MARIE-SOPHIE GERMAIN

By Marie-Sophie Germain

Imagine it’s 2020: lockdowns are in full swing, your social life is a string of glitchy video calls, and a furry or whiskered friend suddenly feels like the ultimate cure for cabin fever. Across the U.S., Europe, and France, millions welcomed pandemic pets—from fluffy dogs to scampering hamsters—into their homes. In the U.S., 11 million households adopted pets between 2020 and 2021, per the American Pet Products Association (APPA). In Europe, pet ownership jumped 50% in countries like France, Germany, and the UK, according to Euronews. But five years later, in 2025, where are these lockdown companions? Are they still ruling our couches and cages, or did the return to bustling schedules change their fate? Let’s dive into the numbers, explore what’s become of these pets, and uncover the global trends reshaping the pet industry—from California to Paris.

The Pandemic Pet Surge: A Global Love Affair

When COVID struck, pets became more than companions—they were emotional anchors. Google Trends showed a global spike in pet adoption searches in April 2020, soaring 250% above 2019 levels. In the U.S., 70% of households (90.5 million) owned a pet by 2020, up from 56% in 1988, with dogs (65.1 million) and cats (46.5 million) leading the pack. Europe saw 88 million households (38%) own pets, including 110 million cats and 90 million dogs, per the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). In France, 32% of households had a cat and 20% a dog, with 74 million total pets, including 29.1 million fish, according to FACCO. Small animals, like my specialty—hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits—surged too, especially for families craving “low-maintenance” joy.

Why the frenzy? Pets eased the lockdown blues. A 2021 Frontiers study found 75% of global pet owners reported less stress thanks to their animals. The pet industry cashed in: U.S. spending hit $152 billion in 2024, a 10.8% jump from 2021. Europe’s pet food market reached $58.83 billion in 2025, growing at a 7.36% CAGR, while France contributed to Europe’s 29.2 billion euros in pet food sales. From gourmet treats to deluxe enclosures, pet parents went all-in. Shelters cleared out, and breeders scrambled. Some even said it was a pet paradise—or was it?

Where Are They Now? A Mixed Bag Across Continents

By 2025, the glow of the pet boom has dimmed, but not vanished. In the U.S., pet ownership dipped to 66% of households (86.9 million) by 2024, per Forbes, as inflation and hybrid work strained budgets. Veterinary costs, up 2.7% post-COVID, hit 36% of owners hard, and 63% of dogs were left alone longer daily. Europe saw similar shifts: FEDIAF reported 166 million households (50%) owned 352 million pets in 2022, but growth slowed in 2023 as inflation bit—Germany’s pet supplies prices rose 14.8%, per Eurostat. In France, the pet population dropped slightly from 75 million in 2020 to 74 million in 2022, with 13% of UK owners (a comparable market) rehoming pets, per UK Pet Food.

Small pets faced unique hurdles. My decades writing about them show that new owners—36% lacked prior experience, per a 2022 PDSA report—often underestimated the needs of guinea pigs or rabbits, like varied diets or social time. Lockdown-raised pets developed quirks: skittish rabbits or chewing hamsters, unaccustomed to post-COVID bustle. Yet, abandonment fears were overblown. The Frontiers study found rehoming was often to loved ones, not shelters. In France, cat adoptions rose 14% since 2019, and U.S. shelter adoptions held steady at 2.2 million dogs and 2.6 million cats in 2023.

The heroes? Millennial and Gen Z owners. In the U.S., Gen Z drove a 43.5% rise in pet-owning households from 2023 to 2024, per APPA. In Europe, 34% of 18- to 34-year-olds plan to get pets by 2030, per Morgan Stanley. France mirrors this, with young owners fueling demand for premium care. These generations treat pets like family, pushing global pet spending to $246 billion in 2023.

New Trends: How Pandemic Pets Changed the Game

The pandemic didn’t just spike adoptions—it rewrote the pet industry. Here are four trends shaping 2025 in the U.S., EU, and France:

1. Wellness Fever: Pets Live Better Than Ever

Pet parents are obsessed with health. In the U.S., pet wellness products (probiotics, dental chews) saw a 9.2% buy rate increase, with 59% of dog owners using calming products, up from 22% in 2018. Europe’s pet nutraceuticals market grows at 7.36%, driven by Germany’s 16.7 million cats. In France, owners splurge on breed-specific diets, with 32% of households prioritizing premium cat food.

2. E-Commerce Takeover: Clicks Beat Bricks

Online shopping exploded. U.S. e-commerce hit $378 billion in 2025, a 36% rise from 2021, with Amazon’s pet sales projected to reach $39 billion by 2027. Europe’s online pet food sales account for 60% of transactions, per GlobalPETS, with France leaning on platforms like Zooplus. Small pet owners love bulk bedding deliveries, but stores fight back with pet adoption events.

3. Family Vibes: Pets Are Our Kids

Humanization is global—97% of owners see pets as family, per the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute. In the U.S., 81% bought holiday pet gifts in 2024. Europe sees luxury services like pet webcams, while France loves custom enclosures for rabbits. Gen Z, owning 33% of U.S. pets and growing in France, drives this with pet birthday parties and therapy sessions.

4. Behavioral Fixes: Healing Lockdown Scars

Pandemic pets missed socialization, causing issues like separation anxiety (14% of U.S. dogs) or shy rabbits. Europe’s pet behaviorist market grows, with France seeing virtual training platforms rise.

The Road Ahead: A Pet-Centric Future

Pandemic pets sparked a revolution. In the U.S., spending is set to hit $157 billion in 2025, per APPA. Europe’s market will reach $131.3 billion, with France driving cat food sales. But challenges loom: vet costs and “petflation” demand affordable solutions, like EU low-cost clinics or U.S. insurance (up 27.5% since 2020). Social media, especially TikTok, shapes Gen Z’s pet care, so brands need snappy content.

These pets, from California condos to Parisian apartments, aren’t just survivors—they’re family. As you toss a treat to your rabbit or refill your hamster’s water, know they’ve reshaped a $476 billion industry by 2034. Here’s to the lockdown legends still stealing our hearts.

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels