Canada Proves We Love Our Pets
November 9, 2021
According to historical tracking from the Canadian Health Institute (CAHI), 58% of Canadian households reported they own at least one dog or one cat. This year, the overall pet ownership per household was consistent with the results for 2018.
Since 2004, the CAHI has been conducting an annual survey to find the average number of pets living with humans in Canada. The 2020 Pet Population Survey targeted 3,500 pet-owning households nationwide and asked them a set of questions relating to pet ownership.
From 2018 to 2020, the Canadian dog population continued to grow, increasing from 7.6 million to 7.7 million, while the population of cats remained steady. However, cats continue to outnumber dogs, with 8.1 million cats considered to be household pets in 2020.
No doubt this increase in the dog population has something to do with the number of Pandemic Puppies finding their way into Canadian homes during the pandemic. The population survey also tracks the number of veterinary visits across Canada and this too is showing an increase. This is likely due to the fact that puppies need their first shots and multiple visits to the vets when they’re young.
But surprisingly, within the population of dogs and cats, the percentage of pets receiving veterinary medical care during the past 12 months increased more significantly for cats than for dogs. The increase in veterinary visits for cats was most pronounced in the months following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Could it be that there’s such a thing as Pandemic Pussycats?
The research points to another reason and this is our perception of pet care, veterinarians and veterinary care. Since 2018, there have been improvements in several areas:
- Both dog and cat owners rated veterinarians as good value for money.
- This perception continues to increase among cat owners and is now consistent with dog owners.
- Veterinarians remain the most frequently consulted source for pet care.
- Perceived credibility of veterinarians and veterinary clinic staff continues to lead all other information sources and is consistent with the 2018 results.
Even during this difficult COVID times, when money has been tight for many Canadian households, we put our pets first and make sure they receive proper health care.
More on the CAHI can be found on our website at: www.cahi-icsa.ca.