Kittens Overtake Puppies in American Homes, Driven by Gen Z and 'Cat Dads'

Cats are experiencing a notable surge in popularity within American households, challenging the long-standing dominance of dogs. While historically dogs have been more prevalent, recent data from market research group Packaged Facts indicates a significant shift. In the past year, the number of U.S. households with a dog under one year old was nearly equivalent to those with a cat of the same age. This trend is further underscored by a comparison of puppy-to-kitten ratios: in 2026, the ratio stood at 0.94 puppies for every one kitten. This represents a dramatic reversal from 2014, when the ratio was nearly double at 1.8 puppies for every young cat, signaling a clear upswing in feline companionship.

Overall pet ownership in the United States reached an impressive 95 million households last year. Within this broad landscape, dogs were present in 71 million households, while cats were found in 53 million. The period between 2024 and 2025 witnessed growth across both cat and dog ownership. However, cat ownership demonstrated a more accelerated growth rate, increasing by 5%, whereas dog ownership saw a more modest rise of 2%. This follows a remarkable year in 2024 for new cat acquisitions, which experienced an extraordinary surge of 23%. This expansion is attributed to both new households welcoming their first feline companions and existing cat owners choosing to expand their cat families by adopting additional pets.

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) identifies two primary demographic groups as the principal drivers behind this burgeoning cat ownership trend: Generation Z and "cat dads." In 2025, Gen Z accounted for 22% of all cat owners in the U.S., a substantial increase from 12% in the preceding year. Simultaneously, cat ownership has seen a significant surge among men, who now constitute 43% of the total cat-owning population. Younger men, particularly within the Gen Z demographic, are at the forefront of this movement, with cat ownership among Gen Z men rising by an impressive 27% year-over-year. Furthermore, the commitment of men to feline companionship is evident in the dramatic increase in "cat dads" who own three or more cats; this number has risen by 117% since 2018. Pete Scott, the President and CEO of the APPA, commented on the encouraging nature of this growth, emphasizing that it is not concentrated in a single area. He highlighted that the expansion is a result of new households entering the cat-owning category, existing owners increasing the number of cats in their homes, and the growing engagement of younger generations and male owners in feline companionship.