Note:This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
For many years animals have had a special place in the heart of residents of India. Animals have been viewed as their friends and partners, represented in art and sculptures as the companion of deities, and have long been a symbol of power.
With this rich historical relationship between Indians and animals, you may be curious about what the state of pet ownership in the country is like. In our guide, we’re going to provide a wide range of fascinating Indian pet ownership statistics like how many people own pets in the country, which pets are most popular, the state of homeless pets in India, and more.
You’re welcome to use our images, but we require you link directly to this site for credit (ex. Graphic from Pet Keen)
Homeless Pets in India Statistics
1. There are nearly 80 million homeless cats and dogs living on the streets or in shelters in India.
(End Pet Homelessness)
The world’s first survey of Pet Homelessness found that there are an estimated 80 million homeless cats and dogs that are roaming India at any given time. According to the research, there are 9.1 million street or stray cats and 62 million street or stray dogs. These numbers are quite staggering when we look at the statistics for all nine of the countries that have been indexed so far. There are an estimated 91 million street or stray dogs throughout those nine countries, and India alone accounts for 62 million of them.
Image Credit: Mny-Jhee, Shutterstock
2. 50% of all pet owners in India admit to relinquishing a pet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Times of India)
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, many people turned to their pets for companionship during lockdowns. While some people relinquished their pets at the start of the pandemic as they were afraid that their pet might pass on the coronavirus, others welcomed a pet into their home. As the adoption trend began to fade, the relinquishment numbers started to rise. 50% of all pet owners in India admitted to relinquishing a pet since the start of the pandemic while the global level of pet relinquishments is just 28%.
3. 68% of the population sees stray cats at least once a week, while 77% report seeing stray dogs once a week.
(End Pet Homelessness)
According to the same Pet Homelessness survey, 68% of the Indian population comes across a stray or street cat at least once a week. The global average is 43%. 77% of the Indian population sees stray or street dogs at least once a week. The global average is 41%.
General Pet Ownership Statistics in India
4. Dogs are the most common pet in India, with 34% of pet owners having a dog and just 20% having a cat.
(Rakuten Insight)
In India, dogs are the most popular pet, with 34% of pet owners having one. Cats come in second place, making 20% of the share. India’s third most popular pet are birds, with 14% of pet owners having one. In fourth place is goldfish with 10% of the share.
Image credit: Eric Ward, Unsplash
5. 41% of Indians don’t have a pet at all.
(Rakuten Insight)
41% of Indian residents report that they don’t raise any pets at all. When we compare this statistic to other areas of Asia, we see that the only countries with lower pet ownership rates are Indonesia (28%), the Philippines (17%), Thailand (24%), and Vietnam (27%).
6. There are over 10,200,000 pet dogs in India.
(Pet Secure)
According to Pet Secure, there are approximately 10,200,000 pet dogs in India. This puts the country in sixth place for the total dog population. In first place is the USA, with approximately 69,929,000 dogs. Next is China, with 27,400,000, and then Russia, with 12,520,000. In fourth place is Japan with 12,000,000, and fifth is the Philippines with 11,600,000.
Image Credit: birgl, Pixabay
7. The number of pet dogs in India is forecasted to reach over 31 million by 2023.
(Euromonitor via Statista)
In 2018, the population of pet dogs throughout India was around 19.5 million. By 2023, the population is expected to reach over 31 million. A study from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada looked at the increase in pet food sales to come up with this forecasted number. The exponential growth of pet dogs in India over the last few years has caused a massive increase in pet food sales. In 2014, sales were approximately 139 million USD and by 2018 they had grown to 285 million.
8. The number of pet cats in India is forecasted to reach over 2.4 million by 2023.
(Euromonitor via Statista)
The same study from point number seven was used to forecast the number of pet cats throughout India. In 2014, the number of Indians who had pet cats was just 1.21 million. By 2019 this number had grown slightly to 1.84 million. While the growth of pet cats over the years is not as shocking and prevalent as dog ownership rates in India, it is still substantial. The study suggests there will be approximately 2.4 million pet cats by 2023, more than doubling the numbers from 2014.
Image Credit: Suthin _Saenontad, Shutterstock
9. 60% of people in India have a pet.
(CNBCTV18)
Six out of 10 people in India now own a pet. What’s fueling this growth? The study suggests that urbanization, the rise of nuclear families, and changing perceptions toward pets are driving factors in the growth of the pet market in India.
The Pet Sales Market in India
10. The pet food market in India is projected to register a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 4.7% through 2027.
(Mordor Intelligence)
The Indian pet food market is forecasted to register a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.7% by 2027. The pandemic caused a significant impact on not only the pet market in India but the food market for pets as well.
In India, the pet food market focuses predominantly on packaged and ready-to-eat foods that are designed to provide complete nutrition for pets.
Image Credit: pedphoto36pm, Shutterstock
11. India’s pet care market is projected to grow at a value of INR 7,500 Crores by the end of 2026.
(Research and Markets)
A report titled “India Pet Care Market Outlook, 2021–26” provides a comprehensive look at the current and forecasted pet care market in India. The sectors that were looked at extensively include pet food, accessories, grooming, and healthcare. The report also dives deeper into the market share by pet type (e.g., dog, cat, rabbit, etc.), food type (e.g., wet, dry), accessories (e.g., toys, collars, leashes, beds, etc.), and grooming items (e.g., brushes, trimmers, etc.). It is further divided by sales channels, regions, cities, and major companies.
