Russia Ranks First Globally by Share of Cat-Owning Households

Russia now ranks first worldwide for the share of households that own cats, according to estimates from analysts at Seasia.co. The report puts cat ownership at 59% of Russian households, the highest proportion among the countries included in the review.

The authors attribute cats’ long-standing popularity in Russia to several practical factors, including their suitability for apartment living and colder climates, as well as lower ongoing costs compared with dogs. In the analysts’ view, these features make cats a particularly good fit for urban households.

High cat ownership rates were also recorded across parts of Eastern Europe, including Romania, Poland, Latvia, and Hungary, which the report links to a strong regional tradition of keeping domestic cats.

The review also points to fast growth in cat ownership across Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, an estimated 47% of households own cats, compared with 43% in the Philippines and 42% in Thailand. The report associates this increase with urbanization, the spread of apartment living, and lifestyle changes in major cities.

The United States remains the largest market in absolute terms. In 2025, cats were present in approximately 46.5 million U.S. households. However, by share of households, the country ranks below Russia and several other nations.

The authors stress that cross-country comparisons require separating the total number of cats from the percentage of households that own them. In more urbanized and compact countries, household penetration can be higher even when the overall population is smaller.