Dog-or-cat households
40.1%
AVMA survey-based estimate
Wages paid by veterinary and pet care businesses
$4,286,721,464
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Veterinary services jobs
49,072
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Share of U.S. premiums
20.1%
2023 estimate
Pet-store sourcing law
AB 485
Households with pets
≈ 57%
Dog-owning households
≈ 40%
Cat-owning households
≈ 28%
Pet Ownership
California has a very large pet population but a comparatively low household ownership rate.
Dog-or-cat households
40.1%
AVMA survey-based estimate
Share of U.S. pets
18.3%
APPA, 2023 estimate
Contiguous-state ownership rank
48th
Survey estimate
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Households owning a petDifferent survey definitions; directional comparison | 40.1% | 66.0% |
- •California has the country's largest absolute pet population but one of the lowest dog-or-cat ownership rates per household (APPA/AVMA survey estimates).
- •California's share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums is larger than its share of the nation's pets (APPA/NAPHIA estimates).
- •Since 2019, California pet stores may source dogs, cats and rabbits only from shelters or rescue groups under AB 485.
Pet Economy
Household pet spending supports a large California consumer and services market.
Wages paid by veterinary and pet care businesses
$4,286,721,464
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Veterinary and pet care businesses
6,554
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Household pet spending
$10,022 million
2021 modeled estimate
U.S. pet spending
$147,000 million
2023
California share
Approximately 6.8%
Wages paid by veterinary and pet care businesses
2014–2025$4,286,721,464▲ 175%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 54194 + 812910, total annual wages.
Veterinary and pet care businesses
2014–20256,554▲ 57%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 54194 + 812910.
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Household pet spendingCalifornia 2021 model; U.S. 2023 | $10,022 million | $147,000 million |
- •California has the country's largest absolute pet population but one of the lowest dog-or-cat ownership rates per household (APPA/AVMA survey estimates).
- •California's share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums is larger than its share of the nation's pets (APPA/NAPHIA estimates).
- •Since 2019, California pet stores may source dogs, cats and rabbits only from shelters or rescue groups under AB 485.
Pet-Related Employment
Pet care, veterinary services, retail and suppliers support jobs throughout California.
Veterinary services jobs
49,072
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Pet care jobs (grooming, boarding, training)
19,022
2025 · BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Jobs supported
168,924
2021 modeled estimate
Labor income
$9,551 million
U.S. jobs supported
2,780,000
Veterinary services jobs
2014–202549,072▲ 47%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 54194.
Pet care jobs (grooming, boarding, training)
2014–202519,022▲ 102%
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual average, NAICS 812910.
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Pet-related jobsModeled economic impact | 168,924 | 2,780,000 |
- •California has the country's largest absolute pet population but one of the lowest dog-or-cat ownership rates per household (APPA/AVMA survey estimates).
- •California's share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums is larger than its share of the nation's pets (APPA/NAPHIA estimates).
- •Since 2019, California pet stores may source dogs, cats and rabbits only from shelters or rescue groups under AB 485.
Pet Insurance
California accounts for the largest share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums.
Share of U.S. premiums
20.1%
2023 estimate
Share of U.S. pets
18.3%
U.S. insured pets
5,700,000
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Share of U.S. pet-insurance premiumsNAPHIA/APPA, 2023 | 20.1% | 100% |
- •California has the country's largest absolute pet population but one of the lowest dog-or-cat ownership rates per household (APPA/AVMA survey estimates).
- •California's share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums is larger than its share of the nation's pets (APPA/NAPHIA estimates).
- •Since 2019, California pet stores may source dogs, cats and rabbits only from shelters or rescue groups under AB 485.
Animal Shelters
California law links pet retail to shelters and rescue organizations and sets statewide animal-welfare standards.
Pet-store sourcing law
AB 485
Effective year
2019
Covered animals
Dogs, cats and rabbits
| Indicator | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Retail rescue-sourcing requirementCalifornia AB 485 | Statewide | No equivalent federal rule |
- •California has the country's largest absolute pet population but one of the lowest dog-or-cat ownership rates per household (APPA/AVMA survey estimates).
- •California's share of U.S. pet-insurance premiums is larger than its share of the nation's pets (APPA/NAPHIA estimates).
- •Since 2019, California pet stores may source dogs, cats and rabbits only from shelters or rescue groups under AB 485.
More figures
Animals entering shelters
≈ 700,000 /yr
Veterinarians
≈ 12,000
1st in the U.S.