Pets Trend Store

Reference

UK pet ownership statistics

How many people in the UK own pets, the dog and cat population, pet insurance, the most popular breeds, and ownership trends. Current UK pet statistics, with every figure sourced.

Last updated July 2026. Figures are drawn from UK Pet Food, the PDSA PAW Report, the ABI, and the Kennel Club, and are cited throughout. Looking for US figures? See our US pet ownership statistics.

60%

of UK households own a pet (about 36 million pets)

UK Pet Food

~13.5M

pet dogs in the UK

UK Pet Food

~12.5M

pet cats in the UK

UK Pet Food

£1.23bn

paid out in pet insurance claims in 2024

ABI

4.6M

pet owners had insurance in 2024 (a record)

ABI

34,141

Labrador registrations, the UK's most popular breed

Kennel Club

How many people in the UK own pets

  • 60% of UK households own a pet, roughly 36 million pets in total (UK Pet Food).
  • Measured by adults, the PDSA found 51% of UK adults own a pet in 2024, down slightly from 53% in 2023.
  • Around 28% of UK adults own a dog and 24% own a cat (PDSA).
  • More than a third (38%) of the UK population added a new pet over the last four years, including about 3.7 million households that welcomed a puppy and 2.6 million a kitten.

The UK dog and cat population

  • Estimates vary by source and method, which is worth knowing before quoting a single number.
  • UK Pet Food estimates about 13.5 million dogs and 12.5 million cats.
  • The PDSA PAW Report, based on a survey of adults, estimates about 10.6 million dogs and 10.8 million cats.
  • The dog population has grown steadily, from 8.2 million in 2011 to 10.6 million in 2024 (PDSA), while the cat population has stayed relatively stable.

Pet insurance in the UK

  • A record £1.23 billion was paid out in claims in 2024, up 4% on 2023 (ABI).
  • There were 1.8 million claims, an all-time high, averaging about 4,900 a day.
  • The average claim was £685, up 3% on the year.
  • By pet, dogs accounted for £933 million of claims, cats £232 million, and other pets £61 million.
  • A record 4.6 million pet owners held insurance, 33% more than before the pandemic in 2019.

Most popular dog breeds (Kennel Club, 2024 registrations)

  1. Labrador Retriever, 34,141 registrations
  2. Cocker Spaniel, 23,177
  3. French Bulldog, 13,789
  4. Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund, 11,664

The Labrador remains the UK's most registered breed by a clear margin, despite the French Bulldog's rise in recent years.

Other pets in the UK

  • About 1.5 million indoor birds are kept as pets, in around 3% of households (UK Pet Food).
  • Around 800,000 to 1 million rabbits, though the rabbit population has been falling in recent years.
  • About 700,000 guinea pigs, in roughly 1.2% of households.

Cite this page

Feel free to use these statistics in your own work. If you do, a link back to this page is appreciated so readers can find the sources:

Pets Trend Store, "UK Pet Ownership Statistics", https://petstrendstore.com/uk-pet-ownership-statistics

Common questions

What percentage of UK households own a pet?

About 60% of UK households own a pet, roughly 36 million pets in total, according to UK Pet Food. Measured a different way, the PDSA's 2024 PAW Report found that 51% of UK adults own a pet, down slightly from 53% in 2023, with 28% owning a dog and 24% owning a cat. The two figures differ because they are measured differently, by household and by adult.

How many dogs and cats are there in the UK?

Estimates vary by source and method. UK Pet Food estimates around 13.5 million pet dogs and 12.5 million pet cats. The PDSA PAW Report, based on a survey of adults, gives lower figures of about 10.6 million dogs and 10.8 million cats. Both show a dog population that has grown steadily since 2011 and a cat population that has stayed relatively stable.

What is the most popular dog breed in the UK?

The Labrador Retriever, by a clear margin, with 34,141 new registrations in 2024 according to the Kennel Club. It is followed by the Cocker Spaniel (23,177), the French Bulldog (13,789), and the Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund (11,664). Despite challenging in recent years, the French Bulldog did not come close to overtaking the Labrador in 2024 registrations.

How much is paid out in UK pet insurance claims?

A record £1.23 billion was paid out in UK pet insurance claims in 2024, up 4% on 2023, according to the ABI. There were 1.8 million claims, an average of about 4,900 a day, with an average claim of £685. Dogs accounted for £933 million of claims, cats £232 million, and other pets £61 million. A record 4.6 million pet owners held insurance.

Sources

Figures reflect the most recent surveys available at the time of writing and are rounded. Methods differ between organisations, so population estimates in particular vary from source to source.