Cat Food Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Cat Food Market is projected to expand from USD 37.26 Billion in 2025 to USD 49.76 Billion by 2031, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 4.94%. This sector encompasses commercially produced nutritional items, such as wet food, dry kibble, and treats, designed to fulfill the metabolic and dietary needs of domestic cats. Key factors fueling this growth include rapid urbanization, which makes cats attractive low-maintenance pets for smaller homes, and a demographic shift towards single-person households seeking companionship. Highlighting this trend, the American Pet Products Association reported in 2025 that cat ownership in the United States rose by 23% in 2024, a surge that directly boosts the demand for specialized nutritional products.

However, the market faces significant hurdles due to persistent instability in global raw material supply chains and the consequent inflationary impact on manufacturing costs. Producers struggle to secure reliable, affordable sources of high-quality proteins and essential ingredients, necessitating price increases that may compromise product affordability. This dynamic threatens to limit sales volume growth, particularly in emerging markets where consumers are highly price-sensitive.

Market Drivers

The growth of the market is significantly propelled by the expansion of premium and super-premium product lines, as pet owners increasingly value superior nutrition that mirrors human dietary preferences. This shift toward high-quality formulations protects revenue streams from volume dips, as consumers continue to purchase top-tier products for their pets. For instance, according to a July 2025 article by Petfood Industry titled 'Purina PetCare sales down in H1 2025, but still growing', Nestlé Purina PetCare reported CHF 9.2 billion in first-half sales, with organic growth driven largely by super-premium science brands like Purina Pro Plan. This underscores a clear preference for high-value items over economy choices, pushing manufacturers to prioritize premium offerings.

In parallel, the surging demand for functional and health-oriented formulations is driving innovation in diet-specific solutions for issues such as weight management, urinary health, and longevity. Meeting these precise nutrient profiles necessitates substantial investment in specialized manufacturing infrastructure. As reported by Mars, Incorporated in a May 2025 press release titled 'Mars builds on long-term U.S. investment with the opening of new $450 million Royal Canin facility in Ohio', the company established a $450 million site dedicated to science-based pet nutrition. The economic scale of these advanced requirements is further evidenced by the Pet Food Institute, which noted in 2025 that the U.S. dog and cat food sector achieved $51.7 billion in sales during 2024.

Market Challenges

The sustainable development of the Global Cat Food Market is severely constrained by continuing volatility in global supply chains for raw materials and the resulting inflationary pressure on production costs. Manufacturers face unpredictable access to essential ingredients like grains and animal proteins, which leads to immediate spikes in operational expenses. To protect profit margins, these increased costs are often passed on to buyers, resulting in retail price hikes that frequently exceed general inflation rates. This creates obstacles for potential new pet owners and compels budget-conscious consumers to downgrade to cheaper alternatives or ration premium products, thereby limiting volume expansion in price-sensitive areas.

The disparity between rising costs and production volume is evident in recent industry data. According to the Pet Food Institute, in 2024, the cost of agricultural ingredients purchased by pet food manufacturers hit $13.2 billion, marking a 91% surge since 2018, whereas ingredient volume grew by only 7%. This statistic reveals that the market's financial growth is primarily a result of input cost inflation rather than a substantial rise in actual production output or consumer demand.

Market Trends

The market is being transformed by the rise of fresh, freeze-dried, and raw diet formats, as owners increasingly seek nutrient-rich, less processed alternatives to standard heat-extruded kibble. Rooted in the humanization of pet diets, this trend utilizes cold-chain logistics and refrigeration to maintain bioavailability without heavy use of preservatives. This sector represents a significant shift toward palatable, moisture-rich options that closely resemble a cat's ancestral diet, rather than a niche fad. Reflecting this growth, Freshpet reported in November 2024, within its 'Freshpet, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results', that net sales reached $253.4 million, a 26.3% rise from the previous year, driven largely by increased volume in fresh products.

Concurrently, the use of upcycled and sustainably sourced ingredients has evolved from a marginal concept to a core strategy for major formulations. Manufacturers are actively lowering their environmental impact by incorporating high-quality by-products from the human food supply, such as vegetable pomace and organ meats, aligning with circular economy objectives. This strategy tackles sustainability issues while providing cost-effective, protein-dense inputs amidst high inflation. Confirming the extent of this practice, the Pet Food Institute stated in its April 2025 '2025 Pet Food Production and Ingredient Analysis Report' that manufacturers used over 1 million tons of upcycled ingredients in cat food formulations throughout 2024.

Key Players Profiled in the Cat Food Market

• J.M Smucker
• Diamond Pet Foods
• Affinity Petcare SA
• Mars Petcare
• Nestle Purina PetCare Company
• Hill's Pet Nutrition
• Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company Inc.
• Fromm Family Foods LLC
• Nutro Products Inc.
• Blue Buffalo Company

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Cat Food Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Cat Food Market, by Type:

• Dry Food
• Wet Food
• Treats & Snacks
• Others

Cat Food Market, by Nature:

• Organic
• Conventional

Cat Food Market, by Sales Channel:

• Specialized Pet Shops
• Online
• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Others

Cat Food Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Cat Food Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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