27 Canadian Pet Spending Statistics to Check Out in 2024

An approximate 38% of Canadian households have a cat. In comparison, 35% have a dog. Canadians love their fluffy, feathery, and scaly companions, and these Canadian pet spending statistics make it even more evident.

That said, the expense of bringing a pet into your home can quickly go beyond any adoption fee, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. Here are the most relevant statistics for a better understanding of pet-related expenses. Let us begin.

Top 10 Pet Spending Statistics for 2024

• An estimated 38% of Canadian households own a cat, while 35% own a dog.
• 54% of Millennials view themselves as “pet parents.”
• Only 46% of cat owners take their pets to the veterinarian.
• Less than 3% of pet owners have pet insurance.
• Pet owner spending statistics show that $631 was the average amount spent on pets in 2017.
• 19% of vets claim that owners are more likely to treat the cost of pet food as a determining factor.
• Dog food in Canada costs a dog owner an average of $1,083 per year.
• The annual cost of professional dental care for cats is $582. 
• 9.3% of pet owners purchase pet food online.
• The pet food market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during 2020–2025. 

Overview of Pet Ownership Statistics

In the coming section, you will discover how many Canadians think their pets are in excellent health and how many of them consult veterinarians and spend generously on pet insurance. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

1. 38% of Canadian households own a cat, while 35% own a dog.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report) (GfK Global Study)

Overall, there are approximately 5.9 million dogs and 7.9 million cats in the country. That said, according to pet ownership statistics by country, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil have the highest percentage of pet owners. Another finding of a wellness report is that Asians are the least likely to own a pet.

2. 58% of Canadian cat owners and 51% of Canadian dog owners say their pet is in excellent health, according to pet ownership stats.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

Based on Canada’s Pet Wellness Survey results, Canadians love their pets, but when it comes to physical activity, standard medical treatment, and a good diet, they do not always make the right choices.

Experts cite weight management as the most crucial thing pet owners can do to extend their pet’s life span. That said, fewer than 2 in 10 Canadian pet owners feed the appropriate amount of pet food to their animals.

3. During the week, pet owners spend more time browsing the Web or watching television than playing with their pets.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

Pet spending doesn’t have to be purely materialistic. Undivided attention and playtime are just as important. Sadly, stats suggest that pet owners spend three times as much time in front of the TV as they do taking their pets for walks. On average, it is estimated that women spend 28 minutes per weekdays exercising pets or playing with them, whereas men spend 19 minutes, based on pet owners statistics.

4. Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed health problem.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

Swollen and red gums, bad breath, and yellow buildup on the teeth are some of the earliest signs of dental disease in pets. If these symptoms are left unchecked, inflammation and chronic pain will develop.

5. According to facts on pet health spending, only 46% of cat owners take their pets to the veterinarian.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

Cats and dogs should be taken to the veterinarian annually, even if they seem healthy. The yearly check-ups can help prevent potentially dangerous illnesses. Statistics show that an astounding 77% of dog owners have taken their pet to the veterinarian within the last 12 months.

6. Less than 3% of pet owners have pet insurance, based on pet insurance statistics.

(Insurance Institute)

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association statistics, the Canadian pet insurance industry is worth $595 million. That said, less than 3% of Canadian pet owners have insured their pets. For the sake of comparison, 25%–30% of pet owners in the UK have pet insurance. In Sweden, up to 50% of pet owners have insured their pets.

Exotic Pet Ownership Statistics

Exotic pets such as the fennec fox, the serval, and the hyacinth macaw are increasingly popular in Canada. In the upcoming section, you will find what the figures show about exotic pet ownership in the country.

7. In Canada, around 1.4 million wild animals are kept as pets, based on statistics on pet ownership.

(World Animal Protection)

New World Animal Protection data has shown that Canadians own millions of exotic animals, even though they are unsuitable as pets. The number of tropical birds (such as African grey parrots and cockatoos) kept as pets is 478,648, while the number of wild cats (such as servals and caracals) is 186,104.

Other wild animals kept as pets in Canada are the following: snakes (such as boa constrictors and Burmese pythons), turtles and tortoises, wild dogs (such as fennec foxes and dingoes), amphibians (such as salamanders and toads), arachnids (such as scorpions and tarantulas), crocodiles and alligators.

8. In Ontario, 588,652 wild animals exist as pets, according to exotic pet ownership statistics.

(World Animal Protection)

When it comes to exotic pet ownership, Ontario is taking the lead, followed by Quebec with about 286,693 wild animals kept as pets. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan come right after the two. As for the Atlantic provinces, as many as 73,534 wild animals are owned as pets there.

