Pet Census Shows that Pet Ownership is Declining in the US

Every five years, the American Veterinary Medical Association releases data about the amount of pet owners in the United States. This helps vets to understand where they should perfect their study of medicine based on what clientele will be heading to the office. Using that data, researchers realized that cats have taken a hit in popularity for the first time since the survey was initiated. Cats are still America’s most common pet, but they have slowly started to decline. Right now, there are about 74.1 million pet cats in America. This may sound like an overwhelming amount of pets, but it is actually a 9 percent drop since the survey was last performed in 2006. Ownership of dogs has also dropped 3 percent in the last five years. In total, there are still 69.9 million cats and dogs to care for in the United States.

When compared, it’s interesting to note that the cat population in the United States has grown at an even faster rate than the human population. Yet even with more humans than pets, there are still less pets now then there were five years ago. The amount of pet birds in the United States plummeted in a recent survey, and statistics show that they have dropped about 26 percent in five years. The pet horse population has also plummeted with a 33 percent decrease in the past 5 years. A veterinary consultant in Texas says that the pet population dropped because of the economy.

When money is tight, people often can’t afford a luxury like a pet. Because there have been less pets in recent years, there has also been a subsequent drop in the amount of veterinary visits. Interestingly enough, nearly half of all pets didn’t see a veterinarian last year for any reason. A poll shows that only two-thirds of all pet owners even understand the importance of a routine check-up. If you have a pet, then you should remember that frequent check-ups are important. Your pet could have an injury or illness that you didn’t detect, which could lead to some serious dangers. Find a local vet today through this directory in order to get the care that you need!