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25% of German households own a cat compared to 21% owning a dog
Source: ZZF/IVH (2024)
ZZF/IVH. (2024). Der Deutsche Heimtiermarkt 2024. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/comparison/#de-cat-vs-dog-households-2024
15.9M cats vs 10.5M dogs
Germany has 15.9 million cats compared to 10.5 million dogs, making cats the most popular pet by a wide margin
ZZF/IVH (2024)
#1 in Europe
Germany has the largest cat population in Europe at 15.9 million, ahead of France and Italy
ZZF/IVH (2024)
€421 million
German municipalities collected €421 million in dog tax (Hundesteuer) in 2023, with no equivalent tax on cats
GlobalPETS (2024)
45.5% dogs vs 32.1% cats
45.5% of US households own dogs vs 32.1% owning cats
American Veterinary Medical Association (2025)
