Demographics of companion animals in South Africa.

This research focuses on understanding the population of companion animals in South Africa as found through a stratified survey in 1992. The study offers detailed insights into the counts of different companion animals and their distributions among South African households.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted using a standardised, stratified sample to identify the number of companion animals in South Africa.
• The time frame for this survey was the year 1992, providing a historical perspective on companion animal numbers during this period.
• The primary animals included in this research were dogs, cats, birds, other companion animals (not specifically identified) and horses.

Major Findings

• The study identified that there were approximately 3.93 million dogs, 0.97 million cats, 0.98 million birds, 0.22 million of other companion animals, and about 0.1 million horses in South African households in 1992.
• It was found that 37 per cent of households that owned animals had dogs.
• Cats were owned by 13.4% of households with animals; birds by 4.8%; other types of companion animals by 1.1% and horses by 2%.

Implication of Results

• The findings provide valuable insights into the companion animal populations in South Africa during the surveyed period.
• The data can be used to approximate the potential market size regarding the species’ quantity, which can be beneficial for industries such as pet food manufacturers, pet care services, and even veterinary services.
• These statistics also assist in understanding the pet-lifestyle trends of South African households in the early 90s and can be used for comparative purposes with contemporary data.