Americans spending more on pets

According to a 2011-2012 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Americans are spending more on their pets but the number of households with pets remains steady at 62 per cent (72.9 million homes). 

An estimated $52.87 billion was spent on pets in 2012, versus $50.96 billion in 2011. The total number of pets (including everything from dogs to freshwater fish) is 377.61 million. 

Food topped the charts as the number one expenditure at $20.46 billion in 2012 and $19.85 billion in 2011. Supplies and over-the-counter medicine came in second at $12.56 billion in 2012 and $11.77 billion in 2011. Veterinary care, placed third at just over $13 billion in both 2012 and 2011, reiterating claims by Karen Felsted at the 2012 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies that the costs of vet care are balancing out.

Regarding cat and dog expenses, however, surgical and routine vet visits ranked number one as the highest expenditures at over $400 for annual surgical visits and over $200 for annual routine visits. 

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