How many dogs and cats are there in the U.S.?

Unfortunately, there's no single, definitive answer to how many dogs and cats are in the US. Here's why:

* No central registry: There's no national database tracking every pet in the country.

* Varying data sources: Different organizations conduct surveys and studies, using different methodologies, leading to differing estimates.

* Changing populations: The number of pets fluctuates based on factors like adoption rates, births, and deaths.

However, here are some estimates from reputable sources:

* American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): They estimate 63.4 million dogs and 85.8 million cats in the US, based on their 2017-2018 US Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook.

* The Humane Society of the United States: They cite a figure of 90 million dogs and 86 million cats, based on data from the 2018-2019 APPA National Pet Owners Survey.

It's important to note that these are just estimates and should be treated as such. The actual number of dogs and cats in the US likely falls within a range around these figures.