In 2022, there is estimated to be around 373 million cats kept as pets in the world. That’s an incredible number of cats. This means that approximately one in three households have a cat. In the United States alone 45.3 million households own at least one cat.
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Are you part of this cat owning statistic? We’ve dug into the troves of statistics out there and put together all the interesting tidbits about cats in 2022 to give you a better idea of how important cats are to our society.
1. 51% of millennials have cats as their pets.
2022 statistics disclose that millennials are more likely to have cats as pets than earlier generations. There’s a marked increase in cat ownership. While 35% of the overall population has cats as pets, 51% of millennials have cats.
2. 61% of owners consider pets including cats as their children.
61% of overall pet owners consider their pets as their babies. In a time when less and less women are deciding to have children of their own, cat babies are more prevalant.
3. Cat owners suffer from 231 “mini panic attacks” a year.
You’ll be surprised to know that on average cat owners suffer from 231 “mini panic attacks” per year due to their pets. They consider cats as their family and can’t bear to see them suffer.
4. 42% of pet parents adopt cats as a “starter child”.
Owing in part to people having children later in life, a cat often becomes the starter child for young adults looking to become more responsible and able to care for someone else, before they decide to have children.
5. There are 700 million cats on the earth
Estimates reveal that there are likely more than 700 million cats around the globe, including pet cats that count 220 million, 480 million are stray or feral cats. You might see differing statistics on this, as it’s impossible to get a truly accurate count.
6. More than 3 million U.S households own cats as their pets.
Three million+ U.S households have cats as their four-legged friends. This means 25.4% population has cats, which makes up to 31,896,077 households owning cats in the U.S.
7. The U.S has the highest number of cats in the world
The U.S breaks the record for the highest number of cats in a country globally, with 76,430,000, followed by China, which counts up to 53,100,000. And in the U.S, Vermont is considered the feline state where cats rule the house; that makes up to 70%, out of which 44% are household cats.
8. 3.2 million companion cats in U.S shelter
The fate of approximately 3.2 million household companion cats end up in U.S shelter houses each year. Fortunately, the number of pets entering shelter houses is decreasing gradually.
9. 100,000 cats in shelters meet up with their owners
About 100,000 cats that enter the shelters due to any mishap, like getting lost or stolen, luckily meet their owners again. Of course, the credit goes to their owners’ endless efforts to search for their feline friends.
10. Cat insurance is on the rise in 2022
With so many cat fanciers, it’s of no surprise to know that the number of cat insurance purchases increase day by day. It’s good to have your cat insured against accidents and illnesses, but it can be quite expensive, so it’s worth it to shop around for a good policy.
11. No significant increase in cat ownership during Covid 19
It was believed that cat ownership has surged during Covid-19 lockdowns but recent surveys show that there was no significant surge in cat ownership during Covid-19. However, adults under the age of 35 purchased more cats than older people.
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12. Domesticated cats came to America in the 1600s
Cats were introduced to America along with European settlers. They were used to catch mice and rodents on the ship. The idea of a feline pet was first introduced in the 19th century.
13. 14% of Americans feed feral cats
14% of American households feed feral cats. Don’t confuse a feral cat with a stray cat. A stray cat is accustomed to human contact, while a feral cat thrives in a wild environment.
14. 25% of birds end up in cat’s paws
These cute feline fellows are notorious for gulping 25% of birds each year. In the U.S, stray and feral cats alone kill almost 2.4 billion birds each year.
15. Responsible for the extinction of 63 species
Cats are cute and innocent but this stat is not so cute and innocent. Cats are amongst the biggest culprits behind the extinction of 63 different species globally, including birds, mammals, and reptiles.
16. Cats are responsible for a 27% decline in mammals
Cat fanciers will be shocked to know that cats are responsible for the killing of 27% of mammals. Household cats are assumed to be the biggest human-caused threat to the wildlife society, due to their instinct to prey on and kill many different animals.
17. Rhode Island has the lowest percentage of households owning a cat.
Only 17 per cent of household keep cats as pets in Rhode Island. This is recorded as the lowest rate of cat ownership in the United States.
18. People spent more time with cats during Covid-19
During Covid-19, people were more stressed and had more free time during the lockdown, so they preferred to spend more time with their feline pets, and it helped them ward off their stressful situation. The number of owners playing more with cats increased to 64% in 2021 from 60% in 2020.
19. Cat lovers spent $687 per year on their cats
Statistics showed that the feline owners spent around $687 per year on their cats, including their food, treats, toys, veterinary care, medication, grooming, and nurturing necessities. A study records a total expenditure of $45 billion on cats in 2021.
20. 21% of Owners have spent more money on cats in Covid-19
21% of feline owners have claimed to spend more money on their cats than average during Covid-19. This has many reasons – they were spending more time with their cats, had more time to play, and build play areas.
21. 82% of adopted cats are kittens
Owners mostly prefer to adopt kittens than grown-up cats because it’s easy to nurture and train a kitten according to their style compared to stray or feral cats. Apart from this, it’s excruciating for a fully grown cats to say goodbye to their owners.
22. Cats can live for around 15-20 years on average.
If you have a cat at home, you might be wondering how long you can expect to have your fluffy friend around. Well, most cat breeds live for 15 to 20 years on average. Their age depends a lot on the level of care they receive, how well they are fed, and taken care of, but some of it also depends on the breed.
23. Around 70% of cats are overweight or obese.
It’s not just our own waistlines we need to be worried about. If you have a cat, it’s your responsibility to make sure that it eats a proper diet and doesn’t overeat, which can lead to obesity, which can cause a number of health problems in your cat.
Conclusion
All the cat statistics mentioned above reveal cat life and its association with humans. We also hope that these stats will help you imagine the cat-human relationship and all the perks that cats enjoy while sharing their companionship with humans.
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