Pet Industry Statistics 2026: US and Canada Market Data in One Place
Quick answer: US pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025, up 3.7% from $152 billion in 2024, and the American Pet Products Association (APPA) projects $165 billion for 2026. Pet food and treats are the largest category at $68.3 billion. In Canada, the latest Canadian Animal Health Institute survey estimates 7.2 million dogs and 8.2 million cats (2024), with pets in more than half of households.
Last updated: October 8, 2026 · We review this page quarterly.
Pet industry numbers get quoted everywhere, often without a source, a date, or any hint that different researchers measure very different things. This page pulls together the figures that matter most for pet brands, business owners and curious pet lovers in the US and Canada, and tells you exactly where each one comes from.
Pet industry statistics 2026 at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US pet industry spending, 2025 | $158 billion (+3.7%) | APPA 2026 State of the Industry |
| US pet industry spending, 2026 (projected) | $165 billion | APPA 2026 State of the Industry |
| US pet food and treats sales, 2025 | $68.3 billion (43.2% of total) | APPA, via Pet Food Processing |
| US “other services” (grooming, boarding, training etc.), 2025 | $14.3 billion (+8%) | APPA, via Pet Food Processing |
| US households with a pet | About 95 million | APPA 2026 report, as summarized by Review42 |
| Dogs in Canada, 2024 | 7.2 million | Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) |
| Cats in Canada, 2024 | 8.2 million | CAHI |
| Share of pet food and treats sold in Canada that is made in Canada | More than 50% | Pet Food Association of Canada |
| North American pet insurance premiums, 2024 | $5.2 billion (+20.8%) | NAPHIA, as reported by Review42 |
US pet industry spending
The most widely cited source for US pet spending is the American Pet Products Association. Its 2026 State of the Industry report puts total 2025 pet industry expenditures at $158 billion, a 3.7% increase, with $165 billion projected for 2026. That continues a steady climb from about $147 billion in 2023 and $152 billion in 2024.
Growth is solid but slower than the pandemic-era surge, and part of it reflects higher prices rather than more purchases. Review42’s analysis of APPA’s own forecast suggests roughly 2 points of the projected 4.4% growth for 2026 is inflation. In other words, the market is healthy, but brands should not assume volume is growing as fast as dollars.
Where the money goes: spending by category
| Category | 2025 actual | 2026 projected |
|---|---|---|
| Pet food and treats | $68.3 billion | $69.7 billion |
| Vet care and product sales | Not broken out here | $42.4 billion |
| Supplies, live animals and OTC medicine | Not broken out here | $35.6 billion |
| Other services (grooming, boarding, training, walking, etc.) | $14.3 billion | $14.9 billion |
Two things stand out. Food and treats remain the anchor of the industry at more than 40% of spending, which is why so many new brands start there. And services, while smaller, grew about 8% in 2025, faster than the overall market. For anyone running a grooming, boarding or training business, that is a meaningful tailwind.
Pet ownership in the US
APPA’s 2026 data, as summarized by Review42, puts the number of US households with at least one pet at about 95 million, roughly seven in ten homes. That includes around 71 million households with a dog (about 53%) and 53 million with a cat (about 39%). Many homes have both, which is why the percentages add up to more than the total.
Canada pet industry statistics
Canadian data is harder to find, and most “pet industry statistics” pages ignore it completely. The best source for pet population is the Canadian Animal Health Institute’s biennial survey. Its 2024 Canadian Pet Population Survey, conducted by Léger, found:
- About 7.2 million dogs and 8.2 million cats in Canada
- Pets are part of more than half of Canadian households
- Dogs visited a vet about twice a year on average; cats about once a year
- Nearly half of dogs and about one-third of cats had a health issue in the past year
Read the trend carefully. CAHI’s previous survey in 2022 estimated 7.9 million dogs and 8.5 million cats, with 60% of households owning a cat or dog. The 2024 numbers are lower, but the survey was run by a different research firm, so the change may partly reflect methodology rather than a real drop in pets. Treat the two years as separate snapshots, not a precise trend line.
