Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Pets and pet care in Australia - statistics & facts
Australia is undoubtedly a nation of animal lovers, with nearly half of the households in Australia owning a dog, and a third of Australian homes having a cat as a pet. While certain barriers, such as veterinary and insurance costs, may be deterring pet ownership for some people, many others are actively looking for new pets, either from their local shelter or breeders.
While these costs may be a deterrent for some, many in Australia still hold a strong desire to own their first pet or look forward to adding another member to their household. With more households acquiring new pets each year, Australia’s love of animals remains strong.
Attitudes and desires of pet owners
The desire to own a pet is high across the country, particularly amongst existing pet owners. The most popular choice of potential pet was a dog, which holds true for both pet owners and non-owners alike. The general trend in desiring a pet, however, regardless of the animal type, is for those that already keep one or more animals to want to have another one or more. There is a marked difference in the perceived barriers to animal ownership between owners and non-owners. For those who already have an animal, or animals, the main barriers are either the ongoing costs, or that a previous pet died, surrendered, or had to be put to sleep and they don’t feel ready for another. For non-owners, it's that their lifestyle isn’t suitable, or that their landlord or work doesn’t allow pets.Acquiring and caring for pets
The majority of Australians acquired their pet or pets from a breeder, but nearly a third of people adopted their pet from an animal shelter, such as the Australian RSPCA. Year on year, the number of animals received into the care of the RSPCA has been in decline, as have the numbers of animals reclaimed by their owners or rehomed to new ones. When it comes to veterinary care, many Australian pet owners hadn’t needed to visit their vet across the preceding twelve months, and only a very small share said they had needed multiple visits. Veterinary care is expensive in Australia, with the average cost for common illnesses such as an ear infection costing around 350 Australian dollars, up to 2,400 Australian dollars for tick paralysis treatment. As such pet insurance is a necessity for pet owners, with an average monthly cost of 85 Australian dollars.While these costs may be a deterrent for some, many in Australia still hold a strong desire to own their first pet or look forward to adding another member to their household. With more households acquiring new pets each year, Australia’s love of animals remains strong.
