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Pets and pet care in Australia - statistics & facts

Australia is undoubtedly a nation of animal lovers, with dogs and cats as the most popular choice of four-legged companion. Nearly half of all households in the country own a dog, and a similar share are cat owners, with most households having more than one pet on average.

 Attitudes and desires of existing and non-existing pet owners

The desire to own a pet is high across the country, particularly amongst existing pet owners with the most popular choice being a dog. This was true for both existing pet owners and non-owners alike. The general trend in desiring a pet, however, regardless of the animal type, is for those that already keep one or more animals to want to have another one or more. There is a marked difference in the perceived barriers to animal ownership between owners and non-owners. For those who already have an animal, or animals, the main barriers are either the ongoing costs, or that a previous pet died, surrendered, or had to be put to sleep and they don’t feel ready for another. For non-owners, it's that their lifestyle isn’t suitable, or that their landlord or work doesn’t allow pets.

 Rescues, rehoming, and the Australian RSPCA

The majority of Aussies acquired their pet or pets from an animal shelter or a charity, such as the Australian RSPCA, and a small share were gifted their animal companions. Year on year, the number of animals received into the care of the RSPCA has been in decline, as have the numbers of animals reclaimed by their owners or rehomed to new ones. When it comes to veterinary care, most Australian pet owners hadn’t needed to visit their vet across the preceding twelve months, and only a very small share said they had needed multiple visits. Veterinary care is expensive in Australia, with an average spend per visit ranging from 500 to over 600 Australian dollars, which explains the prevalence of pet insurance in the country.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 4, 2023

Key insights

Total number of dogs owned
6.33 million
Average number of cats per household
1.6
Number of households with pet birds
1.38 million
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Average cost of vet treatment for common pet illnesses in Australia 2021 (in Australian dollars)

Life

Average cost of veterinary treatment for common illnesses in Australia 2021

Total number of animals rehomed by the RSPCA in Australia from financial year 2018 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Pets & Animal Supplies

Number of animals rehomed by the RSPCA Australia FY 2018-2021

Total number of animals currently in care with the RSPCA in Australia from financial year 2018 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Pets & Animal Supplies

Number of animals currently in care with RSPCA Australia FY 2018-2021

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National overview

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Consumer attitudes and average costs of pet ownership

Rescue and rehoming

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Veterinary care

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