By Alex Moore
Did you know that more than half of American seniors keep one or more pets, with more than half of that group owning at least two? That’s according to TSCL’s 2025 Lifestyle Report, a free study based on a nationally representative survey of 1,248 retirees over the age of 65.
This should come as no surprise, as many studies have linked pet ownership to overall happiness. In fact, a 2025 study published in the journal Social Indicators Research finds that the effect of having a pet is similar to that of maintaining close relationships with friends and relatives.
So, what pets are seniors’ favorites?
The most popular pets for seniors are dogs, with 55 percent of senior pet owners keeping at least one. Cats are a close second, making up part of the family for 51 percent of senior pet owners.
Other types of pets are less common, but certainly not unheard of. About 5 percent of seniors pet owners have one or more birds at home, while 2 percent keep fish, 1 percent keep reptiles, and 1 percent keep rodents or other small animals. Interestingly, about 3 percent of senior pet owners have an animal that didn’t make the survey’s list. What types of pets do you think those seniors keep?
