

Top British Pets 2022: Here are the 20 most popular pets in the UK - from loving cats and dogs to fish and ferrets
According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) more than 3.2 million people added at least one four-legged, finned, scaly, feathered or furry friend to their family over the pandemic – bringing the total number of pets in the UK to around 34 million.
Over 70 per cent of them have reported an improvement in their mental health due to having a pet, although there are fears of a surge of abandoned animals animal when things return to normal post-pandemic.
The surge in demand for domestic animals is being driven by younger people, with two thirds of the new pet owners aged 16-34, while over half have children at home.
Nicole Paley, PFMA deputy CEO, said: “Our research confirms the belief that many more people are benefitting from pet ownership and we are reassured by the mental health findings. However, it is clear that we need to consider the welfare of these new pets.”
Here are the 20 most popular types of pet in 2022 post-pandemic Britain.

1. Dogs
There are now around 12 million dogs in the UK, making them the joint most popular pet. The most popular breed of dog is the Labrador Retriever. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

2. Cats
Dogs and cats might be natural rivals but there's no separating them when it comes to popularity - there are also around 12 million cats in the UK. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

3. Indoor fish
The third most popular pet may come as a surprise to some - there are an amazing five million indoor fish tanks in the UK. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

4. Outdoor fish
Fish are incredibly popular pets - another four million of us have a outdoor fish pond. Photo: Canva/Getty Images