popular than cats   Dogs are cherished in the United Kingdom – more so than cats. In 2022, pet dogs were more prevalent in the UK with over a quarter of households owning at least ***, as opposed to households with cats. This was the same in previous years as well.