9. Buying an exotic pet can cost anywhere between $500 to $20,000, pet spending statistics claim.

(Finder)

These costs depend on the breed, species, and the animal’s rarity. Overall, exotic pets are expensive to purchase and maintain. For instance, some wild animals require specific terrariums, enclosures, and special food, which can be costly in the long run. What’s more, a future exotic pet owner needs to be aware of hidden costs, including vet fees and boarding costs (if travelling).

Pet Ownership Demographics

What pets do Canadian men and women own? And how many Millennials nickname themselves “pet parents”? Read on to find the latest stats on the demographics of pet ownership in Canada.

10. As many as 34% of men and 37% of women in Canada own a cat.

(GfK Global Study)

An estimated 31% of Canadian men own a dog, compared to 35% of Canadian women. Interestingly, Canadian men are also a little more likely to own other pets such as fish (10%) or birds (4%), compared to women— 9% and 3%, respectively.

11. 54% of Millennials viewed themselves as “pet parents,” according to Millennial pet ownership statistics.

(Pawzy)

Stats on pet ownership in Canada reveal that the Millennials are most likely to call themselves “pet moms” and “pet dads,” compared to Baby Boomers (44%) and Gen Xers (47%). As a side note, this survey considered the answers of 1,506 Canadians.

12. 26% of Millennial pet owners claim they spent more money on their dogs during the pandemic.

(Rover)

How much do Millennials spend on pets? It seems that Millennials are more likely to go all out when shopping for their pets. Stats reveal that 26% of Millennial pet owners spent more money on their dogs during the pandemic, compared to only 12% of Baby Boomers.

Most Boomers (82%) claim they’ve spent the same amount on their dogs as they usually do. That being said, 56% of dog parents from each generation report that they don’t have a fixed budget whatsoever.

Canadian Pet Spending Statistics 

The following statistics reveal what it is like to be a pet owner in Canada regarding financial expenses. We have primarily focused on general statistics, such as dog and cat care costs and veterinary fees.

13. In 2017, $631 was the average annual household expenditure on pets in Canada.

(Statista)

Statistics on the cost of pet ownership show that Canadians spending on pets has seen a steady rise since 2010. Pet owners typically spend on toys, furniture, pet food, and pet health care, among other things.

14. 60% of pet owners purchase pet food based on what their pet likes to eat.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

On the other hand, only 33% of pet owners purchase pet food to meet their pet’s health requirements. Interestingly, 70% of vets proactively discuss proper nutrition with cat and dog owners when performing a routine examination, stats about spending on pet healthcare reveal.

15. Nevertheless, 19% of vets claim that owners are more likely to treat the cost of pet food as a determining factor.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

With the ever-increasing prices, it comes as no surprise that money is a deciding factor for most pet owners. That said, 14% of pet owners consider the pet’s health, and 8% take into account their pet’s life stage (age) when shopping for pet food.

16. Dog food in Canada costs a dog owner $1,083 per year.

(Statista)

According to pet owner statistics on the annual cost of dog care in Canada, food is the leading expense type, followed by pet insurance and professional dental care. Namely, pet insurance costs pet owners an average of $979 per year, whereas dental care totals $582 per year.

Other expenses include:

• Heartworm and tick prevention ($235 per year)
• Exams with vaccines ($162)
• Maintaining an annual wellness profile ($122)

17. As of 2020, the annual cost of professional dental care for cats in Canada was $582.

(Statista)

Compared to dog food, pet ownership statistics for 2020 show that cat food in Canada was more affordable, amounting to $490 annually. While professional dental care for cats cost the same, cat insurance was cheaper than that of a dog—$509 vs. $979. Other expenses cat owners had to come to terms with included litter ($180 per year), exams with vaccines ($162), and flea prevention ($131).

18. Canadian households spent over $9 billion on pets, veterinary services, and pet food in 2019, based on stats on pet goods spending.

(Statistics Canada) (Pet Food Industry)

Looking at the statistics from 2015 to 2019, we can notice that Canadians are spending more on pets. In 2019, the money spent by Canadian households on pets (pet food, veterinary and other services for pets) amounted to almost $10 billion, compared to $7.2 billion in 2015.

In comparison, stats on the American household spending on pet food reveal that US$87 billion was spent on pets in 2018. This figure shows a drastic increase since 2013 when American pet owners spent US$57.8 billion on their companions.

19. The average growth of the pet grooming and boarding industry in Canada was estimated to be 3.7% in 2015–2020.

(IBISWorld)

However, according to pet boarding statistics, the industry is more than likely to experience the adverse effects of the pandemic. Unfortunately, widespread travel restrictions and social distancing practices reduce the demand for the industry’s services.

