According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) the number of pets in UK homes is now a staggering 34 million.
The surge in demand for domestic animals is being driven by younger people, with two thirds of new pet owners aged 16-34, while over half have children at home.
Here are the 20 most popular types of pet in Britain.
. Popular pets
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. Dogs
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. Cats
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. Indoor fish
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. Outdoor fish
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. Indoor birds
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. Rabbits
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. Hamster
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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