Japan's aging population and the higher cost of keeping dogs has likely contributed to the sliding number of pet canines in the country, with cats overtaking them this year for the first time since an annual survey began in 1994, according to industry experts. A survey released by the Japan Pet Food Association showed that the estimated number of pet cats stood at 9,526,000 in 2017, remaining almost unchanged in recent years, while the number of dogs fell to 8,920,000, down for the third consecutive year. "The biggest reason behind the fall in the number of pet dogs is probably declining birthrate and graying population," said a public relations officer at major pet company Aeonpet Co. She says more elderly people are giving up on dogs and keeping cats instead due to the perception that dogs require greater care as owners need to take them out for walks every day and are legally obliged to get them vaccinated. According to the association, the average cost of keeping a dog for its entire lifetime is estimated at about 1.6 million yen while that of a cat about 1.08 million yen. The gap possibly affected people's choices.

业内专家表示，自1994年开展一项年度调查以来，今年日本宠物猫的数量首次超过了宠物狗的数量；人口老龄化以及更为高昂的养狗成本或许是造成该国宠物狗数量下降的原因。日本宠物食品协会发布的一项调查显示，2017年宠物猫的数量估计有952.6万只，几乎与近年持平；而宠物狗的数量已连续下降三年，跌至892万条。大型宠物公司永旺的一位公关人员称，宠物狗数量下降最主要的原因或许是不断下降的出生率和正在老龄化的人口。她表示，由于认为照料狗的要求更高：主人需每天外出遛狗且负有法律责任为狗注射疫苗，更多老年人放弃养狗转而养猫。日本宠物食品协会称，从生到死养一条狗平均约要花费160万日元，而养一只猫约需108万日元。这一费用差可能影响了人们的选择。

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