20. As of December 2020, there were 758 pet and pet supplies stores in Ontario.

(Statista)

The most inhabited province in the country had more than 750 pet and pet supplies shops, while Quebec had an estimated 476 stores. At the same time, less than ten pet stores were situated in the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Pet Food Statistics

Statistics from 2018 show that 28% of Canadian pet owners spent from $1 to $100 on gifts for their pets during the holiday season. While it might sound unimpressive, countless statistics reveal that Canadians are spending quite a lot on pet food, professional dental care, and veterinary services. Read on to find out more!.

21. As many as 92.77% of Canadians buy pet food in-store.

(Statista)

Again, the figures indicate that pet owners in Canada prefer shopping in-store, driving the visits of Walmart and other retail giants. According to stats, out of 3,098 respondents, only 7.23% chose online pet stores.

22. Less than one in ten consumers in Canada buy pet food online, e-commerce pet spending statistics claim.

(Statista) (Statista)

According to the results of a newer study, an overwhelming majority of Canadian pet owners tend to shop in-store for pet food. A similar pattern can be marked in the US. According to stats on pet owner spending by country, about 60 million American households bought pet products in retail stores, compared to an estimated 13 million online shopping households.

23. Stats on pet supplies spending show that dry cat food sales reached an estimated $250.9 million in 2018.

(Statista)

Statistics from 2018 reveal that the sales of cat treats totalled $73.38 million, while the sales of canned food amounted to $199.21 million. Semi-moist food for cats generated $650,000 in sales. As a side note, these figures exclude sales from Labrador and Newfoundland.

24. Sales of meal and kibbled dog food reached an estimated $359.13 million in 2018.

(Statista)

Canadians love buying treats for their pups. According to statistics on pet goods spending, sales of treats for dogs totalled an estimated $227 million. What’s more, sales of canned food amounted to an astounding $101.73 million. Again, these numbers exclude sales from Labrador and Newfoundland.

25. Only 10.45% of Canadian pet owners buy organic pet food.

(Statista)

A survey that analyzed answers of 5,185 respondents in October 2019 determined that 89.55% of Canadians do not purchase organic pet food. One of the reasons Canadians prefer traditional pet food is its wider availability and lower price.

26. Canada’s pet food market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during 2020–2025, based on pet ownership trends.

(Mordor Intelligence)

One of the biggest drivers of pet food market growth in Canada is the increase of pet humanization. In other words, pets are being treated with great care and are considered family members. Hence, pet owners are looking for better quality, preferably locally sourced, goods.

27. Dry pet food is accountable for around 32% of the pet food market revenue.

(Mordor Intelligence)

According to the latest pet spending statistics, wet food and snacks follow dry food in revenue. Nowadays, there are countless pet food formulations with varying health benefits for pet owners to choose from. Some of the reasons pet owners prefer purchasing dry pet food include dental health perks and convenient storage.

Conclusion

All in all, even if that means going beyond budget limits, owners will do anything to keep their pet friends safe, healthy, and happy.

What pet spending statistics have you found the most interesting? Let us know in the comments below and make sure to share this article with friends and family.

FAQ

What percentage of the world has a pet?

Globally, 57% of consumers are pet owners, based on pet ownership statistics worldwide. As many as 33% of survey respondents are dog owners, while 23% are cat owners. What’s more, 12% of survey respondents own a fish and only 6% own birds. Another 6% of consumers own other pet types.

(Pet Food Industry)

Who spends the most on their pets?

With two-thirds of American households owning pets, findings reveal that pet owners in the US spend most on their animal friends. As for European countries, Britain comes in the first place, followed by France and Switzerland.

(FECAVA)

How much does the average pet owner spend?

Based on a survey that analyzed the answers of 17,792 respondents, a typical Canadian household spent $631 on pets in 2017. Even though pet expenses have fluctuated in the past years, reaching an all-time high of $650 in 2016, the expenditure has seen a steady increase since 2010.

(Statista)

What do dog owners buy most?

Canadian dog owners purchase food the most—dry food more frequently than wet food. Similar to their Canadian counterparts, pet owners in the US buy dry pet food the most, followed by pet chews and pet treats, tick and flea medication, and pet grooming supplies.

(Statista)

What is the average monthly cost of owning a dog?

According to Rover, 30% of its survey respondents claim that they only set aside $100 or less per month on their dog’s expenses. In reality, Canadian pet owners pay much more for their dogs monthly since the average annual cost of being a dog parent can range from $840 to $2,385, according to pet spending statistics. Of course, all of these costs depend on the dog’s breed, age, gender, activity levels, and the pet owner’s budget.

(Rover)

Sources:

• Canada’s Pet Wellness Report
• FECAVA
• Finder
• GfK Global Study
• IBISWorld
• Insurance Institute
• Mordor Intelligence
• Pawzy
• Pet Food Industry
• Pet Food Industry
• Rover
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Statistics Canada
• World Animal Protection