Dogs may be popular but these 25 cities say cats rule the U.S.

Abstract: PetSmart recently released a list of the top 25 U.S. cities where residents have invested the most in their love for the feline. Cities were evaluated using two key metrics: “the number of pet adoptions recorded in PetSmart Charities’ Adoptions Database and customer spending on select cat product categories, including toys, furniture, collars and leads, scratch products and treats.” More people than ever are enjoying companionship of a cat. 

The cats are outpacing the dogs when it comes to pet adoption, according to new statistics released by PetSmart and as proof the retail chain recently released the top 25 cat-loving cities in the U.S. leading this trend.

“We have been following this trend as cat adoptions outpace dog adoptions  and it’s fair to say cats are having a moment,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities.

That is not to say, dogs are being left in the dust. A blog issued in 2023 by Data Axel, a provider of data-driven marketing offerings found that “cat owners are older than dog owners. Almost 70 per cent of cat owners are over 60, compared to 52 per cent of dog owners. However, both dog and cat owners are older than the population average and are likely to be 55+.”

Cat owners, the blog states, “are more likely to be female, but the gap is not as big as social myths would have you believe. Sixty-four per cent of cat owners are female vs. 60 per cent of dog owners. Dog owners are slightly more likely to be married, but only three per cent more.”

In terms of numbers, in 2022, “dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S. and can be found in approximately 65.1 million U.S. households, followed by cats who are beloved by approximately 46.5 million households.”

Cat and Dog Ownership in the United States

Source: Data Axle post “The truth about cats and dogs”, published by Natasia Langfelder.

As for the top 25 U.S. cities where residents have invested the most in their love for cats, based on an index encompassing PetSmart Charities cat adoptions and sales of cat pampering products purchased from PetSmart, they are as follows: Lexington, Ky. Green Bay, Wisc., Mount Juliet, Tenn., Spokane, Wash., Falls Church, Va., New York City, Clarksville, Tenn., Fort Collins, Col., Alhambra, Calif., Daly City, Calif. Plymouth Meeting, Pa., North Canton, Ohio, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Sioux City, Iowa, Kennesaw, Ga., San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Fairless Hills, Pa., Los Angeles, Oviedo, Fla., Flagstaff, Ariz., Commerce Township, Mich., Springfield, Ill., Evansville, Ind., and last, but not least, Johnson City, Tenn.

Rankings, the company says, “are based on internal PetSmart data from June 17, 2024, through June 16 of this year. Cities were evaluated using two key metrics: “the number of pet adoptions recorded in PetSmart Charities’ Adoptions Database and customer spending on select cat product categories, including toys, furniture, collars and leads, scratch products and treats.”

To ensure fair comparison, results were adjusted for the number of PetSmart store locations in each city and indexed against national performance. Final rankings were determined using a weighted formula: 50 per cent adoptions and 50 per cent product sales.

In terms of how best to kitten-proof your home, PetSmart suggested the following in a recent link:

Hide Things That Can Break – “Collect breakable objects, such as vases and collectibles, and put them someplace your kitty can’t get to them. As your kitten starts to grow and learn, you might be able to introduce some of those objects back into their environment. To keep your kitten from playing with breakable things, make sure to give them plenty of cat toys.”
What Houseplants are Safe for Cats – “Take your time researching what plants in your home are safe for your kitty to eat or chew on. Any that are unsafe should be put somewhere your cat cannot get them, like behind a closed door or outside. When in doubt, stick to cat grass, or ask your vet.”