36.5 million pets in the United Kingdom

The UK is home to 36.5 million pets living in nearly 18 million households, representing 62% of British homes. According to the Pet Population Survey 2026 published by UK Pet Food, this figure marks a 1.4% increase compared with 2024.

Dogs remain the most popular pets, with 15.5 million animals present in 41% of households (versus 33% in 2021), followed by cats with 13.1 million animals living in 31% of homes. The survey also includes around 600,000 horses and ponies, 1.4 million indoor birds, 900,000 domestic fowl and nearly 500,000 small pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes and pigeons.

This growth is also reflected in the sector’s economic performance. According to UK Pet Food, the market increased from £4.1 billion to £4.3 billion between 2024 and 2025, representing growth of 4.9%. Dog food accounts for 51.1% of total sales, ahead of cat food products, which represent 37.2% of market revenue.