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According to a survey done by the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), it is estimated that there are roughly 8.5 million domestic cats in Canada.1 Surprisingly, cats outnumber dogs as the country’s most popular pet. Let’s look at everything that you need to know about cats in Canada.
Canada’s Most Popular Cat Breeds
Here are the 10 most popular cat breeds in Canada according to Rover.com:
Rank | Breed |
1 | Domestic Shorthair |
2 | American Shorthair |
3 | Domestic Longhair |
4 | Ragdoll |
5 | Siamese |
6 | Bengal |
7 | Maine Coon |
8 | British Shorthair |
9 | Persian |
10 | Russian Blue |
Canadians’ Relationships With Cats
Since roughly 36% of households in Canada own a cat, we wanted to know more about how Canadians feel about their cats. Here are a few statistics:
- Roughly 68% of Canadians consider their cats to be a member of the family.
- Canadians are willing to pay top dollar for their cats. In 2022, the annual cost of caring for a cat in Canada was roughly CA$2,800. Their highest expenses included dental cleaning, pet insurance, and pet food, respectively.
- As of 2023, there were 2,538 pet stores in all of Canada, with an increase of 2.7% from 2022. Ontario had the most businesses, followed by Quebec and then British Columbia.

Canadian Wild Cats
Canada has many domestic cats, but they also have several wild cats. When people think of big cats, the lions and tigers of Asia or Africa come to mind. But did you know there are three distinctly Canadian wild cat species that roam the country? They include the Canada lynx, bobcat, and cougar.
The Canada lynx is the most widespread wild feline species, and it can be found in most forests throughout Canada and the U.S. These cats are often mistaken for bobcats but can be distinguished by the long tufts of fur on the back legs and ears.
The bobcat is the smallest of Canada’s wild cats. Its name comes from its tail, which is stubby and “bobbed.” It’s about three times the size of a house cat. This species is found throughout North America, from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico. They adapt well to different climates, including swampland, forests, and even urban environments.
Cougars are the largest wild cat in Canada and the most dangerous. These powerful predators grow up to 2 metres in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms. They have the largest habitat range of any land mammal in the western hemisphere, and they roam from the Yukon all the way to Argentina. This nocturnal cat can kill prey up to four times their size.
Fun Facts and Statistics About Cats in Canada
- There has been a 3% increase in the number of cats reported to have been taken to the vet in the previous 12 months. This is up from 58% in 2020 to 61% in 2022.
- According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), only about 141.8K cats are insured in Canada.
- Canada’s feral cat population is estimated to be between 1.4 and 4.2 million.
- Only 78,000 cats took refuge in Canadian shelters in 2019.
- It is common for cats to be taken into shelters at twice the frequency of dogs.
- About 62% of Canadian shelter cats are adopted into new homes per year.

Summary
There are approximately 8.5 million cats in Canada, and roughly one in three households own a cat. Cats are the most popular pets in the country. However, millions of cats in Canada are still without homes, with hopes that more can be taken into shelters and adopted into loving forever homes every year.
Featured Image Credit: Lalandrew, Shutterstock