Cat Food Market

Global Cat Food Market:

The global cat food market size reached US$ 35.9 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 47.9 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% during 2024-2032. The increasing concerns among cat parents, rising demand for premium quality cat food products, and the growing number of pet friendly cafes represent some of the key factors driving the growth.

Cat Food Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The market is witnessing stable growth, driven by the growing awareness about cat health and nutrition, leading to a preference for premium and natural cat food products.
• Key Market Trends: Advancements in technology pertaining to the production and packaging of cat food are acting as significant market trends, offering numerous lucrative growth opportunities in the market.
• Competitive Landscape: Some of the leading players in the global cat food market include Mars Petcare, The J.M. Smucker Company (Big Heart Pet Brands), Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.), Nestle Purina PetCare, Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd., and CANIDAE Pet Foods, among many others.
• Geographical Trends: According to the report, North America accounted for the largest market share, owing to the high cat ownership rates and premium product preferences. The region's consumers prioritize the well-being and health of their pets, leading to a growing demand for organic and natural cat food products.
• Challenges and Opportunities: The industry faces challenges related to food safety, regulatory compliance, and concerns over ingredient sourcing. Opportunities lie in the development of innovative pet food formulations, expansion into emerging markets, and sustainability initiatives.
   

Cat Food Market Trends:

Increasing Cat Ownership

The global cat food market is significantly driven by the emerging trend of cat humanization, where cats are increasingly treated as family members. This shift has led to a substantial increase in pet ownership worldwide. In 2022, cats held 32.3% of the global pet food market, which increased by 55.8% between 2017 and 2022 due to an increase of 18.8% in the cat population. Moreover, in numerous countries cats are considered a symbol of luck and fortune, especially in Europe, which is also creating a positive outlook for the overall market. Additionally, cats require less space to live than dogs and can stay alone in a home for a longer time while no human is available to care for the cat. For instance, between 2017 and 2022, more than 70% of pet parents, including cat parents in Russia and the United States, considered cats as family members, friends, or children. Such an increasing ownership of cats and growing consciousness of cats’ health and well-being is primarily augmenting the cat food market demand.

Rising Awareness Among Individuals

Rising health-conscious attitudes among cat owners have become a key factor influencing the cat food market. Cat parents invest most of their cat expenditure in cat food as they are concerned about their cats' well-being and are seeking products that cater to specific health concerns like obesity, diabetes, and food allergies in pets. For instance, pet food accounted for 42.4% of pet expenses in the United States in 2022. In the United States, about 40% of pet parents purchased premium pet food in 2022, and in Hong Kong's cat food market, the premium pet food segment accounted for 75% of the pet food sales in 2022. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in expanding their operations to offer a wide range of specialized products, including those with functional benefits such as enhanced immunity, digestive health, and coat condition, which is anticipated to propel the cat food market size. For instance, in October 2023, Nestlé announced the opening of two new production units at its Purina pet food factory in Hungary, increasing output by 66%. The expansion resulted in a rise in the annual production capacity of the facility from approximately 150,000 metric tons to 250,000 metric tons.

Increasing Product Offerings

Various key market players are increasingly investing in research and development activities to offer diversified flavors, textures, and improved nutritional compositions of cat food. For instance, in March 2024, a UK vegan pet food business, Omni, rolled out nutritionally complete cat food with cultivated chicken meat, expanding its growing portfolio of products. In addition to this, the integration of modern technology in manufacturing processes is enabling the production of a wider variety of pet food with improved nutritional value and a longer shelf life, which is further augmenting the cat food market share. For instance, BrightPet Nutrition Group unveiled a refreshed brand presence for its Blackwood pet nutrition portfolio at Global Pet Expo 2024, held March 20–22 in Orlando. The rebrand precedes several new product launches planned for the brand later this year, including new meal toppers, freeze-dried single-ingredient treats, and granola treats, as well as a new branding for Blackwood’s Oven Baked Bites.

Cat Food Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global cat food market report, along with forecasts at the global and regional levels from 2024-2032. Our report has categorized the market based on product type, pricing type, ingredient type, and distribution channel.

Breakup by Product Type:

• Dry Cat Food
• Cat Treats
• Wet Cat Food
   

Wet cat food represented the largest segment

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the cat food market based on the product type. This includes dry cat food, cat treats, and wet cat food. According to the report, wet cat food represented the largest segment.

