The United States pet food market is expected to grow at an impressive rate, reaching US$ 64.17 billion in 2033 from US$ 44.66 billion in 2024. This expansion is facilitated by a strong CAGR of 4.11% between 2025 and 2033. Growing pet ownership, the need for premium and organic pet food, and an increased interest in pet health and wellness are major drivers propelling this market growth.
In the United States, consumption of pet food is a dynamic market, fueled by rising numbers of pet-owning homes. Pet owners are currently spending higher amounts on quality, specialty pet food products that reflect their pet's individual health needs, such as weight management, allergies, or age. The pet humanization, wherein pet owners consider their pets as family members, has also contributed to the demand for high-quality, gourmet, and specialty pet food products, thereby driving overall market growth.
United States Pet Food Market Outlooks
Pet food is specially prepared food aimed at addressing the dietary requirements of domesticated pets, e.g., dogs, cats, birds, and small mammals. Pet food is available in a range of forms, namely dry kibble, wet canned food, freeze-dried foods, and raw foods. Pet food is usually supplemented with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to ensure pets' health and well-being. High-end pet food brands also focus on natural, organic, and grain-free ingredients to appeal to health-conscious pet owners.In the United States, consumption of pet food is a dynamic market, fueled by rising numbers of pet-owning homes. Pet owners are currently spending higher amounts on quality, specialty pet food products that reflect their pet's individual health needs, such as weight management, allergies, or age. The pet humanization, wherein pet owners consider their pets as family members, has also contributed to the demand for high-quality, gourmet, and specialty pet food products, thereby driving overall market growth.
Growth Drivers in the United States Pet Food Market
Humanization of Pets
Growing pet humanization is a key driver of the U.S. pet food market. Pet owners are increasingly treating pets as family, resulting in high demand for high-quality and natural pet food brands. Brands selling organic, grain-free, or custom-formulated foods based on the pet's health requirements are in high demand. The same has contributed to growth in the specialty and gourmet pet food segment, with pet owners ready to spend more money on high-end products to secure the health and longevity of their pets. As of 2024, 66% of U.S. households, or 86.9 million homes, own a pet, including 65.1 million with dogs, 46.5 million with cats, and others with fish, small animals, and birds. High disposable income is driving market growth, with the American Pet Products Association (APPA) reporting $123.8 billion spent on pets in 2022, including $58.1 billion on pet food and treats. Higher expenditures on pet food and wellness items are also driving market growth.Pet Health and Wellness Focus
U.S. pet owners are increasingly health-conscious about what they feed their pets, which is driving demand for functional and nutritional pet food. Products that address specific needs, including weight control, joint care, or food sensitivities, are becoming more popular. In addition, the increasing prevalence of pet obesity and chronic disease has fueled the need for veterinary-prescribed or therapeutic pet foods, adding to market growth for specialty pet food formulations. April 2024, Cymbiotika introduces a new pet line with four supplements: Probiotic+, Calm, Hip & Joint, and Allergy & Immune Health. Each product utilizes high-quality ingredients to ensure peak pet health, says the CEO and cofounder.Rise of E-commerce and Online Platforms
The rapid growth of e-commerce has transformed the pet food market in the U.S. Online platforms offer convenience, subscription services, and access to a wide range of products. Many pet owners now prefer online shopping for its flexibility, doorstep delivery, and discounts. Big players such as Amazon, Chewy, and Walmart have invested in this trend, providing easy-to-use platforms with individualized suggestions, allowing consumers to shop for pet food frequently. October 2024, Stella & Chewy's is launched an e-commerce direct-to-consumer website with almost 100 freeze-dried raw products, treats, and kibble for pets.Challenges in the United States Pet Food Market
Unpredictable Raw Material Costs
The raw material price fluctuations for pet foods pose challenges to the industry, including meat, grains, and other raw materials. Increased production costs due to supply chain losses, inflation, and weather-related disruptions can have a bearing on costs, prompting producers to either hike prices or lower margins. These price movements present challenges for brands, especially niche players, in keeping up competitive pricing without any compromise on quality, thus threatening market growth.Regulatory Compliance and Quality Standards
Tight regulations and quality controls in the U.S. are challenging for pet food companies. Organizations such as the FDA and AAFCO require extensive testing, labeling, and ingredient safety measures, which add to the cost of production and make product development difficult. Non-compliance might result in recalls, litigation, and reputational loss. The smaller manufacturers, in this case, might find it difficult to deal with these stringent guidelines, which restrict their capacity to compete in the market.United States Dog Pet Food Market
