The Top 10 Most Popular Pets on the Planet

Pets are the best companions for humans, and they are loved and cherished in homes all over the world. Here are the top ten most popular pets on the planet.

Pets are an important part of our lives. Indeed, 68 percent of households in countries like the United States have at least one pet. Adopting (or purchasing) a pet is a significant milestone in our lives because animals are not toys, but rather living beings who become our responsibility. Companion animals, pets, and domestic animals are organisms from the animal kingdom that have been domesticated for the purpose of providing companionship to people, rather than for economic or nutritional gain, but for the delight of the carer. According to historical studies, animal domestication began around 9000 BC, during the Neolithic revolution, when humans realized they needed to connect with nature and the animal kingdom. After that, the rest is history.

What are the most popular pets these days?

Pets aren't simply a phenomenon in the United States. Furthermore, the information offered here shows that just because dogs are treated differently in different cultures does not mean they are not loved.

It's all so complicated that there aren't any quick fixes.

For example, in Mexico, dogs and cats are not routinely spayed or neutered due to cultural and religious reasons. Pets are regarded as disposable in some families and are treated poorly by any standard, while they are valued members of the family in others, and family is revered in Mexico - yet cats are still typically kept outside solely, and overall pet care supplies and information are limited.

Although there is less spay/neuter in some European countries, such as Switzerland, pet overpopulation does not exist. The number of stray animals is insignificant.

The majority of individuals in the United States own a pet. The number of pets outnumbers the number of children. Half of all canines share a bed with a human family member. Approximately 90% of pet owners consider their pets to be members of the family (some polls claim above 90%). Despite this, the ASPCA estimates that 2.7 million animals are euthanized in shelters each year (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).

According to a survey published in Petfood Industry.com by GfK SE (Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung or Society for Consumer Research),  

Globally, 57 percent of consumers own pets (according to more than 27,000 online consumers whom GfK surveyed in 22 countries).

Dogs are the most popular pet globally, owned by 33 percent of respondents, with cats next at 23 percent. The listing continues Fish (12 percent), birds (six percent), and other pet types (six percent).

Argentina (82 percent), Mexico (81 percent), and Brazil (76 percent) have the highest rates of overall pet ownership among the 22 countries surveyed, with dogs being the most popular pet in all three nations. The countries included are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, and the USA.

The United States ranks fifth in pet ownership and third in cat ownership. Nearly three-quarters of US customers (70%) own at least one pet, with 50 percent having dogs and 39 percent having cats.

The most popular pets in the world in 2013, according to Live Science (and others):

There are 142 million freshwater fish in the world.

There are 88.3 million cats in the world.

There are 74.8 million dogs worldwide.

a total of 16 million birds

Small animals number 24.3 million.

Horses number 13.8 million.

There are 13.4 million reptiles in the world.

There are 9.6 million saltwater fish in the world.

Slicing and dicing help explain some of these seemingly contradictory figures. For example, there are probably more dog-owning homes than cat-owning households, but there are more cats per home.