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The exact number of pet rabbits in the United States is not known, as there is no central database or registry for pet rabbits. However, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey for 2021-2022, approximately 2.2 million households in the United States own pet rabbits.
It’s important to note that the number of pet rabbits is definitely higher than the number of households that own them, as many households own multiple rabbits.
Additionally, there are certainly pet rabbits that are not included in this estimate, such as rabbits owned by individuals who do not participate in the survey or who do not consider their rabbits to be pets.
For example, my family has multiple pet rabbits and we do not participate in the pet survey. Honestly, I’m not sure how one would even go about participating in the survey.
With that in mind, I feel it’s very safe to say that there are at least 2.2 million pet rabbits in America and it’s possible that the number is closer to 10x the reported number of pet rabbits.
However, we can look at the APPA National Pet Survey to gain a better understanding of how common pet rabbits are compared to other common pets.
How Popular Are Pet Rabbits Compared To Dogs, Cats, And Other Pets?
According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey for 2021-2022, the estimated number of households that own pets in the United States are:
- Dogs: 63.4 million households (or 47% of households)
- Cats: 42.7 million households (or 31% of households)
- Freshwater fish: 11.5 million households (or 8% of households)
- Birds: 5.7 million households (or 4% of households)
- Reptiles: 5.1 million households (or 4% of households)
- Small animals, such as hamsters, and guinea pigs: 3.2 million households (or 2.4% of households)
- Rabbits: 2.2 million households (or 1.6% of households)
- Saltwater fish: 1.5 million households (or 1% of households)
- Horses: 1.3 million households (or 1% of households)
It’s important to note that these figures are estimates and may not be entirely accurate, as they rely on self-reported data from pet owners. Additionally, some households may own multiple pets across different categories.
Still, we can look at the overall trends.
Dogs and Cats are 24 times more popular than rabbits and other small animals as pets in America.
Of course, you and I both know that rabbits are great pets for kids and adults, but they are not nearly as popular as dogs and cats. That’s okay, it just makes them even more precious.