The United States dog pet food market is the largest pet food segment, propelled by the premiumization trend and the strong incidence of dog ownership. Pet owners are becoming more particular in choosing products suited to their pet's needs, i.e., size, age, or special diets. Functional foods, particularly joint and weight control foods, are on the rise. Moreover, raw and freeze-dried diets, which replicate a natural dog diet, have been increasingly in demand. The growth of the dog food segment is driven by pet owners' willingness to spend on high-quality, healthy food for their pets. In 2023, Royal Canin introduced the SKINTOPIC range for dogs with atopic dermatitis, and Mars Incorporated strengthened its premium portfolio by acquiring Champion Pet Food. Growing research and development investments are being seen, for example, Mars's 2023 collaboration with the Broad Institute to develop an open-access dog and cat genome database for more accurate precision medicines and diets.United States Dog Dry Food Market
Dry dog food, or kibble, is still a leading segment in the U.S. pet food market because of its convenience, low cost, and long shelf life. This segment appeals to broad tastes, from simple formulas to premium and grain-free varieties. Most dry dog foods are fortified with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for added nutritional benefit. Owners love the convenience of storage and feeding that kibble offers. Increasing demand for custom formulas, such as breed- or life-stage-specific dry food, is also fueling growth and innovation in this category. December 2024, Kismet, a high-end pet lifestyle company, has introduced its dry foods and treats on Chewy, bringing its products to pet families nationwide.U.S. United States Cat Food Market
The United States cat food market is growing, fueled by increasing cat ownership and growing attention to feline-specific nutritional requirements. Wet cat food, which is known for its palatability and hydration value, is especially well-liked, but dry cat food is still a convenient and affordable option. Pet owners are increasingly looking for high-protein, grain-free, and natural foods to satisfy their cats' nutritional requirements. Cat food that is specifically designed for particular health issues, such as urinary tract health or weight management, is also becoming popular, which adds to the overall growth of this category. February 2025, Fancy Feast launched Gems, a new offering to enrich the eating experience for cats. Based on research from Purina scientists, Gems offers a pyramid of paté with gravy on top, enabling cats to savor every bite and making it easy, mess-free packaging for the owner.United States Cat Snacks & Treats Food Market
The U.S. cat snack and treat market is growing at a very rapid pace, driven by the increasing trend of pet owners rewarding their cats and employing treats for training or bonding. Product lines like dental chews, high-protein treats, and grain-free snacks are in vogue. Functional treats, which offer health advantages such as dental care, hairball management, or joint support, are becoming popular among health-conscious cat owners. Moreover, freeze-dried and gourmet treats are becoming increasingly popular as pet owners opt for top-tier alternatives to spoil their cat pets. Oct 2023, CULT Food Science Corp. has brought out Noochies! Freeze Dried Cat Snacks, North America's first vegan cat treats, completely devoid of animal ingredients.United States Specialized Pet Shops Market
Specialized pet stores in the U.S. are essential to the pet food industry as they provide a carefully curated array of premium, natural, and specialty foods. Specialized pet stores tend to offer individualized recommendations, expert guidance, and a distinctive shopping experience that is different from the mass retailers. Consumers shop at specialized pet stores to source high-quality, niche foods like raw diets, therapeutic foods, and green-friendly foods. The increasing need for customized pet care options has supported these stores' viability, as much as the growth of e-commerce.United States Online Pet Food Market
The U.S. online pet food market has also grown very rapidly with the availability and convenience offered by e-commerce sites. Major retailers such as Chewy, Amazon, and Walmart dominate the market with great selections of products, competitive pricing, and subscription services. Internet platforms enable consumers to compare brands, read customer reviews, and enjoy doorstep delivery. Subscription formats, which guarantee constant replenishment of pet food stocks, have proved especially well-liked. The COVID-19 pandemic further hastened the move to online shopping, cementing e-commerce as a leading channel for pet food sales in the U.S.United States Pet Food Market Segments
Animal Type: United State Food Market breakup from two viewpoints
Dog Food - Market breakup from 4 viewpoints
- Dry Food
- Wet Food
- Snacks & Treats
- Others
Cat Food - Market breakup from 4 viewpoints
- Dry Food
- Wet Food
- Snacks & Treats
- Others
Other Pet- Market breakup from 4 viewpoints
- Dry Food
- Wet Food
- Snacks & Treats
- Others
Distribution Channel - Market breakup from 4 viewpoints
Company Analysis: Supermarkets and Hypermarkets- Specialized Pet Shops- Online Sales Channel- Others:
Company Analysis: Business Overview, Key Persons, Recent Development & Strategies, Product Portfolio, Revenue
- J.M Smucker
- General Mills (Blue Buffalo)
- Tyson Foods
- Colgate Palmolive
- DS Holdings, Inc.
