Lastest Study: How Americans Spend Money On Pets During The Covid-19 Pandemic (2020 Data)

We had 1,479 people from the US, 18 years and older, complete a survey concerning their pet-related spending habits before and after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Here are the most important trends and takeaways from this data.

A. Background Questions

1. What Kind of Pets Do You Own?

What kind of pet or pets do you own?

Key Findings

  • Almost half of the consumers surveyed own at least one dog: 47.1%.
  • Cats were the next most popular pet at 31%.
  • Fish, somewhat surprisingly, was the third most owned pet but at a far lower percentage than cats and dogs: 8.8%.

Significant Differences by Subgroup

  • Less than half (45.3%) of the consumers who earn less than $5,000 per month own a dog, while the majority (52.9%) of consumers who make more than $5,000 per month own a dog.
  • Fewer people who live in the Northeast (42.3%) own a dog compared to those who live elsewhere in the country (48.3%).
  • 50% of the people who responded that their pet was “member of the family” own a dog, while only 22.2% of those who consider their pet to be “just a pet” are dog owners.
  • Of consumers who believe their finances will be better off after the pandemic, the majority (52.2%) were dog owners, while only 45.1% of people who believed their finances would be worse off own a dog.
  • Cat owners represent 32.7% of consumers who earn less than $5,000 a month and only 25.7% of consumers who earn over $5,000 a month.
  • Of owners who consider their pets family, cat owners make up about a third (30.7%) while they are more represented in the group that responded that their pet “is just a pet” (40.7%).
  • In terms of financial projections, 32.6% of consumers who believe their finances would be worse off after the pandemic own cats while only 23.4% who believe their finances would improve are cat owners.

2. Which of the following statements best describes your feelings towards your pet?

Which of the following statements best describes your feelings towards your pet?

3. Do you think you will be better off, the same, or worse off financially after the COVID-19 pandemic?

Do you think you will be better off, the same, or worse off financially after the COVID-19 pandemic

B. Main Questions

1. Before & Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, on Average How Much Do You Spend on Each Pet in a Month on Each of These Categories?

Before and Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, on average how much do you spend on each pet in a month on each of these categories (USD)?

Key Findings

  • According to consumers surveyed, overall pet spending has decreased by 3.9%.
  • Spending on pet food has increased the most (13.8%) while veterinary spending has decreased the most (26.7%).
  • Dog, cat, and fish spending has decreased by 9.6% while spending on small mammals, birds, and reptiles has increased by 33.8%.

Significant Differences by Subgroup

  • Consumers with a monthly income under $5,000 tend to reduce their spending more than those who earn more money (46.7% verse 42.5%).
  • Younger consumers (under 45) tend to reduce pet spending more than older demographics (48.7% verse 36.5%).
  • Of consumers who are unemployed about half (51%) reduced their pet expenditures compared to 44.1% of consumers who are still employed.
  • Surprisingly, those who said their pet is a member of the family tend to reduce their pet spending more than those who consider their pets to just be pets (46.7% vs 37%).
  • Less surprisingly, those who said they believed their finances would be worse off after the pandemic were more likely to reduce pet spending (53.1%) compared to those who thought their finances would improve (33.6%).

2. What Items Do You Stock Up on the Most for Your Pet Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic?

What items do you stock up on the most for your pet amidst the COVID-19 pandemic?

Key Findings

  • Consumers are most likely to stock up on pet food: 67.1%.
  • Those with a higher monthly income (over $5,000) are more likely to stock up on items than those with lower earnings (19.8% verse 12.4%).
  • Older consumers (over 45) are more likely to stock up (21.4%) than younger ones (17%).

Significant Differences by Subgroup

  • Consumers who are unemployed tend to stock up less than those currently employed (76.2% verse 83.7%).
  • While those with a four-year college degree or higher tend to stock up more (84.9%) compared to those with less education (74.8%).
  • Interestingly, those who believe their finances will be better off, stock up more (90.2%) than those who believe they will stay the same or get worse (75.4%).

3. Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, if You Are Forced to Become More Conservative With Your Spending, What Would You Do?

Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, if you are forced to become more conservative with your spending, what would you do?

