An Executive Voices Blog by Alex Hiscock, Head of Content Licensing at Euromonitor International

The global pet care industry has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years, driven by changing consumer attitudes, premiumisation, and a growing tendency to treat pets as members of the family.

Global pet care retail sales reached $224.5 billion in 2026, up from $203.3 billion in 2024, with the market continuing to expand despite inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. The category grew at an 8% CAGR between 2019 and 2024, demonstrating strong resilience compared with many other consumer goods sectors.

Several product categories have significantly outperformed the broader market. Cat food has emerged as the fastest-growing major category globally, recording a 6% value CAGR between 2020 and 2025 and continuing to outperform dog food through 2026. Premium products are leading growth, particularly premium wet dog food (+9.7% in 2026), premium dry cat food (+7.6%), premium wet cat food (+6.9%), pet healthcare (+8%), and cat treats and mixers (+10%), which was the fastest-growing category globally in 2026.

Pet products beyond food are also performing strongly, especially pet accessories, toys, supplements, and smart technology products such as automated litter trays and AI-enabled pet monitoring devices. eCommerce data also shows particularly strong growth in pet dietary supplements and pet healthcare products, reflecting consumers’ increasing focus on preventative wellness.

But growth is not occurring evenly across regions.

Emerging markets are increasingly becoming the industry’s growth engine. In 2026, Thailand was the world’s fastest-growing pet care market, expanding by 11.7%, followed by Ukraine (8.8%), Saudi Arabia (8%), Peru (8%), and India (8%). Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa are forecast to generate the strongest growth through 2031, fueled by rising pet ownership, growing disposable incomes, increased adoption of commercial pet food, and expanding retail infrastructure.

Markets such as Brazil, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and India stand out because they combine growing pet populations with increasing willingness among consumers to spend on premium and health-oriented products. Meanwhile, mature markets such as North America and Western Europe continue to generate the largest absolute sales but are experiencing slower volume growth due to market saturation and affordability concerns.

Affluent consumers in developed markets remain the largest contributors in absolute terms. The United States continues to be the world’s largest pet care market and leads globally in per-capita pet spending. Hong Kong is also among the highest-spending markets, with nearly 77% of cat and dog food sales coming from premium products.

Demographically, Millennials represent one of the most influential consumer groups in pet care. They are highly engaged with digital channels, subscription services, and personalised pet products. Younger urban consumers, in particular, increasingly treat pets as family members and seek specialised nutrition, preventative healthcare, and customised solutions that mirror the products and services they buy for themselves.

The single biggest driver behind rising pet care expenditure is the ongoing pet humanisation trend.

Around the world, consumers increasingly view pets as beloved family members rather than simply animals. As a result, spending decisions are becoming more focused on health, wellness, nutrition, and longevity. Pet owners are seeking premium ingredients, specialised diets, preventative healthcare products, and personalised recommendations.

Rising veterinary costs are also encouraging consumers to invest in nutrition and wellness products that may help avoid future health issues. At the same time, changing household structures and declining birth rates in many countries have encouraged consumers to devote more time, attention, and discretionary spending to companion animals. Pet owners are also extending their own lifestyle values to their pets. Interest in natural ingredients, minimally processed foods, probiotics, supplements, and tailored nutrition is increasingly reflected in pet care purchasing decisions.

Major pet care companies are responding through innovation, premiumization, and personalisation. Leading players such as Mars, Nestlé Purina, and Hill’s have increasingly shifted investment towards therapeutic nutrition, fresh pet food, supplements, and science-backed wellness solutions.

At the same time, eCommerce has become a major growth channel. Subscription services, auto-replenishment programmes, and personalised meal plans allow brands to build long-term relationships with pet owners. Companies such as The Farmer’s Dog have successfully demonstrated consumer appetite for tailored nutrition plans based on a pet’s age, breed, health needs, and lifestyle.

Digital engagement is also transforming the category. Brands are investing heavily in social commerce, livestream shopping events, direct-to-consumer platforms, and loyalty programmes that help move consumers beyond one-time purchases and into ongoing relationships with brands. Technology is becoming increasingly important across the pet care ecosystem. Brands are now integrating artificial intelligence into feeders, health-monitoring devices, litter box trackers, and nutrition recommendation systems.

These innovations enable pet owners to monitor health more proactively while providing brands with valuable consumer data. Examples include AI-powered feeding systems that track eating habits and smart monitoring platforms that identify potential health issues before symptoms become obvious. As consumers seek more personalised pet care experiences, technology is becoming both a competitive differentiator and a new source of revenue growth.

Looking ahead, the pet care market is expected to remain one of the most resilient consumer categories. Global pet care is forecast to grow at a 2.7% CAGR through 2031, with cat food continuing to outperform dog food. Premium products will remain the fastest-growing price segment, although future success will depend less on luxury positioning and more on delivering meaningful health benefits at accessible price points.

The concept of “affordable premium” is expected to become one of the industry’s defining growth drivers, allowing consumers to access premium-quality products without paying ultra-premium prices. Emerging markets will continue to outperform developed markets, while AI, preventative healthcare, personalization, and engagement-led commerce will reshape how consumers discover, purchase, and manage pet care products.

Ultimately, spending on pet products is likely to continue growing because pets are increasingly viewed as integral members of the family. As long as consumers continue prioritising their pets’ health, wellbeing, and quality of life, the industry’s long-term growth outlook remains highly positive.

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