Among the wide variety of animals kept as pets, cats and dogs are the most common. In Spain, dogs seem to be the most popular pet, with 27 percent of Spanish households owing at least one canine in 2023. The share of households that owned a cat experienced an ongoing decrease over the recent years, falling to 11 percent in 2019 down from a 21 percent in 2010. This figure picked up again in 2022 to reach 17 percent.
Dogs: Spain’s favorite domestic animal
The popularity of dogs in Spain cannot be denied – the number of hounds has only increased in the last years, reaching figures of approximately 9.3 million in 2023. The number of stray and street dogs recused on the Spanish streets saw a drop over time, falling from 108,300 dogs in 2013 down to 104,700. This figure, however, increased dramatically in 2019.
The situation of pet cats in Spain
Spanish homes had around 5.8 million pet cats in 2023, which is about half the number of that of dogs the same year. The number of rescued stray or street felines was also significantly lower compared to dogs, until figures rocketed in 2019. The fate of rescued street and stray pets normally has a happy ending, with nearly half of them adopted by a new family and 18 percent returned to their original homes that year.
Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
FEDIAF. (May 21, 2024). Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 07, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/
FEDIAF. "Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023." Chart. May 21, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 07, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/
FEDIAF. (2024). Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 07, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/
FEDIAF. "Share of Households Owning at Least One Cat or Dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/
FEDIAF, Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/ (last visited December 07, 2024)
Share of households owning at least one cat or dog in Spain from 2010 to 2023 [Graph], FEDIAF, May 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/517042/households-owning-cats-dogs-europe-spain/