The Blue Cross Pet Census 2007

National highlights

The Blue Cross has published its annual UK Pet Census. The data provides essential national and regional information including pet ownership trends, animal welfare issues, attitudes to pet ownership and the relationship between pets and their people.

  • 49% of the population of Great Britain owns a pet

  • 1 in 10 people would rather spend quality time with their pet than anyone else

  • Dogs and cats are the most popular pets in Great Britain, followed by fish

  • The average expenditure on a pet is £278 per year, which has risen from £231 in 2005

  • Men spend more on their pets in a year (£282) than women (£275)

  • 69% of pet owners do not have pet insurance to protect against injury, theft or ill health

  • The majority of pet owners do not know that it can take six months or more to apply for a pet passport

  • There are more dog owners in Wales than in any other country in Great Britain

  • Those who are widowed or divorced are the most likely to allow their pet to sleep in their bedroom

  • The biggest problem people experience with their pets is that they do not behave as expected, and are more responsibility than anticipated

  • A third of owners acquired their pet for companionship

  • People aged 16 to 24 are the most likely to own a pet


    • Pet passions

  • The average expenditure on a dog is £406, and £291 for a cat, per year

  • Owners of reptiles and rabbits are the most likely to say their pet was more responsibility than they expected

  • Horse owners spend the most on their pets, with an average outlay of £684 per year

  • More than half (55%) of animals that are rescued or stray are cats

  • Dog owners spend the most time with their pets, and are the most likely to take time off work for their pet

  • The cost of owning a pet rises with its age - pets under a year cost on average £231 per year, compared to £316 per year spent on animals over 7 years old

  • More than 7 in 10 cat owners (72%) said their cat was a cross-breed

  • Dog owners are more likely to experience behavioural problems with their pet than any other pet owners

  • Equine owners are the most likely to know that it can take six months or more to apply for a pet passport


    • Regional findings

  • Pet owners in Yorkshire and Humberside are the most likely to adopt an animal from a rescue shelter

  • The Welsh are the most likely to own a pet, Londoners the least likely

  • Pet owners in the North West spend the most time with their pets, those in East Anglia spend the least amount of time

  • People in the North and North West spend the most on their pets (£303 per year), those in Wales spend the least (£253 per year); people in the East Midlands spend the least (£240 per year)

  • Scots are the most likely to choose to spend quality time with their pets at the end of a busy day than anyone else

  • Pet owners in the North West are the most likely to choose a pedigree pet over a cross-breed, while Londoners are the least likely to own a pedigree pet

  • Pet owners in Yorkshire and Humberside are the least likely to have pet insurance



    • The research was carried out on behalf of The Blue Cross by BMRB in October/November 2007. A nationally representative sample of 6008 adults aged 16+ was interviewed via the telephone omnibus. The resulting data was weighted to ensure that demographic profiles matched those of all adults in Great Britain aged 16yrs and over.

    For previous year comparisons visit:

  • 2006 - Pet Census Shows UK Gender Division
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  • 2005 - UK Pet Census Report Published
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