Key Findings

  • Most consumers would choose to reduce their spending on themselves and their pets: 43.5%.
  • Those who consider the pet a member of the family were more likely to reduce spending on themselves to continue spending on their pet (51%) compared to those who said their pet was just a pet (22.2%).
  • Of consumers making less than $5,000 a month, 44.7% would reduce spending on themselves while only 9.4% would reduce spending on their pets. Similarly, of those making more than $5,000 a month, 33.2% would reduce spending on themselves while 17.1% would reduce spending on their pet.

Significant Differences by Subgroup

  • Women were more likely to choose to reduce their own expenses more often than men (46.6% verse 35.4%). While men were more likely to reduce expenses on their pets than women (16.6% verse 7.6%).
  • Over a third (39.3%) of married consumers would reduce their spending on themselves to keep spending money on their pets, while 12.3% would reduce their spending on their pets. For unmarried consumers, 45.3% would reduce spending on themselves while only 9.8% would reduce spending on their pets.
  • Both employed (39.9%) and unemployed (49%) workers said they were more likely to reduce spending on themselves. While only 13.4% of employed consumers and 3.8% of unemployed consumers said they would reduce spending on their pets.
  • Consumers with a bachelor’s degree or higher were more likely to reduce spending on their pets (13.2%) than those with a lower education level (6.2%).
  • As you might expect, those who answered that their pets were a member of the family were more likely to say they would reduce spending on themselves (51%) while only 22.2% of those who said pets were just pets would.
  • Interestingly, those who thought their finances would be better off after the pandemic were more likely to reduce spending on themselves (32.2%) than to reduce spending on their pet (22.4%). Those who thought their finances would be worse off were even more likely to reduce spending on themselves (44%) than on their pet (10%).

4. If  You Would Have to Watch Your Personal Finances More Closely Due to the Pandemic, How Likely Are You to Limit Your Purchases of the Following Pet Items?

If you would have to watch your personal finances more closely due to the pandemic, how likely are you to limit your purchases of the following pet items?

Key Findings

  • Consumers are most likely to reduce their purchases on toys and accessories (71.1%) and other items (41%).
  • Pet food is the least likely to see a spending reduction (12.1%).

Significant Differences by Subgroup

Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Pet Food:
  • Men were more likely to reduce spending on pet food (17.1%) than women (8.7%).
  • Interestingly, the employed were more likely to reduce pet food spending (13.5%) compared to those without employment (7.5%).
  • While those with higher education were more likely to spend less on pet food (13.3%) than those with less than a four-year degree (9.2%).
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Vet care, Health care & Insurance:
  • 38% of those who saw themselves being better off financially after the pandemic was likely to reduce spending on vet care, health care, and insurance. While only 28.3% of those who thought they would be worse off would limit these types of services.
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Toy & Accessory:
  • When it comes to limiting toy and accessory purchases, more women (75.8%) than men (63.9%) would do this
  • While consumers living in the Northeast were less likely to limit these purchases (64.4%) than those living elsewhere (72.9%).
  • Surprisingly, those who said they see their pet as a member of the family were more likely to limit spending on toys (70.3%) than those who said their pets were just pets (59.3%).
  • Less surprisingly, those who thought they would be financially better off after the pandemic were less likely to limit this kind of spending (62.9%) than those who thought they would be worse off (73.8%).
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Other Items:
  • In terms of reducing spending on “other” items, 40.5% of consumers who said their pets were part of the family would reduce this kind of spending, while only 33.3% of people who said their pets were just pets would do the same.

5. If  You Decide to Reduce the Amount Spent on Yourself so That You May Continue to Spend on Your Pet, Which of These Categories Would You Cut Down On?

If you decide to reduce the amount spent on yourself so that you may continue to spend on your pet, which of these categories would you cut down on?

Key Findings

  • Consumers are least likely to sacrifice their food expenses (17.5%).
  • Most would cut down on clothing (77.1%) and luxury items (76.4%).

