Overview
- The Ministry of Derechos Sociales published an advance of the Estadística Nacional sobre Protección Animal on Friday, June 5, reporting 15,171,569 companion animals derived from autonomous community registries for 2021–2025.
- Dogs account for roughly half of the total with about 7.56 million registered and cats make up about 37% with about 5.62 million, while cats rose more in absolute terms since 2021 (+1,035,816) than dogs (+665,551).
- Regional totals concentrate in Andalusia (about 3.26 million), Catalonia (about 1.99 million) and Madrid (about 1.90 million), with Ceuta and Melilla the only territories where registered cats outnumber dogs.
- The census fulfills obligations in the 2023 Law of Bienestar Animal, which mandates identification, registered breeders and limits on pet sales, and the Council ordered a protocol for companion‑animal care in emergencies to be drafted for autonomous communities.
- Officials say the ministry will publish fuller statistics and implementation guidance in the coming months, a step that could change how households, civil protection plans and regional services handle pet registration and emergency response.