Finding a place that truly welcomes a pet can be the hardest part of planning a trip. On HomeExchange, that welcome comes from another pet owner rather than a corporate policy, and the numbers show just how common it is.

How Does Home Exchange Work?

What Percentage of HomeExchange Members Own Pets?

Among HomeExchange members, 38% currently have a pet living in their home. Among those pet-owning members, 60% live with a cat, 50% with a dog, and 10% with another type of animal (some members have more than one). This means a large share of the HomeExchange community already lives day to day with an animal, which shapes how comfortable they are hosting one during an exchange.

How Many HomeExchange Homes Explicitly Welcome Pets?

About 15% of homes explicitly indicate that they accept pets during an exchange. That figure only captures homes that have marked themselves pet-friendly upfront; a further 50% of members say they can welcome travelers with animals under certain conditions, such as the pet's size, temperament, or type, even without flagging it on their home's page.

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- The 15% figure covers homes with an explicit pet-friendly badge, not every host who would actually say yes if asked directly.
- At least 65% of members say they're willing to care for an animal during an exchange, which is a separate figure from having a pet-friendly home.

How Easy Is It to Find a Pet-Friendly Home on HomeExchange?

40% of members report that it's easier to find pet-friendly accommodation on HomeExchange than through traditional rental services. Part of this comes from scale: the platform lists 550,000+ homes in 155 countries, so even a niche filter like "Animals Welcome" still returns a wide range of results. The rest comes from direct communication: a host who hasn't marked their home as pet-friendly can still be asked, since acceptance is a personal decision rather than a fixed platform rule.

Can a Host Accept Pets Without Marking Their Home Pet-Friendly?

Yes. Since 50% of members say they can accept pets under certain conditions without necessarily flagging it, messaging a host directly is often worth doing even when a home doesn't show a pet-friendly badge. Joining community groups such as "Dog Lovers" or "Cat Lovers" on the platform is another way to connect with members who are already known to be open to hosting animals.

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- Members exchanging with GuestPoints or through a reciprocal exchange can raise pet questions with a host at any point before confirming.
- Roughly one in two pet-owning members has already looked after another member's animal during an exchange.

Have Members Actually Traveled With Their Pets?

20% of members have already traveled with their pet during at least one exchange, and 53% of pet-owning members have looked after another member's animal in return. Together, these figures suggest pet exchanges are a regular, established part of how the community uses the platform rather than a rare exception.

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of HomeExchange hosts are willing to care for a traveler's pet?

At least 65% of members say they're willing to care for an animal during an exchange, separate from whether their own home is marked pet-friendly.

How many members have already traveled with a pet through HomeExchange?

20% of members report having traveled with their pet during at least one exchange so far.

Is there a way to connect specifically with pet-owning members?

Yes, community groups such as "Dog Lovers" and "Cat Lovers" exist on the platform to connect members who are comfortable hosting or traveling with animals.

Do I need to see the "Animals Welcome" badge before asking a host about my pet?

No. Since half of members say they can accept pets under certain conditions without flagging it, it's worth messaging any host directly to ask, even without the badge.

So how common are pet-friendly homes on HomeExchange? Common enough that more than a third of members already live with a pet themselves, and roughly half are open to hosting a traveler's animal on some basis.

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