SECTION III. PET OWNERSHIP In 2025, pet ownership trends in Hong Kong continued to diverge between dogs and cats. The dog population declined to 273,000, a 16 percent decrease from 2021, while the cat population grew by 18 percent over the same period to reach 340,000. These shifts reflect broader demographic changes in the city, including emigration and negative natural population growth, which have reduced the number of long-term resident households that have traditionally owned dogs. At the same time, immigration inflows under various talent and visa schemes have not yet resulted in significant increases in pet ownership, as many new arrivals are less likely to keep pets immediately after relocating. Post-pandemic lifestyle changes have also influenced ownership patterns, with more residents spending time outside the 2 3
Retained imports=Gross Imports- Re-exports Trade Data Monitor
home and favoring lower-maintenance pets such as cats that are better suited to Hong Kong’s dense urban living environment. Hong Kong: Table 4 – Pet Population ('000 of animals) Thousands of Animals Dog Population Cat Population
Growth (2023 v 2024) -2.5% 2.4%
(Source: Euromonitor International)