Kattly study finds cats are more popular than dogs in Europe

Kattly has conducted a new analysis based on data from the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) to map the proportion of households in various European countries that own at least one cat or dog. The results reveal fascinating differences in pet ownership between cats and dogs, as well as between different countries and regions.

The analysis shows that cats are generally more popular than dogs in Europe. On average, 27% of households own at least one cat, compared to 25% that have at least one dog. However, the variations between countries are significant, with some nations showing a clear preference for one pet over the other.

The analysis identifies Romania as the country in Europe with the highest proportion of cat owners. An impressive 48% of Romanian households have at least one cat, making it the most cat-loving nation in Europe. Poland ranks second with 41%, followed by Latvia in third place with 37%. This highlights a strong tradition of cat ownership, particularly in Eastern Europe. Conversely, Greece has the lowest percentage of cat owners, with only 13% of households owning a cat, followed by Türkiye at 14%.

When it comes to dogs, Hungary tops the list, with 50% of households owning at least one dog. Poland follows closely with 49%, trailed by Romania (45%) and the Czech Republic (42%). These countries show a clear dedication to dogs as family members.

Romania and Poland stand out as Europe’s most pet-loving nations, excelling in both cat and dog ownership. Romania leads for cats and takes third place for dogs, while Poland secures second place for both types of pets.

At the other end of the spectrum, Türkiye has the lowest rate of dog ownership, with only 5% of households owning a dog. Coupled with its low percentage of cat owners, Türkiye emerges as Europe’s least pet-loving country. Switzerland also has a low rate of dog ownership, with only 12% of households owning at least one dog, placing it second to last on that list.

Some countries display notable differences between the number of cats and dogs. In Switzerland and Türkiye, cats are over three times more common than dogs. In contrast, Croatia and Slovakia show a strong preference for dogs, with 69% and 68% more dogs than cats, respectively.

Despite their geographic proximity, Belgium and the Netherlands demonstrate striking differences in pet ownership. In Belgium, 33% of households own a cat, and 30% own a dog. In the Netherlands, these figures are much lower: 23% for cats and 18% for dogs. This suggests a stronger pet culture in Belgium compared to its Dutch neighbour.

Among households that own pets, it is generally more common to have more cats than dogs. In total, there are over 129 million cats in Europe, compared to approximately 106 million dogs. These numbers are spread across 27% of households for cats and 25% for dogs. Countries like Italy, Slovenia, and Finland stand out with notably high numbers of cats per household. In Italy, for instance, there are 10.2 million cats and 8.8 million dogs, even though only 22% of households own a cat compared to 28% that own a dog.

About the survey

The data on cat and dog ownership in European countries pertains to 2022 and was published in a report by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) in 2024. The analysis is presented on Kattly here.

Kattly, created by cat lovers for cat lovers, is the leading Swedish resource for cat enthusiasts. Born out of our founders Andrew de Lisle, Joakim Flisberg, and Weronica Bartoszek's shared passion for cats, Kattly gathers thorough and accessible resources about cats—from breeds and behaviour to products and health—to provide cat lovers with comprehensive information in one place. Currently live in Sweden, Kattly will be launched in more countries throughout Europe in 2025. For more information, visit https://kattly.se.