- Central Garden & Pet
- Nestle
- Archer Daniels Midland
Table of Contents
1. Introduction2. Research & Methodology3. Executive Summary5. United States Pet Food Market
4. Market Dynamics
6. United States Pet Food Market - Share Analysis
7. Pet Type
8. Food Type
9. Distribution Channel
10. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
11. SWOT Analysis
12. Key Players Analysis
Companies Mentioned
- J.M Smucker
- General Mills (Blue Buffalo)
- Tyson Foods
- Colgate Palmolive
- DS Holdings, Inc.
- Central Garden & Pet
- Nestle
- Archer Daniels Midland
Methodology
In this report, for analyzing the future trends for the studied market during the forecast period, the publisher has incorporated rigorous statistical and econometric methods, further scrutinized by secondary, primary sources and by in-house experts, supported through their extensive data intelligence repository. The market is studied holistically from both demand and supply-side perspectives. This is carried out to analyze both end-user and producer behavior patterns, in the review period, which affects price, demand and consumption trends. As the study demands to analyze the long-term nature of the market, the identification of factors influencing the market is based on the fundamentality of the study market.
Through secondary and primary researches, which largely include interviews with industry participants, reliable statistics, and regional intelligence, are identified and are transformed to quantitative data through data extraction, and further applied for inferential purposes. The publisher's in-house industry experts play an instrumental role in designing analytic tools and models, tailored to the requirements of a particular industry segment. These analytical tools and models sanitize the data & statistics and enhance the accuracy of their recommendations and advice.
Primary Research
The primary purpose of this phase is to extract qualitative information regarding the market from the key industry leaders. The primary research efforts include reaching out to participants through mail, tele-conversations, referrals, professional networks, and face-to-face interactions. The publisher also established professional corporate relations with various companies that allow us greater flexibility for reaching out to industry participants and commentators for interviews and discussions, fulfilling the following functions:
- Validates and improves the data quality and strengthens research proceeds
- Further develop the analyst team’s market understanding and expertise
- Supplies authentic information about market size, share, growth, and forecast
The researcher's primary research interview and discussion panels are typically composed of the most experienced industry members. These participants include, however, are not limited to:
- Chief executives and VPs of leading corporations specific to the industry
- Product and sales managers or country heads; channel partners and top level distributors; banking, investment, and valuation experts
- Key opinion leaders (KOLs)
Secondary Research
The publisher refers to a broad array of industry sources for their secondary research, which typically includes, however, is not limited to:
- Company SEC filings, annual reports, company websites, broker & financial reports, and investor presentations for competitive scenario and shape of the industry
- Patent and regulatory databases for understanding of technical & legal developments
- Scientific and technical writings for product information and related preemptions
- Regional government and statistical databases for macro analysis
- Authentic new articles, webcasts, and other related releases for market evaluation
- Internal and external proprietary databases, key market indicators, and relevant press releases for market estimates and forecasts
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Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 200 |
| Published | March 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 - 2033 |
| Estimated Market Value ( USD | $ 44.66 Billion |
| Forecasted Market Value ( USD | $ 64.17 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | 4.1% |
| Regions Covered | United States |
| No. of Companies Mentioned | 8 |
