Cat and Dog Populations
A survey of households randomly selected has revealed that cats and dogs are owned by 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households, respectively.
It has been over 20 years since domestic cat and dog population estimates in the UK have been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals but a paper published in the Veterinary Record has looked at just that.
A survey of households randomly selected has revealed that cats and dogs are owned by 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households, respectively. The findings were used to estimate that UK households owned approximately 10.3 million cats and 10.5 million dogs in 2006.
Characteristics associated with cat and dog ownership were also identified. Cats were more likely to be owned by: households with gardens, semi-urban/rural households, households with someone qualified to degree level, respondents who were female and respondents who were aged less than 65 years. Cats were less likely to be owned by households with one or more dogs.
The likelihood of dog ownership increased as the household size increased. Dogs were more likely to be owned by households with gardens, rural households and less likely to be owned by households with cats or children aged less than 11 years. Female respondents and those aged less than 55 years were more likely to report dog ownership than other respondents. Dogs were also less likely to be owned by households with one or more cats.
The researchers recommend the study is repeated in 2011, (the year of the next scheduled UK census), as any increase or decrease in population numbers will enable pet ownership trends to be monitored.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
