As cat ownership hits all-time high, are pet food companies adapting?

The pet food industry may be missing opportunities as cat ownership reaches record levels, with new survey data revealing gaps between market trends and company responses.

A July 2025 poll of pet food industry professionals conducted by Petfoodindustry.com found that while cat ownership has grown to 49 million households (up 23% in 2024) many companies remain hesitant to capitalize on emerging demographic shifts and household composition changes.

Created via ClaudeNew product development 

With the rise in cat ownership, 45% of surveyed companies noted they are actively developing new cat food products. An additional 18% are considering development but lack concrete plans, while 36% report either no current plans or are simply watching trends without taking action.

This may be a cautious approach, but the shift from single-cat to multi-cat households presents opportunities that some companies are beginning to address.

Created via ClaudeMulti-cat household strategies

Companies are demonstrating more innovation when adapting to the growing multi-cat household segment. Forty-two percent are developing specialized formulas for different life stages to serve cats of varying ages within the same household -- the most popular strategy among respondents.

Other approaches include focusing on variety packs and multi-flavor options (16%) and developing larger package sizes with bulk options for economic benefits (13%). Nearly 30% of companies, however, report no specific strategy changes for this growing segment.

Created via Claude"Cat Dad" marketing still in early stages

The pet food industry is in the early stages of addressing the emerging "Cat Dad" demographic among Gen Z and Millennial men. Just over half -- 56% -- of companies report making no specific changes to target this group, though some are beginning to experiment with new approaches.

Among companies that are adapting, digital marketing represents the primary focus, with 26% increasing spend on platforms popular with younger men. Eleven percent are shifting advertising creative to feature more male pet parents, while 7% are partnering with male influencers and "Cat Dad" content creators.

This response seems to reflect the relatively recent nature of the trend, as companies assess how to authentically connect with this growing segment of cat owners.

For pet food professionals, the survey results highlight the opportunities available to capture the growing cat ownership demographic. Companies willing to invest in targeted product development and demographic-specific marketing strategies might be positioned to capture market share in this expanding category.

Survey methodology: Data collected July 1-15, 2024, from pet food industry professionals via Petfoodindustry.com polling platform.