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Around the world, do more people keep cats or dogs?

For anyone who’s curious
No. 107AnimalsPart 7 of 7Fact-checked Oct 7, 2026
Video1:53 · English voice (AI) · English subtitles

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A cat on one end, a dog on the other. Around the world, do more people keep cats, or dogs? Short answer: a few more people keep dogs. In twenty fifteen, researchers asked more than twenty-seven thousand people in twenty-two countries.

Out of every hundred people, thirty-three had a dog, and twenty-three had a cat. Count the animals, and dogs still win. One estimate puts pet dogs worldwide at about four hundred and seventy million. Pet cats, about three hundred and seventy million. But look somewhere else, and cats come out ahead.

In that same survey, in Russia and France, more people kept cats than dogs. Across Europe, there are a hundred and twenty-seven million pet cats, twenty-three million more than dogs. In China's cities, cats lead too. In twenty twenty-four, city homes had over seventy-one million cats. Dogs, about fifty-two million.

So how did cats catch up? A twenty twenty-four survey asked people why they don't have a dog. Two answers came up most: my home isn't right for it, and it takes too much time. Cats make that easy: no daily walks, and they fit fine in an apartment.

And one more thing: cat homes often have more than one cat. In Europe, about as many homes have cats as have dogs. Yet there are far more cats. So the answer depends on how you count, and where. Worldwide, more people keep dogs. In many cities, cats have already pulled ahead. Next time you walk around your neighborhood, count them. More dogs out on a leash, or more cats sunning in the windows?

Are you a cat person, or a dog person? Tell me in the comments.

1

In one line

Worldwide, a few more people keep dogs. But in many cities, cats have already pulled ahead.

It depends on how you count (people or animals) and where you count.

2

First, count people

33 23

Out of every 100 people, 33 have a dog and 23 have a cat.

In 2015, a survey asked more than 27,000 people in 22 countries. Dogs came first, cats second.

3

Then, count animals

~470 millionpet dogs worldwide
~370 millionpet cats worldwide

This is an estimate, and it leaves out strays. There is no single world census of cats and dogs, so numbers vary, but most put dogs ahead.

4

Elsewhere,
cats win

Russia, FranceIn that same survey, more people kept cats than dogs
EuropeCats: 127 million
Dogs: 104 million
Cities in China2024: over 71 million cats, about 52 million dogs. Cats have led for several years
5

How cats caught up

No daily walksOne reason people skip dogs: too much time
Fine in a flatAnother reason: home isn’t right

From a 2024 survey in 20 countries: asked why they don’t have a dog, people gave these two reasons most.

6

Common mix-ups

MYTH
More cats means more cat owners
Not quite. Cat homes often have more than one cat. In Europe, about as many homes have cats (26%) as dogs (25%), yet there are over 20 million more cats.
MYTH
There’s one official world number
There isn’t. Surveys cover different countries and ask different questions, and some deliberately recruit extra pet owners. Always check who counted, where, and how.
By people: dogs
Many cities: cats
Next time you walk around your neighborhood, count: more dogs on a leash, or more cats sunning in the windows?
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