# Global and Italian pet ownership trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-italian-pet-ownership-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-03T07:00:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Global and regional trends indicate a growing cultural shift toward pet ownership, often driven by economic factors. In the United States, data suggests a rise in “pet parenting,” with 40% of Americans preferring pets over children, a trend particularly strong among Millennials and Gen Z due to the high cost of raising children.

In Italy, economic challenges are impacting both pet ownership and animal welfare. While approximately one-third of Italians live with pets—a slight decline from previous years—dog ownership has recently seen a 4% increase. Most Italian pet owners spend between 31 and 100 euros monthly on care. To mitigate the rising cost of living, legislative proposals have been introduced in Italy to extend anti-price-gouging laws to include the donation of veterinary medicines, aiming to support low-income citizens and non-profit animal organizations.

## Claims

- One in three Italians lives with at least one pet in 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Dogs are present in 41% of pet-owning households. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Cats are present in 37.1% of pet-owning households. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The percentage of pet ownership in Italy saw a slight decrease in 2026 compared to 40.5% in 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- 57.9% of pet owners spend between 31 and 100 euros per month on their animals. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Dog ownership increased by 4 percentage points compared to 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-03: Italy pet ownership trends: One in three Italians live with pets

An Eurispes report shows one in three Italians lives with a pet in 2026, with dogs and cats being the most popular. Most owners spend between 31 and 100 euros monthly on animal care.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-pet-ownership-trends-one-in-three-italians-live-with-pets

### 2026-09-23: Pet parenting trend grows as economic factors influence lifestyle choices

A rising trend of “pet parenting” sees many choosing animals over children due to economic and lifestyle factors, prompting legislative proposals in Italy to ease the cost of veterinary care.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pet-parenting-trend-grows-as-economic-factors-influence-lifestyle-choices

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Cite as: Global and Italian pet ownership trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-italian-pet-ownership-trends