Financial difficulties won’t deter Dutch pet owners from spending on their pets

Dutch trend analysis group Trendpanel Gezelschapsdieren, consisting of representatives from the Animal
Health and Management program at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, surveyed
1,130 pet owners.

The results provide insight into how Dutch pet owners view their pets and their spending patterns.

Relationship between Dutch owners and their pets

Nearly half of Dutch pet owners view their pets as family members (44%) or friends/companions (33%).
As part of the family, pets are welcome to sleep on their owners’ beds (46%) and to join on pet-friendly
vacations (45.7%). More than half of Dutch pet owners (55.7%) celebrate their pets’ birthdays.

Willing to do anything—except apply for a loan

Their beloved four-legged companions are part of the family, and Dutch pet owners show their
appreciation not only by spending time together but also by ensuring their pets receive the best possible
care. Almost all of those surveyed (95.3%) are willing to do anything to prevent their pet from suffering.

But are they willing to do whatever it takes?

Most pet owners (77.1%) are willing to get their pet extensive treatment at the vet, no matter the cost.
However, when it comes to applying for a loan to cover medical expenses for their pet, only 43.7% are
willing to go the extra mile.

Dutch pet food spending habits

Dutch pet owners spend the most on pet food, followed by snacks, toys, and other necessities. Pet food
is the highest expenditure for both cat and dog owners.

On average, dog owners spend between €251 and €500 ($269.72 to $537.29) per year on pet food, while
for cat owners, the average falls between €101 and €250 ($108.53 to $268.65). 43% of dog owners and
16% of cat owners spend even more than €500 ($537.29) per year on food for their companions.

In the snack category, dog owners spend an average of €51 to €100 ($54.80 to $107.46), while cat
owners only spend between €1 and €50 ($1.07 and $53.73). Almost half of the dog owners surveyed
spend more than €100 ($107.46) per year on snacks. For cat owners, only 6% do.

Cutting back on pet expenses

Half of dog owners and 46% of cat owners have cut back on some expenses for their pets. They have
mainly cut back on accessories and toys (70% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners). 27% of cat owners
say they try to cut back on food expenses compared to only 13% of dog owners. Hardly any are cutting
back on health care expenses.

Pet population in the Netherlands

Almost half of Dutch households (45%) own one or more pets. This amount remains stable, even with the
rising costs associated. Only 0.5% of pet owners chose to re-home their pets because of rising costs.
73% say they would never re-home their pet, no matter the circumstances.

Pets in the Netherlands:
1.8 million dogs
3 million cats
0.4 million rabbits
5.6 million fish
0.3 million rodents