Wet cat food offers several benefits, including higher moisture content, which aids in hydration and urinary tract health. Its softer texture can be easier for cats with dental issues or older cats to eat, and it often contains more protein and fewer carbohydrates than dry food, aligning better with a cat's natural diet. Additionally, the variety of flavors and formulations available in wet cat food can help picky eaters maintain a balanced diet, ensuring they get essential nutrients for optimal health. As a result, various key manufacturers are increasingly investing in the production of wet food. For instance, in August 2023, 100% natural, gut-friendly pet food brand Scrumbles – expanded its portfolio by launching a new wet cat food launch. The new wet cat range is available in single-serve portions in the Jelly Chicken, Jelly Turkey, Jelly Salmon, and Pate Chicken 80g recipes, or in multipack (x12 80g tins) option.

Breakup by Pricing Type:

• Mass Products
• Premium Products
   

Mass products accounted for the largest market share

A detailed breakup and analysis of the cat food market based on the pricing type has also been provided in the report. This includes mass products and premium products. According to the report, mass products accounted for the largest market share.

The mass products segment in the global pet food market holds the largest share of consumers seeking budget-friendly and widely available pet food options. This segment caters to pet owners who seek affordability while ensuring their pets receive adequate nutrition. Mass-produced pet food brands provide a range of products, such as dry kibble and canned food, designed to fulfill the basic dietary needs of pets.

Breakup by Ingredient Type:

• Animal Derivatives
• Plant Derivatives
   

Animal derivatives represented the largest segment

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the cat food market based on the ingredient type. This includes animal derivatives and plant derivatives. According to the report, animal derivatives represented the largest segment.

Animal-derived cat food primarily contains ingredients sourced from animals, such as meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. This type of cat food is typically rich in protein, which is essential for cats' health, as they are obligate carnivores. Animal-derived ingredients provide important nutrients like amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that support muscle development, energy levels, and overall well-being in cats. As a result, the demand for cat food derived from animals is on the rise. Cat food industry statistics by IMARC indicate that various cat food producers are including animal-derived ingredients in cat food. For instance, in March 2024, Meatly, a UK-based cultivated meat company, created the world’s first cans of cat food that use cultivated chicken as the protein source. The product was created in collaboration with its brand partner, Omni, a novel protein pet food company in the UK, founded by veterinarian Dr Guy Sandelowsky.

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Others
   

Supermarkets and hypermarkets accounted for the largest market share

A detailed breakup and analysis of the cat food market based on the distribution channel has also been provided in the report. This includes supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and others. According to the cat food market research report, supermarkets and hypermarkets accounted for the largest market share.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the dominant distribution channels in the cat food market. For instance, PetSmart was the largest pet specialty retail chain in North America as of March 2022 in terms of store count, with a total of 1,669 stores. Retail giants like these offer a wide variety of pet food brands, making them convenient one-stop shops for pet owners. Consumers often choose these outlets due to their accessibility, competitive pricing, and the ability to physically inspect products, making them the largest segment in the market.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
• Western Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Eastern Europe
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America was the largest market for cat food

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America; Western Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Eastern Europe; and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America was the largest market for cat food.

Some of the factors driving the North America cat food market included easy availability, product innovations, marketing strategies, etc. Moreover, a strong culture of pet ownership and a high level of pet humanization are also contributing to the region’s growth. In 2022, North America emerged as the largest regional market in the global pet food market, with a value of US$ 77.43 Billion. According to pet food market size by country, the United States and Mexico are the major contributors to the North American pet food market due to the high pet ownership rates in these countries. The region's consumers prioritize the well-being and health of their cats, leading to a growing demand for premium and natural cat food products.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the major market players in the global pet food industry include: 

• Mars Petcare
• The J.M. Smucker Company (Big Heart Pet Brands)
• Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.)
• Nestle Purina PetCare
• Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd.
• CANIDAE Pet Foods
   

(Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.)

Global Cat Food Market Latest News:

• April 2024: Go! Solutions announced the launch of its latest functional cat food recipe, Go! Solutions Hairball Control + Urinary Care. Formulated in collaboration with Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, this recipe helps control hairballs and discourage urinary struvite crystals in cats.
• March 2024: Meatly, a UK-based cultivated meat company, created the world’s first cans of cat food that use cultivated chicken as the protein source.
• March 2024: Tropikal Pet, a Turkish producer of dog and cat food known for brands like Goody and Champion, agreed to raise US$ 9 Million with Eminova Holdings International. With the investment, the company is anticipated to increase its capacity, double its existing export sales, add new products to its product range, reduce the increasing working capital purchase costs, operate at full capacity, and enter the U.S. market.
• March 2024: Vafo's Brit brand introduced its super-premium Brit Care Cat RAW Treats, designed with a focus on quality and nutrition. The new range of cat food offers cats a "distinctive dining experience”, merging irresistible flavors with essential nutrients that bolster their overall well-being.

Global Cat Food Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the cat food market from 2018-2032.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global cat food market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the cat food industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.