AUSTRALIA’S PET BOOM: 31.6 MILLION FURRY, FEATHERED AND FINTASTIC FRIENDS

Dogs are still the most popular flatmate

It’s official, the country’s gone to the dogs. And cats. And, apparently, reptiles.

According to Pets in Australia: A National Survey of Pets and People by Animal Medicines Australia, Aussies are now outnumbered by their pets.

As of March 2025, an estimated 31.6 million domesticated creatures are roaming, swimming or snoozing across 7.7 million Australian households.

That’s 73% of homes, up from 69% in 2022 and significantly above the pre-pandemic rate of 61% in 2019.

So, while we might complain about the cost of living, it seems we’re still willing to share our paycheques (and our couches) with our animal companions.

Dogs still top dog

Man’s best friend remains our favourite flatmate, with half of all households (49%) owning at least one dog, a big leap from 40% in 2019.

Cats, predictably, have slinked into second place, with 34% of homes playing host to at least one feline.

Then there are the fish (11%), birds (9%), and a more niche crowd, including small mammals and reptiles (both at 3%).

One per cent of households, the true mavericks, report owning “other types” of pets, which could mean anything from tarantulas to miniature pigs.

For those curious about numbers: dog owners average 1.4 pups, cat owners 1.6 moggies, bird lovers keep a flock averaging 4.4, and fish enthusiasts, well, they go all in, with around ten swimmers per tank.

Pet people, plural

If it feels like everyone you know has more than one type of pet, you’re not imagining it.

Among households with animals, 64% have one species, 25% have two, and 11% are veritable menageries with three or more types.

It’s commitment, and probably chaos, in the best possible way.

The data also shows that while the pandemic kicked off a wave of first-time pet ownership, that surge hasn’t fizzled out. In 2025,

20% of current pet owners are still new to the experience, the same as 2022, while four in five have been around the kibble block before.

More than half (56%) even describe themselves as “experienced pet owners,” which likely translates to “have learned how to open a tin of food with one hand while restraining a cat with the other.”

34% of homes play host to at least one feline.

A love that keeps growing

So what’s driving Australia’s ongoing pet obsession? Perhaps it’s the simple joy summed up best by one Queenslander who owns a small menagerie of birds, cats, fish, mammals and reptiles:

“The past 12 months as a pet owner have been a heartwarming journey filled with unconditional love, responsibility, and countless joyful moments.”

It’s hard to argue with that. Whether furry, feathered or scaly, Australia’s pets aren’t just companions, they’re family.

And with 31.6 million of them now in our homes, that family’s getting a lot bigger (and probably noisier) every year.