Reference Guide
U.S. cat ownership statistics.
Current figures on cat households, multi-cat homes, veterinary relationships, and shelter trends. Every figure links to the organization that published it.
At a Glance
Cats at home
Two national surveys produce different household totals because they use different methods. Both are included here so readers can use the source that best fits their work.
49 million
U.S. households included at least one cat
The American Pet Products Association reported 49 million cat-owning U.S. households in its 2025 Dog & Cat Report, using 2024 survey data.
Source: American Pet Products Association, 2025 Dog & Cat Report58%
of cat-owning homes had one cat
In 2024, single-cat households made up 58% of cat-owning homes, down from 64% in 2018. The same report found households with three or more cats had grown 36% since 2018.
Source: American Pet Products Association, 2025 Dog & Cat Report43.1 million
U.S. households owned cats in AVMA data
The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates 32.6% of U.S. households owned cats in 2024, or 43.1 million households.
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association, 2025 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook76.3 million
owned cats were estimated in U.S. homes
The AVMA reports an estimated 76.3 million owned cats in 2024, with an average of 1.6 cats per cat-owning household.
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association, 2025 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook77.1%
of cat owners reported a regular veterinarian
More than three in four cat owners said they had a regular veterinarian or veterinary practice in 2024.
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association, October 2024Shelter Trends
The 2025 picture
These figures come from the national reporting network maintained by Shelter Animals Count.
63%
cat adoption rate across reporting shelters
Shelter Animals Count reported a 63% cat adoption rate in 2025, compared with 62% in 2024.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report543,000
cats were transferred into shelters and rescues
Cats accounted for 543,000 transfers into reporting sheltering organizations in 2025, a 3% increase from 2024.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report59%
of 2025 cat intakes were kittens
Neonates, weaned kittens, and juveniles together made up 59% of cat intakes across reporting organizations in 2025.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, March 2026 analysis of 2025 data30 to 40 million
community cats are estimated to live in the U.S.
The Humane Society of the United States gives this estimate for community cats, a broad group that includes cats living outdoors without an indoor home.
Source: Humane Society of the United States, accessed August 2026Sources and Methodology
A straightforward way to cite this page.
This reference brings together the latest available U.S. figures published by the American Pet Products Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Shelter Animals Count, and the Humane Society of the United States. Figures are shown as published. Where surveys differ, the difference is noted rather than blended into a single estimate.
Suggested citation: Catnip and Cat Tails, “U.S. Cat Ownership Statistics,” updated August 26, 2026, https://catnipandcattails.com/cat-statistics.
For source dates and definitions, use the linked source directly beside each statistic. This page will be reviewed as newer national reports are released.
For Everyday Cat Life