Aussies love their pets, and it shows in the amount of money they spend on them. From pet food to toys and vets bills, pet owners are happy to lavish their furry friends with all sorts of goodies.

Interested in taking a look at pet spending statistics in Australia and learning how much money pet owners spend? Keep reading!

Top 5 Fascinating Facts

  • Dogs are the most common type of pet in Australia.
  • In 2021, the pet industry in Australia was worth around $13 billion.
  • Around 30% of households with dogs and 21% with cats had pet insurance in 2019.
  • Pet owners see companionship, love, and affection as the main benefits of owning a pet.
  • The majority of pets in Australia looking for homes are cats (65%).

Australian Pet Industry Statistics

1. In 2020, the number of pets in Australia was over 29 million, which is one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world.

(RSPCA) (Animal Medicines Australia)

An astonishing 90% of Aussies have had a pet at some time. Additionally, ⅔ of households that don’t have a pet cited ‘Having a home or a lifestyle that is not suitable’ as the main reason.

2. Dogs are the most common type of pet in Australia.

(Animal Medicines Australia)

According to a 2019 national survey, 61% of Australians have at least one pet. Of those, most of them have dogs (39,9). Other pets include:

  • Cats (27%)
  • Fish (11%)
  • Birds (9%)
  • Small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, etc., 2,7%)
  • Reptiles (snakes, turtles, frogs, etc., 2%)
  • Other pets (2%)

3. Pure-breeds are no longer the most widespread type of dog on the pet market in Australia.

Up until 2016, most dog owners (52%) had a pure-breed dog. However, this percentage dropped to 40% in 2019, while the popularity of mixed-breed dogs grew from 6% to 46% in the same period. The most popular pure breeds are:

  • Labrador/Golden Retreivers
  • Border Collies
  • German Shepherds
  • Chihuahuas

4. The latest data shows there are around 13,000 veterinarians in Australia.

(Pet Keen) (IBIS World)

With people spending much more time working from home and distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many have decided to get pets to feel less lonely. As the number of households with pets is on the rise, so is the demand for vets.

It is expected that in 2022, the number of vets in Australia will be close to 14,000.

Pet Spending Statistics in Australia

How much do Australian pet owners spend on their pets? Let’s find out.

5. In 2021, the pet industry in Australia was worth around $13 billion.

(9News)

With more than 60% of Australian households owning a pet, it’s no wonder this industry was forecasted to grow by 3.9% in retail and 19% in online sales.

6. The Australian pet food industry is expected to bring in more than US$2,7 billion in 2022.

(Statista)

Did you know that pet supplies are among the best-selling products in Australia?

Predictions are that Australian pet owners will spend around US$2,7 billion on pet food, and the Australian pet food market is expected to grow annually by 1.85% (CAGR 2022-2027).

7. Of all expenditures, pet owners spend about 30% on pet food.

(RSPCA)

How much do Aussies spend on human food? Find out here.

When broken down, expenditures on pet services look something like this:

  • 30% Pet food
  • 20% Veterinary services
  • 11% Pet healthcare products
  • 9% Products and accessories, such as dog beds, leads and harnesses
  • 30% Other (pet groomer, pet insurance, competitions, transport)

8. Around 30% of households with dogs and 21% with cats had pet insurance in 2019.

(RSPCA) (Finder)

Here’s how much pet insurance costs on average for a 5-year old dog and cat per month as of February 2022:

(Animal Medicines Australia)Results of a 2021 research show that in 2020-21, Australian dog owners spent around $20.5 billion on dog products, whereas cat owners spent only half of that amount on cat products – around $10.2 billion.

10. Dog walkers in Australia usually have an hourly rate of $19.

(Salary Expert)

If you are a dog owner and want to hire a dog walker, you can do so for $19/hour. And if you don’t own a dog but like spending time with dogs, you can consider becoming a dog walker. It’s a job where you can have fun, and it pays well – around $40,172 per year.

Pet Ownership Statistics in Australia

11. Over 60% of dog and cat owners see their pets as a part of their family.

Over 60 % of pet owners in Australia treat their pets like any other member of their family. A great deal of them often give their pets gourmet food, take them on holidays and road trips, let them sleep in their bed, and speak to their pets as if they understand human language.

12. Pet owners see companionship, love, and affection as the main benefits of owning a pet.

Have you considered investing in a high-quality home security camera? It will keep all your family members, including pets, safe even when you are out of the house.

According to pet ownership statistics in Australia, these are just some of the benefits of owning a pet, others including:

  • Positive impact on life in general
  • Feelings of happiness, joy, pleasure, and fun
  • Positive impact on mental health and well-being

13. Companionship is also the main reason why people decide to get a pet.

Other reasons include:

  • Rescuing animals
  • Being given animals
  • Teaching children responsibility
  • For relaxation.

14. The majority of pets in Australia looking for homes are cats (65%).

(PetRescue)

According to data from 2021, almost 65% of animals looking for rescue are cats. Other pets in Australia that also need a home include:

  • Dogs (30.8%)
  • Rabbits (1.8%)
  • Guinea pigs (1.5%)
  • Rodents (0.2%)

The majority of cats looking for homes in 2021 were urban stray cats (37.4%).

15. Rodents are most likely to be adopted soon, taking them only 10 days on average.

According to PetRescue, this is how long it usually takes pets to be adopted after being listed:

  • Dogs: 16 days
  • Rabbits: 19 days
  • Guinea pigs: 14 days
  • Cats: 13 days
  • Rodents: 10 days

16. Queensland is the state with the highest pet adoption rate.

According to PetRescue, as of January 2022, people from Queensland have adopted close to 15,000 animals.

Bottom Line

Are you considering getting a pet? If you are, look at these pet spending statistics in Australia to learn approximately how much you can expect to spend on your new friend. If you have some money put on the side and want to buy a pet, consider pet adoption instead. That way, you’ll rescue an animal and use that money to spoil your new pet.

  • 9News
  • Animal Medicines Australia
  • Animal Medicines Australia
  • Finder
  • IBIS World
  • Pet Keen
  • PetRescue
  • RSPCA
  • Salary Expert
  • Statista