Cat ownership on the rise around the world

Even in regions like Europe where cats have always been most popular, their numbers are growing, as they are in traditionally dog-oriented countries.

Debbie Phillips-Donaldson

November 20, 2024

Cats are becoming more popular globally due to rising urbanization and more challenging economic times.

Cats are becoming more popular globally due to rising urbanization and more challenging economic times.

Shipilov77777 | Shutterstock.com

While we are temporarily petless (our 17-year-old cat died in May 2024), my husband and I have been cat owners our entire marriage; Deacon was the fifth to share our home. We both also grew up with cats.

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US pet food inflation at 2021 rate — are we out of the woods?

Pet food prices are now rising only slightly or even declining year over year but are still much higher than three years ago, as are producer prices.

Pet Food Inflation Woods

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Where do pet owners stand on plant-based pet foods?

Plant-based, vegan, vegetarian and other pet diets with alternatives to animal-based proteins get a lot of buzz, but are pet owners really willing to buy them?

Yeast is among the plant-based proteins being used in pet diets.

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Will high pet treat sales growth soon come down to earth?

Pet treats are popular but also a discretionary expense, and in inflationary times, some pet owners may reduce their spending in the category.

Higher pet treat prices may be driving some pet owners to cut back on their spending, leading to falling sales growth.

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What do pet owners seek in pet food packaging?

Communication, freshness, convenience and sustainability rank among packaging priorities for pet food, along with broader trends resonating with all consumers.

Communication, freshness, convenience and sustainability rank among packaging priorities for pet food.

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FDA’s evolving role in pet food regulations and safety

Proposed new U.S. pet food legislation, plus the return of an FDA-generated controversy, highlight the agency’s significant role, for better or worse.

New pet food labels may not be the only regulatory change coming to the U.S. pet food market.

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Raw pet food adoption: What does the future hold?

Pet owners in North America and Europe are increasingly feeding raw and other ‘alternative’ pet foods, especially younger owners, but do barriers remain?

Pet owners are increasingly feeding raw and other alternative pet food formats.

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Caution ahead: Pet food pricing pressures continue in 2024

Pet food producers are still facing higher costs, leading to higher retail prices, while pet owners want premium products but are spending more thoughtfully.

Higher prices for pet food materials mean higher retail prices, creating a still uncertain situation for the pet food market in 2024.

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Joining pet owners on the path to pet food sustainability

Consumers embrace sustainability at varying levels, so you have to understand where your target consumer is, then navigate the complex sustainability journey.

Pet food and treat companies can help pet owners seek and embrace sustainability, but producing “green” products can be quite complex.

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Why cats are a growth category for pet food

Rising urbanization is leading to increased cat ownership and, following on, higher cat food sales growth, presenting opportunities for pet food companies.

Higher cat ownership means higher growth rates for cat food and treat sales.

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The ongoing strength and growth of pet food omnichannel

Omnichannel shopping — buying pet food both in physical stores and online — really took off during the pandemic and is still a popular choice for pet owners.

Omnichannel pet food shopping became more popular during the pandemic and is still preferred by many pet owners.

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Pet food premiumization: Too much of a good thing?

The pet food market has continually moved to premium and superpremium, helping drive growth, but has it reached its limits for long-term market health?

A focus on the affluent may have its limits when it comes to pet food product development and retail strategies.

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What pet food manufacturing contributes to the U.S. economy

U.S. pet food manufacturers directly contribute billions of dollars in added value, labor income and output to the economy, along with thousands of jobs.

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