San Diego County Analysis Of Companion Animal Population
A survey of San Diego County households conducted by the National Pet Alliance examines the nature of companion animal ownership in the region, including dog and cat distribution among the county’s households, gender differences, and sources where people obtain their companion animals.
More than half (54%) of San Diego County (SDC) households do not have dogs or cats, while 21% have dogs only, 16% have cats only, and 9% have both dogs and cats. About one in ten (9%) of all SDC households feed feral and free-roaming cats that they do not own.
The dog population in SDC is 51% female and 49% male. The cat population is equal when looking at kittens, but by age 10 the female cat population measures 70%. Of the cats in SDC households, 6% are purebreds with registration papers, while 4% are purebreds without papers. Of SDC dogs, 38% are purebreds with papers while 20% claim to be purebreds without papers.
Only 4% of cats in SDC households are obtained from breeders, whereas 26% of dogs come from breeders. Companion animal stores were the source for 7% of cats and 8% of dogs. Over 60% of owned cats are obtained either as strays or were gifts. Only 6% of dogs are obtained as strays, but a sizable 34% were received as gifts.
More than a third (37%) of cats are kept indoors only, compared with 17% who are kept outdoors only. A vast majority (84%) of owned cats are altered, while 68% of owned dogs are currently altered.
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