Significant Differences by Subgroup

Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Food:
  • 24% of those who thought they would be better off financially after the pandemic, while only 17.4% of those who thought they would be worse off would cut down on this important expense.
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Health & Fitness:
  • Women were more likely to cut down on health and fitness expenses (48.4%) than men (39.7%)
  • 51.3% of those living in the Northeast would trim this type of expense, compared to only 43.3% of those living elsewhere.
  • Those who thought they would be better off after the pandemic were more likely to cut down on this expense (50.2%) than those who thought they’d be worse off (43.2%).
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Household Good:
  • In terms of cutting down on household good expenditures, 52.6% of those living in the Northeast would while only 44% of those living elsewhere would.
  • People who said their pet was a member of the family were more likely to reduce spending on these items (47.8%) than those who said their pet was just a pet (33.3%).
  • About half (50.2%) of consumers who thought they would be better off after the pandemic said they would cut down on these types of goods while only 43.2% of those who thought they’d be worse off would.
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Entertainment:
  • Not surprisingly, those making less money per month were more likely to cut down on entertainment (71.6%) than those making more (64.7%).
  • Older consumers (over 45) were also more likely to cut down on this kind of spending (76.4%) than younger consumers (67.9%).
  • There was also a noticeable difference in the number of men who would cut spending on entertainment (60.7%) compared to women (76.2%).
  • Married consumers were less likely to cut entertainment spending (69.7%) than unmarried consumers (70.4%).
  • Only 66.8% of employed consumers would cut this expense compared to 80.3% of unemployed consumers.
  • Those with less education are also more likely to lower entertainment expenses (75.5%) than those with a four-year degree or higher (67.7%).
  • Interestingly, 73.1% of consumers who said their pets were family would cut entertainment spending while only 33.3% of those who said their pets were just pets would.
  • Less surprisingly, those who thought they would be financially worse off after the pandemic were more likely to cut this expense (71.1%) than those who thought they’d be better off (51.2%).
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Luxury Items:
  • Consumers of all income levels were highly likely to cut spending on luxury items (78.2% of those making above $5,000 a month and 70.5% of those making below $5,000 a month)
  • While older consumers (over 45) were more likely to lower this expense (76.4%) compared to younger consumers (67.9%).
  • Women were also more likely to cut these items (81.1%) compared to men (69.2%).
  • 84% of unemployed consumers were likely to cut expenses on luxury items compared to just 74.1% of employed consumers.
  • Those living in the Northeast were more likely to cut these costs (82.4%) compared to those living elsewhere (74.8%).
  • As were those with a lower education level (81.5%) compared to those with a bachelor’s degree or higher (74.3%).
  • There was a considerable difference between how many of those who considered their pet family would cut luxury expenses (78.6%) compared to those who said their pets were just pets (44.4%).
  • While 77.8% of those that thought they would be worse off after the pandemic would cut this cost compared to just 58.5% of those who thought they would be better off.
Those who said they are likely to reduce expense on Clothing:
  • When it comes to cutting spending on clothing, women were more likely to cut this expense (83.4%) than men (67.6%) as were unemployed consumers (83.2%) compared to those with jobs (75.2%).
  • 84% of consumers with lower education were likely to trim clothing spending while only 74.9% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher would.
  • Consumers who consider their pets to be family were more likely to cut clothing purchases (79.3%) than those who only see their pets as pets (59.3%).
  • While those who thought they would be better off financially were less likely to cut this expense (60%) than those who thought they’d be worse off (77.6%).

Demographics

We surveyed 1,479 pet owners aged 18 and up. About three-quarters (76.6%) of those surveyed made less than $5,000 per month. Forty percent were female and 59.8% were male. The majority of those surveyed lived outside of the Northeastern region (78.9%).

1. To which gender identity do you most identify?

To which gender identity do you most identify?

2. What is your age?

What is your age?

3. What is your average monthly income?

What is your average monthly income?

Methodology and Limitations

To collect the data included here, we surveyed 1,479 pet owners in the United States using a multiple-choice questionnaire with six pet-related questions. Information on the respondents’ demographics was also collected.

All answers were self-reported and therefore may be subject to inaccuracies due to bias, exaggeration, and telescoping.

Fair Use Statement

The information included above is meant to help many in the pet industry. If you believe you know someone who might benefit from this data, you may share this information freely. We do, however, ask that you link back to this page so all information is presented in its entirety and all contributors receive proper credit.

The information and graphics above are available for non-commercial reuse.

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