Cat Ownership Across Asia-Pacific Countries

Cats have become one of the most popular household pets across the Asia-Pacific region, although ownership levels vary considerably between countries.

According to a 2021 survey by Rakuten Insight, cats were kept by 26% of respondents overall across the 12 markets surveyed. The study collected responses from 97,000 people in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Indonesia recorded the highest rate of cat ownership, with 47% of respondents saying they kept cats. The Philippines followed at 43%, while Thailand reached 42%. Vietnam and Malaysia also recorded relatively high figures, at 35% and 34%, respectively.

These results show that Southeast Asian countries dominated the upper end of the survey, with cats particularly popular among households in the region.

Outside Southeast Asia, China recorded 22%, followed by India at 20% and Taiwan at 19%. Hong Kong stood at 14%, while Japan recorded 11%.

Singapore had a cat ownership rate of 10%, and South Korea recorded the lowest figure among the 12 markets at 9%. The differences illustrate how patterns of pet ownership can vary substantially across Asian societies.

The survey also provides a broader picture of pet ownership in the region. Rakuten Insight reported that 59% of respondents had a pet at home, with dogs being the most commonly owned pet at 32%, followed by cats at 26% and fish at 15%.

Indonesia was particularly notable because cats were owned by 47% of respondents, considerably exceeding the 10% who reported owning dogs.

Beyond simply being household animals, pets can also play an important social and emotional role. Rakuten Insight found that the leading reasons for owning pets included wanting to feel less down or stressed, seeking companionship, and feeling more secure.

These motivations suggest that cats and other pets can become meaningful parts of people's daily lives rather than simply animals kept at home.

Overall, the Rakuten Insight figures reveal a clear variation in cat ownership across the Asia-Pacific markets surveyed. Southeast Asian countries occupy the highest positions, while several East Asian markets record lower percentages.

At the same time, the data demonstrates that cats have a significant presence in households throughout the region, reflecting their popularity as companions and pets.