French pet market (II): Pet ownership holds steady at 60% despite slight population decline

Pet ownership in France remained largely stable in 2025, with 60% of households nationwide owning a pet. This is 1 percentage point lower than the previous year, according to new data released by the French federation of pet food manufacturers (FACCO).

The country’s pet population declined slightly to 73.4 million animals in 2025, down from 75.1 million in 2024. 

The 2024 pet population remained unchanged from 2023. However, compared to pre-pandemic levels, the market has grown significantly. In 2018, France’s pet population stood at 64 million, 14.6% lower than in 2025, while only 50% of households owned a pet.

By animal 

Fish remained the most common pet in France in 2025, consistent with previous years. However, the population declined by 13.6% year-over-year (YoY) to 29.1 million last year.

Cat and dog populations also edged down slightly, with both declining by 100,000 animals compared to 2024, bringing their populations to 16.6 million and 9.6 million, respectively. 

Despite the modest YoY decline, both species remain well above their 2018 levels, when France was home to 14.2 million cats and 7.6 million dogs.

Poultry dropped 3.2% YoY to 8.8 million, while small mammals were down by 12.7%. The bird population was also 200,000 lower than in 2024, at 3.4 million, and terrarium animals dropped 14.2% YoY to 1.8 million.

Cats and dogs  

More than half (54%) of pet-owning households had a cat or a dog in 2025, a stable trend compared to 2024 (53%). In contrast, it stood at 43% in 2018.

Cats were the most popular companion animals in 2025, with 39% of households owning a feline, compared to 28% owning a dog.

FACCO found that dog ownership in France is more prevalent among younger generations, with nearly 4 in 10 (37%) of adults aged 25-34 owning a dog. Ownership rates decline with age, falling to 34% among those aged 35-49, 30% among those aged 50-64, and 16% among those aged 65 and older.

Demographic breakdown 

Geographically, dog ownership is most common in rural areas (36%) and small towns (31%), while only 25% of residents in large cities own a dog. In the Paris metropolitan area, the ownership rate falls to 22%.

Cat ownership is more evenly distributed across demographics, although it is less common among certain groups. Among adults aged 65 and older, 23% own a cat. Ownership rates also stand at 36% among residents of large cities and 29% in the Paris metropolitan area.

Household size also influences cat ownership, with 26% of single-person households and 29% of two-person households owning a cat.