Gen Z sparks growth of US pet ownership to 94 million

The importance that Gen Z places on pet parenthood is helping maintain the pet industry’s adaptability in a challenging economic climate.

The 2025 State of the Industry Report from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) highlights how this generation of teens and young adults (aged 15-29) is shaping the industry. Almost one-third of Gen Zs are already pet parents.

The overall picture is positive, with 94 million American households owning at least 1 pet in 2024 compared to 84 million a year earlier.

The total spent on their pets last year was $152 billion (€141B), which is projected to rise to $157 billion (€146B) this year.

Gen Z influence

Gen Z is the only generation in which pet ownership is growing, and this is being aided by factors such as their increasing rates of homeownership and more pet-friendly workplaces.

Among homeowners, 84% have a pet (up from 79% in 2022), but currently, just 34% of Gen Zs are homeowners, the report states, compared to 43% who rent and 18% who live with their parents, suggesting scope for the share of homeowning pet parents to endure.

Additionally, the two younger generations are more likely to work in pet-friendly workplaces (18% each) compared to Gen X (14%) or Boomers (8%).

Highest ownership

Millennials are still the largest single cohort of pet parents, accounting for 30% of pet owners in the United States, with Gen X and Boomers making up 25% each. However, given that Gen Zs are not all adults yet, their share of 20% is significant, especially as they are the dominant generation with multiple pets.

The APPA’s research notes that the challenging economic landscape has had an oversized impact on younger generations’ pet ownership, as highlighted in a report by LendingTree last year.

Gen Z has the smallest share (60%) of its survey respondents who say they have not been affected by the current economy (versus 71% of Millennials, 81% of Gen X and 91% of Boomers). As a result, they are also more likely to have delayed getting a pet, but this is offset by those who have acquired a new pet (15% each).

Dogs vs. cats

Ownership of dogs and cats increased in 2024, with 68 million US homes (51%) having a dog and 49 million (37%) owning a cat.

A 2024 report from Mars Petcare reflected the growth of pet ownership globally, led by cats, to 1 billion.

The rebound in the US has been across generations, having dipped from the pandemic boom, but growth is being driven by younger men.

Around 6 in 10 Gen Z and Millennial dog owners are men, reflecting increases of 15% and 19% from 2023, respectively. Notably, the most significant rise in cat ownership was among men in these generations, with 38% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennial cat owners being male, an increase of 18% and 24% from the previous year.

Barriers to ownership

Lifestyle is the main reason respondents across generations say they do not own a pet, especially not having the time or not wanting the responsibility.

Financial considerations are most prominent for Gen Z (21%) compared to Millennials (16%), Gen X (13%) and Boomers (11%).