Worldwide Feline Count: Approximately How Many Domestic Cats Exist?
The global cat population, including domestic pets, feral and stray cats, and wild cats like lions and tigers, is estimated to be between 600 million and 1 billion cats [1][3]. Among these, there are approximately 480 million feral and stray cats worldwide, compared to about 350 to 373 million domestic pet cats as of 2025 [1][3].
This indicates that feral cat populations are slightly larger than the populations of pet cats globally. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 74 to 76.5 million pet cats, with a considerable number of feral and stray cats as well [1][2].
Louise Holton, president of Alley Cat Rescue, states that cats, especially feral cats, can survive and thrive in most parts of the world. However, it's important to note that those domesticated animals that do make it on their own as feral cats may suffer, as they do not know how to find food or shelter [4].
Cats, both domestic and feral, can be traced back to the Near Eastern Wildcat, a species that domesticated itself more than 10,000 years ago. This ancient creature chose to live near people and feed on the rodents that plagued early humans. As a result, cats' instinctive hunting and scavenging abilities are a testament to their evolution from the Near Eastern Wildcat [4].
In the modern world, cats, even when living indoors, are often most at home in the great outdoors. Some experts attribute bad behavior in cats, such as urinating outside the litter box, to the stress of living indoors [4]. Cats' hunting and scavenging instincts are strong, as they didn't move inside until the 1940s when kitty litter was invented [4].
Efforts such as Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR) programs are used worldwide to control feral cat populations humanely [4]. These programs have been effective in managing feral cat colonies and reducing their ecological impact, which can be significant in some regions. In some cases, population control is achieved through a combination of technology and targeted programs [5].
In the U.S., 36.5% of households have dogs, while 30.4% have cats [1]. Despite being slightly outnumbered by dogs in the U.S., cats are still more popular as pets than dogs worldwide. This popularity is reflected in the nearly 75 million cats and nearly 70 million dogs as pets in the U.S. [1].
Estimates for the number of cats in the world range from 220 million to 600 million plus [1][3]. Regardless of the exact number, it's clear that cats play a significant role in many households and communities across the globe.
References: [1] The World's Pet Population: Companion Animals and Human Well-Being [2] Pet Population Statistics [3] The Global Cat Population [4] Alley Cat Rescue [5] Feral Cats: What You Need to Know
- The global cat population, including those that live in homes as pets, roam freely as feral cats, and are found in the wild like lions and tigers, exceeds the number of dogs as pets in many countries, making cats a popular choice for lifestyle choices.
- In the home-and-garden arena, cats' hunting and scavenging instincts, which have roots in their evolution from the Near Eastern Wildcat, often lead them to prefer living outdoors, despite their indoor homes, causing some challenges in keeping them content indoors.
- Despite an estimated 480 million feral and stray cats worldwide, which is slightly more than the 350 to 373 million domestic pet cats, the lifestyle of a pet cat remains more favorable than a solitary, hard-lived existence as a feral cat, with access to proper food and shelter. Science and humane programs like Trap–Neuter–Return can help reduce feral cat populations and improve the lives of these animals living in the wild.
