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Cat Craze: Taiwan's Pet Cats Outnumber Dogs for First Time, Survey Reveals

From Liberty Times · (4h ago) Chinese Positive tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • For the first time, the number of pet cats in Taiwan has surpassed the number of pet dogs, according to a 2025 survey by the Ministry of Agriculture.
  • The survey estimates 1.74 million pet cats compared to 1.46 million pet dogs.
  • This shift is attributed to changing societal structures, urbanization, and a greater emphasis on emotional companionship from pets.

Taiwan is officially a nation of cat lovers! For the first time in history, our beloved feline companions have outnumbered our canine friends, according to the latest survey released by the Ministry of Agriculture. The 2025 figures show an estimated 1.74 million pet cats across the island, a significant increase of 32.8% from the previous survey, while pet dog numbers have seen a slight dip to approximately 1.46 million.

This feline ascendancy reflects a broader societal transformation. As our cities become more densely populated and more people live in apartments, the practicalities of dog ownershipโ€”requiring walks and more spaceโ€”become more challenging. Cats, on the other hand, adapt more readily to indoor living. Furthermore, the nature of pet ownership itself is evolving. Gone are the days when pets were primarily kept for guarding or pest control; today, they are cherished for emotional companionship, a role cats seem particularly adept at fulfilling, especially for single individuals and the elderly.

Many dog-owning families usually only have one dog, while cat owners tend to have two or more.

โ€” Chiang Wen-chuan, Director of the Animal Protection DepartmentExplaining one reason for the increase in the total number of pet cats.

This trend mirrors developments seen in Western nations, indicating Taiwan's alignment with global shifts in pet-keeping culture. While the increase in cat ownership is encouraging, the survey also highlights areas needing attention. Mandatory pet registration for cats, implemented in 2025, has seen improved compliance, but registration rates in some counties, like Chiayi and Yunlin, still lag behind the national average. Similarly, spaying rates for female dogs in certain regions require improvement to manage stray populations effectively. The Ministry of Agriculture plans targeted initiatives to boost registration and sterilization awareness, ensuring responsible pet ownership keeps pace with the growing love for our furry friends.

Currently, the registration rate for pet cats has increased from 58.45% in 2023 to 66.48% in 2025, showing significant growth.

โ€” Chiang Wen-chuan, Director of the Animal Protection DepartmentDiscussing the progress of mandatory pet registration for cats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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