Top Ten Pets

Price Tag: Top Ten Pets Here is a statistical look at the 10 most popular pets in the United States, and the estimated price range of each. Rank is based on percent of households owning each animal, not on animal population. (Cats outnumber dogs, but since cat owners often have two cats or more, cat households remain in second place.) RANK PRICE AVERAGE RANGE, U.S. POPULATION BY HOUSEHOLD PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS OWNING TOTAL IN U.S HOUSEHOLDS AVERAGE NUMBER PER HOUSEHOLD OWNING 1 DOGS 37% 52.5 million 1.5 $30 Average shelter-adoption fee to $2,000 57 million 2 CATS 31% $10 Average shelter-adoption fee to $800 3 BIRDS 6% $6 Small birds 12 million to $1,000 Parrots, macaws 4 FISH 3% 25¢ Goldfish 24 million to $250 Exotic tropical fish 6 HORSES 2% 2.5 $250 to 5 million $2,000 6 RABBITS 3.2 $15 1.5% to 4.5 million $25 7 HAMSTERS $5 1.5 1% to 1.3 million $10 8 GUINEA PIGS .5% $15 to .8 million $20 9 TURTLES .4% 2 $5 to .7 million $40 10 GERBILS .3% $5 to 2.2 .6 million $10 Sources: Humane Society of the United States; American Veterinary Medical Association; American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Megan Jaegerman/The New York Times Price Tag: Top Ten Pets Here is a statistical look at the 10 most popular pets in the United States, and the estimated price range of each. Rank is based on percent of households owning each animal, not on animal population. (Cats outnumber dogs, but since cat owners often have two cats or more, cat households remain in second place.) RANK PRICE AVERAGE RANGE, U.S. POPULATION BY HOUSEHOLD PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS OWNING TOTAL IN U.S HOUSEHOLDS AVERAGE NUMBER PER HOUSEHOLD OWNING 1 DOGS 37% 52.5 million 1.5 $30 Average shelter-adoption fee to $2,000 57 million 2 CATS 31% $10 Average shelter-adoption fee to $800 3 BIRDS 6% $6 Small birds 2 12 million to $1,000 Parrots, macaws 4 FISH 3% 25¢ Goldfish 24 million to $250 Exotic tropical fish 6 HORSES 2% 2.5 $250 to 5 million $2,000 6 RABBITS 3.2 $15 1.5% to 4.5 million $25 7 HAMSTERS $5 1.5 1% to 1.3 million $10 8 GUINEA PIGS .5% $15 2 to .8 million $20 9 TURTLES .4% 2 $5 to .7 million $40 10 GERBILS .3% $5 to 2.2 .6 million $10 Sources: Humane Society of the United States; American Veterinary Medical Association; American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Megan Jaegerman/The New York Times Price Tag: Top Ten Pets Here is a statistical look at the 10 most popular pets in the United States, and the estimated price range of each. Rank is based on percent of households owning each animal, not on animal population. (Cats outnumber dogs, but since cat owners often have two cats or more, cat households remain in second place.) RANK PRICE AVERAGE RANGE, U.S. POPULATION BY HOUSEHOLD PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS OWNING TOTAL IN U.S HOUSEHOLDS AVERAGE NUMBER PER HOUSEHOLD OWNING 1 DOGS 37% 52.5 million 1.5 $30 Average shelter-adoption fee to $2,000 57 million 2 CATS 31% $10 Average shelter-adoption fee to $800 3 BIRDS 6% $6 Small birds 2 12 million to $1,000 Parrots, macaws 4 FISH 3% 25¢ Goldfish 24 million to $250 Exotic tropical fish 6 HORSES 2% 2.5 $250 to 5 million $2,000 6 RABBITS 3.2 $15 1.5% to 4.5 million $25 7 HAMSTERS $5 1.5 1% to 1.3 million $10 8 GUINEA PIGS .5% $15 2 to .8 million $20 9 TURTLES .4% 2 $5 to .7 million $40 10 GERBILS .3% $5 to 2.2 .6 million $10 Sources: Humane Society of the United States; American Veterinary Medical Association; American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Megan Jaegerman/The New York Times Price Tag: Top Ten Pets Here is a statistical look at the 10 most popular pets in the United States, and the estimated price range of each. Rank is based on percent of households owning each animal, not on animal population. (Cats outnumber dogs, but since cat owners often have two cats or more, cat households remain in second place.) RANK PRICE AVERAGE RANGE, U.S. POPULATION BY HOUSEHOLD PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS OWNING TOTAL IN U.S HOUSEHOLDS AVERAGE NUMBER PER HOUSEHOLD OWNING 1 DOGS 37% 52.5 million 1.5 $30 Average shelter-adoption fee to $2,000 57 million 2 CATS 31% $10 Average shelter-adoption fee to $800 3 BIRDS 6% $6 Small birds 2 12 million to $1,000 Parrots, macaws 4 FISH 3% 25¢ Goldfish 24 million to $250 Exotic tropical fish 6 HORSES 2% 2.5 $250 to 5 million $2,000 6 RABBITS 3.2 $15 1.5% to 4.5 million $25 7 HAMSTERS $5 1.5 1% to 1.3 million $10 8 GUINEA PIGS .5% $15 2 to .8 million $20 9 TURTLES .4% 2 $5 to .7 million $40 10 GERBILS .3% $5 to 2.2 .6 million $10 Sources: Humane Society of the United States; American Veterinary Medical Association; American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Megan Jaegerman/The New York Times