Italian pet market (II): Cat population grows by 1.7 million in one year

The most noticeable change is the sharp rise in pet cats, which climbed from 10.2 million in 2023 to 11.9 million in 2024, according to new data from Italian pet industry association Assalco. This is a 16.7% growth in a single year.

Cat population has surged by nearly 2 million from 2021 to 2024, making felines the fastest-growing domestic pet in the country.

The number of dogs increased from 8.8 million to 9 million last year, a more modest 2.3% rise. Dog population has grown by 270,000 in the last 4 years, with some stabilization seen during the pandemic in 2021 and 2022.

Between 2023 and 2024, pet birds decreased from 12.9 million to 12.7 million. Pet fish, which is the most common animal kept as a pet in the country every year, dropped from 29.9 million in 2023 to 28.1 million in 2024.

Four-year comparison

Between 2021 and 2024, cat ownership in Italy grew by 18% and dog ownership increased by just over 3%.

On the other hand, bird population dropped by 1.4%, and the fish population fell by more than 6%. While fish population registered a flat trend since 2021, in the last year it decreased considerably.

These diverging trends suggest a gradual shift away from aquatic and avian pets and a growing alignment with companion animals like cats and dogs. The drop in fish and bird ownership could reflect changing tastes, maintenance concerns or reduced appeal among younger consumers.