Taiwan survey reveals more pet cats than dogs for 1st time

台灣調查顯示，寵物貓數量首次超過家犬數量

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Cats have outnumbered dogs for the first time in Taiwan, according to an annual pet ownership survey released Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The survey found the number of pet dogs fell 1.2% to 1.46 million last year, while the number of cats surged 30% to 1.74 million, per CNA.

Chiang Wen-chuan (江文全), director of the ministry’s Animal Protection Division, said the rise in cat ownership reflects shifting social structures, including more single-person households and smaller urban living spaces. Cats are generally easier to care for than dogs, and many owners keep more than one, contributing to the increase.

Despite the shift, households owning dogs still slightly outnumber those with cats by about 1.2%. The proportion of households with multiple cats has increased compared with previous surveys, while multi-dog ownership remained relatively unchanged.

The ministry said the survey builds on previous methodologies, with improvements to sampling design and estimation. Since 2023, mobile phone samples have been included alongside landlines, and further refinements in 2025 have improved representation across regions and demographic groups.

The survey also found that dog registration and sterilization rates have continued to rise nationwide. Registration rates increased from 69.5% in 2021 to 77.2% in 2025, while sterilization rates rose from 66.41% to 71.75% over the same period.

However, some local governments lag behind national averages. Dog registration rates were lower in Chiayi County, Yunlin County, and Changhua County, while female dog sterilization rates were below average in Chiayi City, Yunlin County, and Keelung City, per CNA.

Under the Animal Protection Act, amended on Dec. 16, 2024, domestic cats were added to the list of pets requiring registration, with a one-year grace period before enforcement began on Jan. 1, 2026.

The survey showed cat registration rates rose from 58.45% in 2023 to 66.48% in 2025. However, the ministry noted that many pet owners remain unaware of the requirement, highlighting the need for stronger public outreach and enforcement.

The ministry said it will step up supervision and provide resources to local governments with lower compliance rates, urging pet owners to register and sterilize their animals to help reduce stray populations at the source.