On the supply side, the Pet Food Association of Canada says more than half of the pet food and treats sold in Canada is made in Canada, and all imported pet food must meet CFIA import requirements.
US vs Canada side by side
| Measure | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Households with pets | About 95 million (roughly 70%) | More than half of households |
| Which is more common? | Dogs (more dog households than cat households) | Cats (8.2M cats vs 7.2M dogs) |
| Main data source | APPA (spending and ownership) | CAHI (pet population and vet care) |
| Pet food regulation | State feed laws, AAFCO model rules, FDA | Labeling and advertising laws; CFIA for import and export |
Pet insurance is the fastest-growing corner
North American pet insurance premiums reached about $5.2 billion in 2024, up 20.8% in a single year, according to NAPHIA figures reported by Review42. That growth rate is several times faster than the pet industry overall. Even so, Review42 estimates that the vast majority of US dogs still have no policy, which means the category has plenty of room left to grow. Rising vet costs are a big part of the story, as owners look for ways to make large bills more predictable.
Why market size numbers disagree
If you have seen the pet industry described as anything from about $150 billion to over $250 billion, you are not imagining it. Different organizations measure different things.
| Source | Figure | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| APPA | $158B (2025), $165B projected (2026) | US consumer spending on pets, based on its own surveys and data |
| Grand View Research (as reported by Ringly) | $190.5B (2026), growing to $283.7B by 2033 | A broader market definition with its own methodology |
| Morgan Stanley (as reported by Ringly) | $261B by 2030 | A forward-looking investment forecast |
For most business purposes, APPA is the safest default for US spending because it is long-running, updated every year and widely used across the industry. Use analyst forecasts when you specifically want a long-range projection, and say so.
What these numbers mean if you run a pet business
- Food and treats are big but crowded. The largest category also has the most competition and the most regulation. If you are entering it, read our guide on how to start a dog treat business before your first batch, and see our breakdown of pet food trends in 2026 to understand where demand is heading.
- Services are growing faster than the market. Grooming, training, boarding and daycare saw stronger growth in 2025 than the industry overall.
- Retail access matters. With so much spending flowing through large pet retailers, knowing how to get listed can shape your growth. See our guide on how to sell on Chewy.
- Canada is not a smaller copy of the US. Cats outnumber dogs there, and regulation works differently, so plan products and messaging accordingly.
- Health is a constant theme. With nearly half of Canadian dogs having a health issue in a year, practical health content earns trust. Owners searching things like why their dog throws up yellow bile are exactly the engaged audience brands want to reach.
How we compiled these statistics
We prioritize primary sources: the American Pet Products Association for US spending and ownership, the Canadian Animal Health Institute for Canadian pet population, and the Pet Food Association of Canada for Canadian supply. Where a primary report is paywalled, we name the secondary outlet that reported the figure so you can trace it. We do not round or adjust figures except where noted, and we review this page every quarter as new data is released. Spotted something out of date? Let us know through our contact page.
For more data and analysis, explore our Pet Industry Insights section.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the pet industry in 2026?
The American Pet Products Association projects US pet industry spending of about 165 billion US dollars in 2026, up from 158 billion in 2025. Some research firms use broader definitions and publish higher estimates.
What is the largest category in the pet industry?
Pet food and treats. APPA data shows US food and treat sales reached about 68.3 billion US dollars in 2025, roughly 43% of total pet industry spending.
How many dogs and cats are there in Canada?
The Canadian Animal Health Institute’s 2024 survey estimates about 7.2 million dogs and 8.2 million cats in Canada, with pets present in more than half of Canadian households.
What is the fastest-growing part of the pet industry?
Pet insurance is growing fastest, with North American premiums up about 20.8% in 2024. Among APPA’s spending categories, services such as grooming, boarding and training grew about 8% in 2025, faster than the overall market.
Why do pet industry market size estimates differ so much?
Organizations measure different things. APPA tracks US consumer spending on pets, while research firms and investment banks use broader market definitions and forward-looking models. Always check the source, year and scope before quoting a figure.
