UK’s pet cats now number eight million, report suggests
Pet cats in the UK now number around eight million, an increase of half a million cats, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA).
New figures from PFMA’s latest Pet Data Report suggest the rise is being driven by the increasing number of male cat owners, which climbed by 25 per cent (around one million men).
The statistics have been published following interviews with more than 8,000 UK households.
A total of 12 million households are now estimated to have a pet, equating to 44 per cent of households in the UK, and 54 million pets.
Cat-owning households now account for 17 per cent of households with pets. PFMA says more young people own cats, with those aged 16-34 up three per cent, and those aged 35-44 up two per cent.
The research also showed 38 per cent of families with children were considering a small mammal as a pet.
PFMA’s statistics show the breakdown of pet ownership:
- 15-20 million fish kept in tanks
- 15-20 million fish kept in ponds
- 8.5 million dogs
- 8 million cats
- 900,000 rabbits
- 700,000 pet birds
- 700,000 reptiles
- 600,000 domestic fowl
- 500,000 guinea pigs
- 300,000 hamsters
The full report can be found here: http://www.pfma.org.uk/annual-reports
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