The report suggests that the pet care market in India is expected to grow at a value of INR 7,500 Crores by the end of 2026. The dog segment of the market accounts for more than half of the market share.
India & Exotic Animals
12. Over 32,000 Indians admitted to possessing exotic live animals.
(Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change via IndiaSpend)
In June 2020, a central government agency in India announced a voluntary disclosure scheme to encourage citizens to declare possession of any exotic and live animal species. This includes any animal or plant that has been moved away from its native home region. The government agency promised that no action would be taken against the owners of these animals, even if they’re owned without any proper documentation.
By February of 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change reported receiving 32,645 applications from Indians in possession of these exotic live species.
Indians residing in West Bengal submitted the most disclosures accounting for 30% of all disclosures received with people from Kerala coming in second at 26% of all disclosures.
Image Credit: RichartPhotos, Shutterstock
13. Around 12,000 invasive red-eared slider turtles were seized by the customs authority in Tamil Nadu between 2018 and 2020.
(Wildlife Conservation Trust)
The IUCN’s Invasive Species Specialist Group has named the red-eared slider turtle, a popular pet in Western countries, as one of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species. The species is native to the Mississippi River area in the United States but has been traded so frequently in foreign markets that it’s now an invasive species in over 75 countries including India. It is believed that the red-eared sliders are a threat to the native turtle species in India as well as the overall aquatic biodiversity.
Between 2018 and 2020, over 12,000 red-eared sliders were seized by the customs authority at airports in Tamil Nadu.
14. 6% of all reptile imports into India between 1976 and 2018 were unreported.
(Journal of Threatened Taxa)
The exotic pet trade in India is not legally regulated so not much is known about the scale at which it is carried out in the country. CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, found that between 1976 and 2018, 98.6% of all reptile imports into India were not reported to the management authorities.
Image Credit: Mike_68, Pixabay
Frequently Asked Questions About India Pet Ownership
The pet industry in India is very interesting and different from what we may be used to in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Keep reading to find the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about pet ownership in India.
Where would I adopt a pet in India?
Adopting a pet in India is no different than adopting one anywhere else in the world. There are many animal shelters throughout the country that you can choose from in all the major city centers.
You will likely need to go through a counseling process to ensure you and your family understand the responsibilities of adopting a pet and to confirm you have the means to support it.
Some shelters may require a home visit to get an idea of the environment the pet will be living in. You might even be subject to a trial period to see if the animal you’re interested in works well with your family.
Image Credit: Bogdan Sonjachnyj, Shutetrstock
If I am an Indian resident, how can I bring my pet to the country?
If you’re an Indian resident living abroad, you might find yourself at some point wanting to travel back to your home country with your pet. You must have been living abroad for at least two years and your visit to India must not be any longer than 180 days.
Are there any rules for bringing my pet into India?
Your pet must have a microchip to enter India. If you have a cat or dog coming along with you for a temporary visit, you’ll need an import license before entering the country.
Any pet entering India with its owner must have a No Objection Certificate (NOC). These are issued by the Animal Quarantine Station in India before entering the country.
Dogs and cats must have recently had a vaccine for rabies within the 31 days before travel if they hadn’t previously been vaccinated. Dogs should also have distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and leishmaniasis vaccines as well. Cats should be up to date with their FVRCP vaccines between 1–12 months before travel.
You will need to visit your vet to receive a veterinary certificate if you’re going to India from the US or Canada.
If your pet is relocating to India, they may need to go into a 14-day government-supervised quarantine. They may be able to do a 30-day at-home quarantine, depending on their health status. If your pet meets all of the regulations, an at-home quarantine will be recommended.
(PetTravel)
Image Credit: olgagorovenko, Shutterstock
How do I export my cat or dog outside of India?
There are a few steps one must follow if they wish to export their cat or dog outside of India.
First, officers will need to examine the pet. They’ll need to see a veterinary health certification that deems the animal fit to travel either by road, air, or train. You will need to provide a microchip certificate as well as the vaccine record of your pet. If the animal is traveling via the cargo hold, it’ll need an airway bill.
You will need to prove that you have met any of the requirements of the county you’re importing your pet to as well as photographs of your pet.
(Animal Quarantine & Certification Services)
Conclusion
Pet ownership rates continue to grow throughout India despite the higher-than-average relinquishment levels during the pandemic. The pet food market is also growing and is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace over the next few years. It is clear that the people of India truly love and admire their pets as their family members.
Chantelle is passionate about two things in her life – writing and animals. She grew up on the prairies in Canada surrounded by animals and as an adult, she chooses to share her home with five cats, two guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Chantelle, her husband, and their child take great pride in being great animal parents - the ones who spend a thousand dollars on wall-mounted cat shelves so that their cats can have an indoor jungle gym all year round. When Chantelle isn’t snuggling her cats on the couch or taking pictures of them being hilarious, she’s outside exploring in the Rocky Mountains, binging the same shows on Netflix over and over, and reading about whatever random topic pops into her brain. ...Read more
