Pet Ownership Statistics By State

Last updated May 23, 2025

Pet Ownership Rate
Dog Ownership Rate
Cat Ownership Rate
Top
Last
Pet Ownership RateQuestion Mark
1.WyomingWyoming71.8%
2.West VirginiaWest Virginia71%
3.IdahoIdaho70%
3.VermontVermont70%
5.IndianaIndiana69.2%
6.ArkansasArkansas69%
7.MississippiMississippi65.5%
8.OklahomaOklahoma65%
9.KentuckyKentucky64.1%
10.North DakotaNorth Dakota63.7%
11.MaineMaine63.5%
11.MissouriMissouri63.5%
13.WashingtonWashington63%
14.KansasKansas62.8%
15.MichiganMichigan62.4%
15.OhioOhio62.4%
17.South CarolinaSouth Carolina62%
17.MontanaMontana62%
19.TennesseeTennessee61.7%
20.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania60.6%
21.New MexicoNew Mexico60%
22.AlabamaAlabama59.8%
23.OregonOregon59.2%
24.IowaIowa59%
24.North CarolinaNorth Carolina59%
24.WisconsinWisconsin59%
27.UtahUtah58.5%
28.TexasTexas58.2%
29.ArizonaArizona58%
30.DelawareDelaware57.9%
31.FloridaFlorida56%
32.VirginiaVirginia55.5%
33.LouisianaLouisiana54%
33.MinnesotaMinnesota54%
35.NevadaNevada53%
36.New HampshireNew Hampshire52%
37.NebraskaNebraska51.3%
38.GeorgiaGeorgia51%
39.New YorkNew York50%
39.ConnecticutConnecticut50%
41.MassachusettsMassachusetts49%
42.MarylandMaryland48.6%
42.IllinoisIllinois48.6%
44.New JerseyNew Jersey47.4%
45.ColoradoColorado47.2%
46.South DakotaSouth Dakota46%
47.Rhode IslandRhode Island45.4%
48.CaliforniaCalifornia40.1%

Fur, Feathers, and Scales Across the States

Pet ownership in the United States is a widespread phenomenon, enriching lives with companionship and mutual affection. The bond between humans and their pets continues to grow, with different states showing varying levels of pet adoption influenced by factors like lifestyle, climate, or economic constraints. From dogs and cats to birds or reptiles, each pet owner in America holds diverse preferences reflecting their unique personality and lifestyle choices. Transporting us into this realm of pet fascination, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) conducts detailed surveys capturing the nuances of pet ownership among households. Nearly 59% of American households were proud pet owners, making pets an integral part of American households. Key findings from the data include:

  • Wyoming tops the ranking with the country's highest pet ownership rate at 71.8%, followed closely by West Virginia at 71% and Idaho and Vermont, both at 70%.
  • In contrast, California, with a pet ownership percentage of 40.1 %, has the lowest pet ownership rate. Rhode Island and South Dakota also show lower percentages with 45.4% and 46% respectively.
  • Among the top 10 states with high pet ownership, seven are rural states, indicating a potentially higher preference for pets in rural settings. On the other hand, states with large urban populations like California and New Jersey exhibit lower pet ownership rates.
  • While dogs maintain their edge as America's preferred pet, having found a home in nearly 40% of households by the end of 2019, roughly 27.8% of households hosted cats.
  • Most states have pet ownership rates higher than 50%, reflecting the nation's love for pets and the integral role they play in many American households.

Pet Ownership Statistics By State

Region ↕Pet Ownership Rate↕Dog Ownership Rate 2016↕Cat Ownership Rate 2016↕
Wyoming iconWyoming71.8%36.0%30.0%
West Virginia iconWest Virginia71%49.6%37.7%
Idaho iconIdaho70%58.3%33.3%
Vermont iconVermont70%28.3%44.6%
Indiana iconIndiana69.2%49.4%37.5%
Arkansas iconArkansas69%51.6%34.8%
Mississippi iconMississippi65.5%51.0%29.1%
Oklahoma iconOklahoma65%47.7%28.4%
Kentucky iconKentucky64.1%46.5%32.2%
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota63.7%44.3%24.8%
Maine iconMaine63.5%35.9%43.6%
Missouri iconMissouri63.5%45.1%28.6%
Washington iconWashington63%42.8%30.5%
Kansas iconKansas62.8%43.1%32.4%
Michigan iconMichigan62.4%41.9%31.2%
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina62%45.3%25.2%
Montana iconMontana62%51.9%22.8%
Tennessee iconTennessee61.7%47.0%30.9%
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania60.6%38.9%28.9%
New Mexico iconNew Mexico60%39.4%25.2%
Alabama iconAlabama59.8%46.9%26.1%
Oregon iconOregon59.2%37.8%30.0%
Iowa iconIowa59%36.3%35.6%
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina59%41.3%26.5%
Wisconsin iconWisconsin59%33.6%32.4%
Utah iconUtah58.5%36.2%24.7%
Texas iconTexas58.2%43.4%20.5%
Arizona iconArizona58%43.0%26.4%
Delaware iconDelaware57.9%42.2%24.1%
Florida iconFlorida56%39.8%24.2%
Virginia iconVirginia55.5%35.6%23.9%
Louisiana iconLouisiana54%38.3%19.0%
Minnesota iconMinnesota54%35.5%26.5%
Nevada iconNevada53%36.8%23.1%
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire52%23.7%36.4%
Nebraska iconNebraska51.3%47.1%30.9%
Georgia iconGeorgia51%36.7%20.4%
New York iconNew York50%27.0%21.1%
Connecticut iconConnecticut50%24.0%26.7%
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts49%28.9%23.5%
Maryland iconMaryland48.6%30.2%18.6%
Illinois iconIllinois48.6%31.0%21.0%
New Jersey iconNew Jersey47.4%29.1%18.9%
Colorado iconColorado47.2%47.2%27.1%
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota46%32.1%26.6%
Rhode Island iconRhode Island45.4%25.8%16.7%
California iconCalifornia40.1%40.1%22.9%
Ohio iconOhio62.4%37.9%30.7%

States with the Highest Levels of Pet Ownership

When it comes to states with the highest levels of pet ownership, Wyoming secures the top spot with a pet ownership rate of 71.8%. This is closely followed by West Virginia, which holds a pet ownership rate of 71%. Idaho and Vermont tie for third place, each showcasing a pet ownership rate of 70%. Coming in just behind the top three, Indiana holds a pet ownership rate of 69.2%. This is followed closely by the southern state of Arkansas with a pet ownership rate of 69%. Despite its predominantly rural nature, Mississippi still has a robust pet ownership rate of 65.5%. The eighth position is held by Oklahoma, with a pet ownership rate of 65%. Not far behind, Kentucky sports a pet ownership rate of 64.1%. Last in the top 10 list but no less important, is North Dakota, showcasing a pet ownership rate of 63.7%. States with the Highest Levels of Pet Ownership:

  1. Wyoming - 71.8%
  2. West Virginia - 71%
  3. Idaho - 70%
  4. Vermont - 70%
  5. Indiana - 69.2%
  6. Arkansas - 69%
  7. Mississippi - 65.5%
  8. Oklahoma - 65%
  9. Kentucky - 64.1%
  10. North Dakota - 63.7%
Keep reading

Additional Miscellaneous Datasets

Poorest Cities in America

Poorest Cities in America

Radon Levels By State

Radon Levels By State

Richest States In USA

Richest States In USA

State Densities

State Densities

Stop and ID States

Stop and ID States

US Foreign Aid by Country

US Foreign Aid by Country