Cat Food Market Report 2025

The cat food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $23.48 billion in 2024 to $25.1 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased pet ownership, humanization of pets, veterinary recommendations, product diversification, brand loyalty.

The cat food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $33.1 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to natural and organic ingredients, sustainable packaging, customization and personalization, plant-based and alternative proteins, health, and wellness trend. Major trends in the forecast period include grain-free and limited ingredient diets, sustainable and ethical sourcing, functional and specialty cat foods, customization and personalization, clean labeling and transparency.

The growing number of cat owners is anticipated to drive the growth of the cat food market in the future. Cat owners are defined as individuals who have one or more cats as pets without owning any other types of pets. The quality of cat food is crucial for the well-being of cats, contributing to their health and longevity. As such, an increase in cat ownership will likely boost the demand for cat food. For instance, in 2022, data from Animal Medicines Australia, a non-governmental organization, revealed a significant rise in pet ownership in Australia, with the number of pet owners reaching 28,730.8, up from 39% in 2021. This reflects a 24% increase and indicates a strong upward trend in pet adoption and investment in their care. Therefore, the rise in the number of cat owners is propelling the growth of the cat food market.

The rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms is projected to drive the growth of the cat food market in the coming years. An e-commerce platform is a software application that facilitates the buying and selling process over the internet. E-commerce has become a vital channel for cat food sales, as more consumers turn to online shopping for these products. In response, cat food manufacturers are investing in e-commerce strategies to enhance their competitiveness in the online marketplace. For example, in November 2023, the International Trade Administration, a U.S. government agency, reported that e-commerce revenues in the UK are expected to experience an annual average growth rate of 12.6% by 2025. As of January 2021, consumer e-commerce accounted for 36.3% of the UK's overall retail industry, with revenue projected to reach $285.6 billion by 2025. Thus, the increasing growth of e-commerce platforms is significantly driving the expansion of the cat food market.

Product innovations emerge as a notable trend in the cat food market, with major companies focusing on developing new solutions to strengthen their market positions. ORIJEN, a US-based pet food company, exemplifies this trend with the launch of ORIJEN GUARDIAN 8 cat food in Canada in March 2022. This innovative adult cat kibble is formulated with high-quality ingredients, utilizing minimal supplements to enhance a cat's diet and long-term health. The first five ingredients of ORIJEN GUARDIAN 8 consist of fresh or raw poultry and fish ingredients, delivering biologically appropriate nutrition with a taste that appeals to adult cats. The authentic WholePrey diet reflects the most succulent parts of prey, mirroring what a cat's ancestors consumed in the wild. This emphasis on product innovation underscores the commitment of major players in the market to meet evolving consumer preferences.

Major companies in the cat food market are increasingly developing nutritionally complete vegan options to cater to the rising demand for plant-based diets among pet owners. These vegan products are designed to provide essential nutrients while appealing to consumers who seek sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives for their cats. For instance, in August 2024, Wild Earth, a U.S.-based company known for its focus on sustainable and cruelty-free pet food alternatives, launched a nutritionally complete vegan cat food named Unicorn Pate. This innovative formula is designed to meet all the essential nutritional needs of cats, including taurine, an amino acid that is typically sourced from animal proteins. Unicorn Pate is crafted from wholesome ingredients such as lentils, peas, sweet potatoes, and marine microalgae, ensuring that it delivers a balanced diet without the use of animal products. This trend reflects the growing shift toward plant-based options in the pet food industry, driven by consumer interest in health, sustainability, and ethical considerations.

In January 2022, Mars Inc., a prominent US-based confectionery and pet food manufacturer, made a strategic acquisition of Nom for $1 billion. This acquisition positions Mars Inc. to leverage the synergies between the two companies, contributing to their success in the new category while complementing Mars Inc.'s existing portfolio, which includes Royal Canin and Eukanuba. Nom, a US-based pet food company, specializes in offering jerky-style treats suitable for both dogs and cats. These treats feature USDA-certified beef and chicken proteins, aligning with the industry's focus on providing high-quality and premium options for pets. This acquisition underscores the commitment of major players to diversify and enhance their product offerings in the competitive cat food market.

Major companies operating in the cat food market include Mars Incorporated, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, The J.M. Smucker Company, Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company Inc., Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Affinity Petcare SA, Nutro Products Inc., PetGuard Holdings LLC, Fromm Family Foods LLC, Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc., Beaphar Pet Healthcare Products, Diamond Pet Foods, Harringtons Pet Food, Dave's Pet Food, Boulder Dog Food Company, Real Pet Food Company Pty Ltd., Freshpet Inc., Burgess Pet Care, Nature's Variety, JustFoodForDogs, Steve's Real Food, WellPet LLC, Party Animal Inc., Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd., Royal Canin SAS, Nutriara Alimentos Ltd.a., Canidae Natural Pet Food Company, SCHELL & KAMPETER Inc., Sheba, Whiskas.

North America was the largest region in the cat food market in 2024. The regions covered in the cat food market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cat food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Cat food refers to nourishment provided to cats for their daily sustenance, typically comprising processed grains, meat, or canned fish/meat, aiming to promote robust health, optimal vision, and a healthy reproductive system.

The primary categories of cat food include dry food, wet food, treats and snacks, among others. Dry food is produced by blending and cooking meats, vitamins, minerals, and fats at high temperatures and pressures, enhancing the digestibility of starches. Sources for cat food ingredients encompass animal-derived, plant-derived, and insect-derived elements, varying in nature from organic to mono-protein and conventional. These products are available across economic, premium, and super-premium pricing tiers. Cat food items are distributed through various channels such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialized pet shops, online sales platforms, and other retail outlets.

The cat food market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cat food market statistics, including cat food industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with cat food market share, detailed cat food market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cat food industry. This cat food market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The cat food market consists of sales of veterinary diet foods, kibble or dry, treats and chews, freeze-dried food, and freeze-dried raw cat food. 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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