Why It Matters
Pet Ownership (Cats & Dogs)
Summary
We have calculated the probable number of pets in your postcode and further broken that value down to discern the population of local cats and dogs per 100 households.
Interpretation
There are multiple ways to describe the levels of pet ownership in your area:
Definition
| Dataset | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Predicted cat population | This is an estimate of the total number of cats present in this postcode. |
| Predicted number of cats per 100 households (Postal District Level) | This is an estimate of the number of cats per 100 housholds in this postcode district. |
| Postcode Quartile Placement for Cat Ownership | This shows you which quartile (25% band) your postcode falls within the London-wide distribution of cats. |
| Predicted dog population in | This is an estimate of the total number of dogs present in this postcode. |
| Predicted number of dogs per 100 households (Postal District Level) | This is an estimate of the number of dogs per 100 housholds in this postcode district. |
| Postcode Quartile Placement for Dog Ownership | This shows you which quartile (25% band) your postcode falls within the London-wide distribution of dogs. |
| Predicted pet population (cats and dogs) | This is an estimate of the total number of cats and dogs present in this postcode. |
| Predicted number of pets (cats and dogs) per 100 households (Postal District Level) | This is an estimate of the number of cats and dogs per 100 housholds in this postcode district. |
| Postcode Quartile Placement for Pet Ownership (Cats and Dogs) | This shows you which quartile (25% band) your postcode falls within the London-wide distribution of cats and dogs. |
Definition
Based on yearly data provided by the ‘Animal and Plant Health Agency’ we simply present the number of cats in the postcode, the number of dogs in the postcode, and the total number of pets (cats and dogs) in the postcode. From these three values we can then deuduce additional information.
Why the metric matters from a commercial inhabitant’s perspective
While it may be obvious, it is important to note that pet owners spend money on their pets and therefore will be more inclined to purchase specialist products in specialist stores for a high premium. Besides a high level of ownership, these areas are also indicatively pet-friendly, and those from outside the area may travel in with their pets to utilise these amenities. Furthermore, pet owners, particularly those of dogs, are more likely to be accustomed to walking, whether it be with their pets or not, thus they can conveniently enter shops without having to find a space to park as a motorist or lock up as a cyclist may. A commercial inhabitant reliant on passing foot traffic may therefore find an improved customer spend in these areas.
It has also been proven that pet owners tend to be better off, and so are more keen to spend money in stores or eat out. Combined with the increased levels of happiness that studies suggest pet ownership brings with it, this means that individuals in high pet ownership areas are more inclined to spend in general.
A pet owner is likely to want to purchase more pets in the future, too, whether down to the sad loss of a previous animal or for another to keep their current pet company. As such animal breeders or petshops may find these areas more viable than those with low pet ownership.
Why the metric matters from a residential inhabitant’s perspective
The past few years has seen a significant change in lifestyles and how households are structured in the UK, which has had an effect on the populations of dogs and cats. This increase in populations which has arisen as a result of changes in laws and regulations governing ownership of pets, as well as the harmonisation of pet travel rules with the rest of the European Union, has made it easier to relocate to the UK with your pet in tow. It is against this backdrop that this metric is important. Reliable data on pet ownership will allow Londoners to identify pet-friendly neighbourhoods, so that they can make an informed decision about where to buy or rent with their pet.
Further still, pet ownership is often indicative of a local population who are more likely to have been there for a longer period of time and are likely to stay put in the future. It also suggests pet friendliness in the local area, meaning that there is probably more green space, larger homes, and amenities to suit.
On the flip-side, landlords may charge higher rent for homes that allow pets due to the higher likelihood of wear and tear caused by them.
Queen Victoria’s Cats and Dogs by Charles Burton Barber, 1885, painting in the Royal Collection
General Commentary
The UK has a very high level of pet ownership, with approximately 50% of the country’s adults owning either a cat or a dog, with more than 20 million registered cats and dogs in total. Unsurprisingly, given the density, lack of space, and the high mobility and relatively young age of population, London has a reasonably low dog population of 310,000 compared to other regions, with only 9% of the population owning a dog, compared to 610,000 and 36% in the north east for example.
Interestingly cats fare better in London, likely because they are able to roam unaccompanied and are generally smaller and easier to take care of than a dog. While only 12% of households in London own a cat, this is comparable with the north east, but the population is 580,000 while the north east only boasts 210,000.
Many pet owners feel their pet benefits their life, with 90% saying they make them feel happy and 88% feeling an overall improvement in their quality of life as a result of owning a pet. In London, 33% of dog owners with children say they would choose a pet-friendly area over one that was suitable for their children’s education, and a whopping 65% of the same group said they would forego their dream home if it wasn’t perfect for their dog.
Economically speaking, pets are also a boon for an area. While pet ownership is falling ever so slightly year on year, the pet food market is booming, growing and becoming increasingly dynamic and diverse as the interests of owners become more specific and animal health becomes better understood. It is estimated that just food for dogs and cats contributes £2.5 billion to the UK economy each year.
History
Animals and humans have long lived side-by-side - it is believed that dogs were first domesticated between 19,000 and 32,000 years ago, and cats about 9,000 years ago. Both have been a staple in the streets and domestic spaces of London since the city’s foundation.
That said, it seems as though actual pets in the way we consider them today were seen as an elite affectation, and were often the subject of satire at the expense of the upper classes. Animals throughout most of human history were in fact less of a companion or accessory as they later became, but rather a tool used solely to aid labour or travel.
It was the late 18th and early 19th centuries that really turned this around and made the nation one of pet-lovers, placing a newfound emphasis on domestic life as the metropolis industrialised around them. Home became a space to escape the hectic city outside and focus on oneself and the family. This often entailed teaching children the tenets of care, commitment and kindness, and as such it was encouraged that children keep small animals to learn these skills. Animals in the home as more than just mouse catchers or guard dogs became increasingly popular but many did not know how to properly care for them. Therefore the famed Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was set up way in 1824 which became the world’s first animal welfare charity.
In the early 20th century more of an emphasis was placed on building relationships with animals beyond simply keeping them alive, and the building of more spacious homes in the new suburbs meant there was plenty of room for outdoor animals. At the same time however, the growing urban population living in higher density buildings were encouraged to bring in pets that liked living indoors or could roam unaccompanied, such as cats. As the century rolled on and crises hit, it became more and more common to keep pets, and by the 1960s sociologists were arguing that pets were needed to keep families together as the traditional nuclear family began to disband.
Despite the 21st century bringing with it increased mobility, a rise in short term rentals and smaller and smaller living spaces, pet ownership remains high in the city, and it really looks like keeping animals as companions is going nowhere.