Market Overview:

The Cat Food Market is experiencing steady expansion, driven by Increasing Cat Ownership, Rising Awareness Among Individuals and Increasing Product Offerings. According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, "Cat Food Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2025-2033", The global cat food market size was valued at USD 37.07 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 49.80 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 2.99% from 2025-2033.

This detailed analysis primarily encompasses industry size, business trends, market share, key growth factors, and regional forecasts. The report offers a comprehensive overview and integrates research findings, market assessments, and data from different sources. It also includes pivotal market dynamics like drivers  and challenges, while also highlighting growth opportunities, financial insights, technological improvements, emerging trends, and innovations. Besides this, the report provides regional market evaluation, along with a competitive landscape analysis.

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Our Report Includes:

• Market Dynamics
• Market Trends and Outlook
• Competitive Analysis
• Industry Segmentation
• Strategic Recommendations

Growth Factors in the Cat Food Industry:

• Increasing Cat Ownership

The global cat food market is heavily influenced by the trend of cat humanization, where cats are treated like family members. This move has led to a massive increase in pet ownership throughout the world. In 2022, cats accounted for 32.3% of the global pet food market, which grew by 55.8% from 2017 to 2022 due to a rise in the cat population by 18.8%. Moreover, in many countries, cats are considered a symbol of luck and fortune, particularly in Europe, which is positively impacting the market share. Additionally, cats require less space to live than dogs and need less living space compared to dogs and can remain alone at home for extended periods without human supervision. From 2017 to 2022, over 70% of pet owners, including those in Russia and the United States, viewed their cats as family members, companions, or even children.

• Rising Awareness Among Individuals

Growing health-conscious attitudes among cat owners is one of the major factors expanding the cat food market size. Cat's 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 example, the United States pet food made up 42.4% of the expenditures related to pets in 2022. The United States had 40% of pet parents buying premium pet food in 2022, and Hong Kong's cat food market was also dominated by premium pet food, as it covered 75% of the pet food sales in 2022. Manufacturers are investing more in expanding their operations in a wide variety of specialized products, including functional benefits like improving immune system, digestive health, and coat condition.

• Increasing Product Offerings

Key market players are increasingly investing in research and development (R&D) activities to offer diversified flavors, textures, and improved nutritional compositions of cat food, which is reshaping the cat food market trends. For instance, in March 2024, a UK vegan pet food business, Omni introduced nutritionally complete cat food featuring cultivated chicken meat, further broadening its product range. 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.

Key Trends in the Cat Food Market

• Dry Cat Food Dominance

Dry cat food leads the market in 2024, holding a share of around 44.6%. Its dominance is driven by convenience, cost-effectiveness, and longer shelf life compared to wet food. Dry food is easier to store, requires less frequent feeding, and often helps maintain dental health. It is also typically more affordable, appealing to budget-conscious pet owners. Additionally, dry food offers a wide variety of options, catering to different dietary needs, such as grain-free or high-protein formulations. Despite its lead, the demand for wet and specialized cat foods is growing due to a focus on pet health and nutrition.

• Mass Products Market Leadership

Mass products lead the market in 2024, with a significant share of 44.5%. The mass products segment holds the largest consumer base of budget-friendly and widely available cat food. Mass-produced pet food brands offer a variety of products, such as dry kibble and canned food that cater to the basic dietary needs of cats. Mass products are largely available in supermarkets and convenience stores, coupled with online platforms, making them easily accessible to pet owners. This segment serves pet owners who look for affordability while ensuring their cats get the necessary nutrition. Urbanization and an increasing number of middle-income households increase the size of the consumer base for value-for-money cat food.

• Animal-Derived Ingredient Dominance

Animal-derived cat food leads the market in 2024, with a share of 72.9%. It consists of meat, poultry, fish, or eggs and is rich in protein, which is essential for cats as obligate carnivores. Ingredients such as amino acids, vitamins, and minerals play an important role in the development of muscles, energy, and overall well-being of cats. For example, in March 2024, a UK-based firm that specializes in developing cultivated meat, Meatly, invented the world's first cans of cat foods that utilize cultivated chicken as the source of protein. The product has been jointly designed with its brand partner, Omni- a novel protein pet food company.

We explore the factors propelling the cat food market growth, including technological advancements, consumer behaviors, and regulatory changes.

Leading Companies Operating in the Global Cat Food Industry:

• 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

Cat Food Market Report Segmentation:

Breakup by Product Type:

• Dry Cat Food
• Cat Treats
• Wet Cat Food

Dry cat food represented the largest segment holding a share of around 44.6% driven by convenience, cost-effectiveness, and longer shelf life.

Breakup by Pricing Type:

• Mass Products
• Premium Products

Mass products represented the largest segment with a significant share of 44.5% driven by affordability, widespread availability, and appeal to budget-conscious consumers.

Breakup by Ingredient Type:

• Animal Derivatives
• Plant Derivatives

Animal derivatives represented the largest segment with a share of 72.9% driven by their high protein content and alignment with natural feline dietary preferences.

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

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

Supermarkets and hypermarkets represented the largest segment with a share of 23.5% driven by convenience, extensive product variety, and attractive promotional offers.

Breakup by Region:

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

North America currently dominates the market with a share of around 30.0% driven by high pet ownership rates, product innovations, and strong economic stability.

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IMARC Group is a global management consulting firm that helps the world’s most ambitious changemakers to create a lasting impact. The company provide a comprehensive suite of market entry and expansion services. IMARC offerings include thorough market assessment, feasibility studies, company incorporation assistance, factory setup support, regulatory approvals and licensing navigation, branding, marketing and sales strategies, competitive landscape and benchmarking analyses, pricing and cost research, and procurement research.

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