Kittens just overtook puppies in American homes. Here’s who’s driving the cat boom

Cats are having a moment. In American homes, cats have long played second fiddle to dogs. More U.S. households own dogs, but the balance is starting to tip.

Last year, the number of U.S. homes with a dog under a year old was basically equal to the number of homes with a cat under the same age, according to recent data from market research group Packaged Facts. In 2026, the ratio tipped to .94 puppies for every one kitten. Compare that to 2014, when 1.8 households owned a puppy for every one home with a young cat and it certainly looks like feline friends are on the upswing. 

Last year, 95 million American households owned a pet. Out of homes with a pet, 71 million households owned a dog, while 53 million households owned a cat. Pet ownership grew across the board for both cats and dogs between 2024 and 2025, but cat ownership increased 5% during that interval while dog ownership only grew by 2%. That follows a record year for Americans adding cats to their homes in 2024, when cat ownership exploded by 23%. Many homes added a litter box over the last few years, but existing cat owners also added more cats into the mix.

Two major demographics are driving the increase in cat ownership, according to recent data from the American Pet Products Association: Gen Z and cat dads. Gen Z made up 22% of cat owners in the U.S. in 2025, up from 12% the year prior. Meanwhile, cat ownership is surging among men, who now make up 43% of cat owners. Younger men in particular are behind the trend, with cat ownership among Gen Z men rising 27% year over year. Men are also adopting more cats: Since 2018, the number of cat dads who owned three or more cats rose 117%. Cat ladies are officially on notice.

“What’s particularly exciting is that growth isn’t coming from just one place,” APPA President and CEO Pete Scott observed in the report. “New households are entering the category, existing owners are expanding their homes to multiple cats, and younger generations and male owners are helping shape new expectations around care, nutrition, and companionship.”

Treating cats to a fancy feast

Demographic shifts among cat owners come with changes to shopping habits. Male cat owners are buying more food mixers and toppers – the enticing stuff that goes on top of the dull lump of pâté or the pile of kibble. Cat dads also spend more of their budget for their pet on products compared to their female counterparts with a particular enthusiasm for high-end and specialty food options. On the whole, Gen Z is more budget minded, but shows strong spending across categories like treats, food, and general cat products. 

Dog food sales are dropping, but sales of cat food, cat toys, and other feline products are on the rise. The pet brands Chewy, General Mills, and Petco all shouted out cats for boosting sales in recent earnings calls. General Mills, which owns pet food brands Blue Buffalo and Tiki Cat, saw double digit percentage growth in cat food sales in the last quarter – growth that stabilized its pet segment, even as dog food sales dropped significantly.

All pet owners enjoy the perks of a furry friend (or three), but cats tend to be more apartment-friendly, happier in smaller spaces, and generally much more content when left alone. “Cats continue to resonate with consumers because they fit a wide range of lifestyles while delivering meaningful companionship,” Scott said in the APPA report. “As ownership grows and emerging audiences become more influential, we’re seeing a category that continues to evolve through stronger emotional bonds, greater personalization, and increased investment in everyday care.” 

Any cat owner probably doesn’t need a scientist to tell them this, but cats are associated with happiness, too. A new international study found that countries with a “greater density of cats” also reported a higher sense of well-being, with Finland leading the way on happiness and an above-average number of cats per capita.