NZ Pet Data Report 2024
About the report
Our NZ Pet Data Report 2024 provides the latest insights into the lives of companion animals across the country, offering valuable data on pet population trends, ownership behaviours, and welfare practices. By understanding how these relationships evolve, we can better support pet guardians, policymakers, veterinarians, and welfare organisations in ensuring every companion animal in New Zealand experiences A Good Life.
This comprehensive report is the most extensive of its kind, drawing on robust data collection and analysis to explore key aspects of pet ownership, including population of cats, dogs and horses, desexing and microchipping rates, sources of acquisition, health care, and changing attitudes toward companion animals.
We extend our gratitude to our research partner, InsightsHQ, as well as the survey participants and dedicated CANZ team members who contributed to this important work. By sharing these findings, we aim to inspire meaningful change, deepening our collective understanding of the vital role animals play in our lives and communities.
Released: March 2025
Extended analysis
Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) has compiled ‘Companion Animals in New Zealand Pet Data Report 2’, hereafter referred to as Report 2, as a follow-up to the ‘Companion Animals in New Zealand Pet Data Report 2024’ (Report 1), which provided national statistics and an overview of pet ownership across Aotearoa New Zealand.
In 2024, we significantly increased the scope of our data collection through a more comprehensive research questionnaire. This report builds on the findings from Report 1 by examining the attitudes, behaviours, and decision-making of companion animal owners, offering deeper insights of relevance to the broader companion animal sector.
Released: April 2026
Insights HQ were commissioned by Companion Animals NZ to undertake a survey of New Zealand households to size and profile the companion animal population, as well as assess attitudes towards companion animals in NZ. In 2024, the data was gathered between 23 September and 16 October 2024. A follow-up booster was conducted between 17 January and 3 February 2025 among rabbit owners to increase the sample size for rabbit ownership data, however, a population estimate was not available for rabbits due to low rabbit base size. More detail on methodology is available in the full report.