Dog and Cat Food Market Report 2026

The dog and cat food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $67.46 billion in 2025 to $72.01 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing pet ownership rates, rising disposable income among pet owners, growing humanization of pets, expansion of organized pet retail, increasing availability of commercial pet food products.

The dog and cat food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $95.64 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for organic and grain-free pet food, rising focus on preventive pet healthcare, expansion of e-commerce pet food platforms, growing innovation in functional pet nutrition, increasing emphasis on sustainability in pet food production. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for premium and natural pet food, rising adoption of specialized nutrition formulations, growing focus on pet health and wellness, expansion of online pet food sales, enhanced emphasis on sustainable packaging.

The rising trend of pet adoption is expected to drive the growth of the dog and cat food market in the coming years. Pet adoption involves taking custody of animals from previous owners or shelters, assuming responsibility for their care. As more pets are adopted, the demand for dog and cat food to meet their nutritional needs increases, directly supporting market growth. For example, in 2023, according to Shelter Animals Count, a US-based nonprofit organization, there were 109,000 more dog adoptions and 34,000 more cat adoptions compared to 2022. Therefore, the growing rate of pet adoption is fueling the expansion of the dog and cat food market.

Leading companies within the dog and cat food market are directing their efforts toward innovating products, particularly in the wet food category, to secure a competitive advantage. Wet food, commonly fed to dogs and cats, boasts a higher moisture content, typically ranging between 60-80%, compared to dry food, which generally contains 10-12% moisture. As an illustration, in June 2023, Pet Supplies Plus, a US-based retail corporation specializing in supplies for pets, introduced the OptimPlus Wet Food line. This new range includes both dry and wet food variants tailored for dogs and cats, formulated to offer optimal nutrition across various life stages. OptimPlus wet food features real meat or poultry and offers diverse textures catering to different pet preferences. Moreover, it comprises a blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants aimed at bolstering overall pet health.

In February 2023, Mars Incorporated, a prominent US-based producer of confectionery, pet food, and various food products, completed the acquisition of Champion Pet Foods LP, with the financial terms undisclosed. This acquisition marks a pivotal step wherein Mars Incorporated intends to amalgamate resources with Champion Pet Foods to enhance its global portfolio within the pet nutrition domain and health services, contributing toward improving the lives of pets worldwide. Champion Pet Foods LP, an esteemed premium pet food company based in the United States, specializes in utilizing top-quality WholePrey animal ingredients in its products.

Major companies operating in the dog and cat food market are Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, The J.M. Smucker Company, Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company Inc., Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Affinity Petcare S.A., Nutro Products Inc., Unicharm PetCare Corp., Total Alimentos S.A., Nutriara Alimentos Ltd., Party Animal Inc., Rollover Pet Food Ltd., Burgess Group plc, Freshpet Inc., Mars Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Company, Diamond Pet Foods Inc., Blue Buffalo Company Ltd., WellPet LLC, Merrick Pet Care Inc., Ainsworth Pet Nutrition LLC, Champion Petfoods LP, Royal Canin USA Inc., Iams Company, Friskies PetCare Company, Sheba Company, Meow Mix Co.

North America was the largest region in the dog and cat food market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the dog and cat food market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the dog and cat food market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the dog and cat food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The dog and cat food market consists of sales of raw meat-based and home-cooked foods. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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