Australia's Pet Boom: The Full Story

Written by Australian Dog Lover 13:55:00 - 0 Comments

A Look at the $21 Billion Industry and the Challenges of Pet Ownership

Australia’s most comprehensive pet survey shows that nearly three-quarters of homes now have a pet, revealing a nation of animal lovers. This rise in companionship, however, brings significant financial and social challenges for owners navigating the current cost-of-living crisis.

A Nation of Pet Lovers

Australia’s longest and most comprehensive pet survey indicates that pet ownership has continued to rise, with 73% of households across metropolitan, regional, and remote Australia now home to one or more pets. An estimated 31.6 million pets are now calling 7.7 million Australian households home.

Dogs remain the most popular pet, with half of Australian households having at least one dog¹ (49%, up from 40% in 2019). This equates to an estimated 7.4 million dogs nationwide. Cats continue to be Australia’s second most popular pet², with 34% of households having at least one cat (up from 27% in 2019). Consistent with previous surveys, around one in ten Australian households have fish and/or birds, while the numbers of other pets have remained largely steady³.

For many pet owners, typical reasons for getting a pet include companionship, rescuing animals, relaxation, and mental health. 86% of owners say their pet had a positive impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.

The Economic Reality of Pet Ownership

Australia’s pet owners are spending an estimated $21.3 billion on their pets each year, with food accounting for almost half the spend at $9.8 billion. This is followed by veterinary services ($1.9b), products and accessories ($1.4b), and pet insurance ($1.0b). Dog-owning households spent the most out of all pet owners, at an estimated $2,520 a year on average. By comparison, cat-owning households spent around $1,656 on their cats.

Rising Costs and Tough Decisions

Despite the growth in ownership, there are challenges. Ongoing cost is the main barrier to pet ownership among those who would like a/another pet. One-quarter (26%) cite it as the main barrier, followed by lifestyle (21%), the responsibility of looking after pets, or the initial cost of acquiring a pet (both 19%).

This is not too dissimilar from 2022 findings; however, ongoing cost as a barrier has jumped a significant 5 percentage points, potentially reflecting the increased cost of living pressure in Australia. Many pet owners are looking for ways to reduce their spending while maintaining product and service quality for animals in their care.

Around one in six cat and dog owners (18% of cat owners and 14% of dog owners) resorted to health-related sacrifices, including deferring veterinary check-ups and vaccinations or reducing or stopping medication.

“Delaying vaccinations can leave pets vulnerable to preventable diseases, while deferring regular check-ups can mean pet health issues are not identified at an early stage. Ensuring pets receive the right veterinary care is essential for their health and wellbeing,” said Animal Medicines Australia’s Executive Director, Ben Stapley.

As Australia went through a cost-of-living crisis, a surge in pet surrendering was occurring in parallel—with around one in four (23%) having surrendered their pet/s to family, friends, or an animal shelter when they could no longer look after them.

Notably, those who have had to take out financial assistance to cover veterinary care are less likely to turn to their vet with pet-related questions⁴ and are more likely to consult alternatives such as social media sites, YouTube, and Generative AI⁵.

“These findings highlight the tough reality for many Australians who are feeling the strain of rising living costs and, in some cases, making the difficult decision to part with their pets," Mr. Stapley said. "It underscores the importance of support services that can help people stay connected with their animals during challenging times.”

The Path Forward

Mr. Stapley concludes, “To ensure that as many Australians as possible can access the myriad benefits associated with pet ownership, we seek a policy environment that facilitates and supports responsible pet ownership." 

He suggests this could be achieved by improving support for vulnerable pet owners, developing programs to support critical veterinary services, or through greater national consistency in companion animal policy settings.

Animal Medicines Australia thanks and acknowledges the Australian Veterinary Association, Pet Food Industry Association of Australia, and the Pet Industry Association of Australia for contributing to this report.

To download the full 2025 report, visit https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au

Footnotes

¹ 49%—up from 40% in 2019 but on par with 48% in 2022.

² 34%—up from 27% in 2019 and slightly higher than 33% in 2022.

³ Fish (11%) and/or birds (9%), while a very small minority own small mammals (3%), reptiles (3%), or other types of pets (1%).

⁴ 33% vs. 55% among those who did not require financial assistance.

⁵ Social media sites (24%), YouTube (22%) and Generative AI (12%), animal-related TV shows (14%), books or libraries (11%).

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