Cats are a common companion animal in Europe and North America, and their worldwide population exceeds 500 million.[9] In 1998 there were around 43 million cats in Western Europe, 33 million in Eastern Europe, seven million in Japan and three million inAustralia.[177] A 2007 report stated that about 37 million US households owned cats, with an average of 2.2 cats per household giving a total population of around 82 million.[178] This is slightly more than the 72 million pet dogs in that country.[178] Although cat ownership has commonly been associated with women,[179] a 2007Gallup poll reported that men and women were equally likely to own a cat.[180] The ratio of pedigree/purebred cats to random-bred cats varies from country to country. However, generally speaking, purebreds are less than ten percent of the total population.[181]
A cat pelt.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, as well as being kept as pets, cats are also used in the international fur trade.[182] About 24 cats are needed to make a cat fur coat, although cat fur is also used in gloves, hats, shoes, blankets and stuffed toys.[183] This use has now been outlawed in several countries, including the United States, Australia and the European Union.[184]However, some cat furs are still made into blankets in Switzerlandas folk remedies that are believed to help rheumatism.[185]
It has long been common for cats to be eaten in some parts of Italy,China and in some other Asian countries. According to the Chengdu Business Daily, people in southern China's Guangdong province ate 10,000 cats a day.[186] Animal People estimates that 4 million cats are killed and consumed in Asia every year.[187] Cat stew is also a Tuscan (Italian) specialty.[188]
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