The performance of the pet industry is influenced by two key factors: economic conditions and pet ownership trends. While the “pets as family” mindset and focus on pet health continue to thrive, economic challenges facing U.S. pet owners create a tough market environment. Post-pandemic inflation and the trade policies of the current administration have brought a level of uncertainty not seen since the Great Recession. Additionally, stagnant growth in the pet population poses another obstacle, although this trend may reverse as more Gen Z adults enter the pet ownership market.
Assuming economic conditions remain stable, Packaged Facts predicts steady growth for the industry over the next five years. The primary challenge—and opportunity—for businesses in the sector lies in addressing economic concerns by ensuring pet care remains affordable. Supporting this goal are trends like the appeal of "Made in the USA" products, home-centric offerings, feline-focused items, premium goods, personalized services, and the adoption of AI-driven efficiencies—all of which can help stabilize and sustain the market.
Scope of the report:
This report analyzes current and projects future retail sales and trends across the U.S. pet industry. It examines collectively and separately four sectors of pet products and services – pet food, non-food pet supplies, veterinary services, and non-medical pet services – paying particular attention to the market impact of the economy, omnichannel and omnimarket strategizing, and consumer mindsets and purchasing patterns.
- Executive Summary
- Scope and Methodology
- Market Overview
- Opportunities
- Table Household Ownership Base: Dogs vs. Cats, 2018 – 2024 (thousands)
- Market Size and Growth
- Chapter Highlights
- Market Size & Growth
- Pet Industry Sales Advance 4% in 2024
- Table US Pet Market Retail Sales by Sector, 2019 – 2024 (billion dollars)
- Table US Pet Market Retail Sales Annual Change by Sector, 2019 – 2024 (percent change over previous year)
- Market Shares by Sector
- Table Sector Share of US Pet Market Retail Sales, 2019 – 2024 and 2029P (percent)
- Market Shares by Animal Type
- Table Sector Sales of US Pet Market Retail Sales by Animal Type, 2024 (billion dollars)
- Table Sector Share of US Pet Market Retail Sales by Animal Type, 2024 (percent)
- Pet Product and Service Spending Levels
- Table Dollar Sales Per Pet-Owning Household by Sector, 2019 – 2024 (dollars)
- Table Dollar Sales Per Dog-Owning Household by Sector, 2019 – 2024 (dollars)
- Table Dollar Sales Per Cat-Owning Household by Sector, 2019 – 2024 (dollars)
- Table Dollar Sales per Individual Dog and Cat by Sector, 2024 (millions of dollars and dollars)
- Retail Channel Trends: E-commerce Growth Continues to Outperform
- Table US Retail Channel Sales of Pet Products by Channel Classification: Overall, Pet Food/Treats, and Pet Supplies, 2019 vs. 2024 (billion dollars)
- Table Share of US Retail Channel Sales of Pet Products by Channel Classification: Overall, Pet Food/Treats, and Pet Supplies, 2019 vs. 2024 (percent)
- Table US Retail Channel Sales of Pet Products by Channel Classification, 2019 – 2024 (billion dollars)
- Table Growth in US Retail Channel Sales of Pet Products by Channel Classification, 2020 – 2024 (percent)
- Pet Industry Sales Advance 4% in 2024
- Looking Ahead
- Economic Uncertainty Clouds Market Projections
- Table Projected US Retail Sales of Products and Services, 2024 – 2029 (billion dollars)
- Projected Growth by Product Versus Service Sectors
- Table Projected US Retail Sales of Products and Services by Sector, 2024 – 2029P (billion dollars)
- Table Projected Annual Change in US Retail Sales of Products and Services by Sector, 2024 – 2029P (percent change over previous year)
- Table US Pet Market Compound Annual Growth Rates by Sector, 2019 – 2024 vs. 2024 – 2029P (percent)
- Projected Growth by Retail Channel
- Table Projected Growth by Pet Market Sector, 2024 vs. 2029P (billion dollars)
- Economic Uncertainty Clouds Market Projections
- Market Drivers
- The Economic Bite
- Table Percentage Change in Consumer Price Index: Overall and by Pet Industry Sector, 2019 – 2024
- Table Effects of the Economic Environment on Pet Owners, January 2022, February 2023, January 2024, and January 2025 (percent negatively/positively affected)
- Table Selected Pet Product Spending Psychographics, January 2022, February 2023, January 2024, and January 2025 (percent of pet product shoppers)
- Table Changes in Levels of Pet Care Spending in Last 12 Months, February 2021, January 2022, February 2023, January 2024, January 2025 (percent of pet care customers with 2+ years as pet owners)
- Inflation, Economic Angst Increase Post Election
- Table Topline Pet Ownership Rates by Type: Overall, Dogs, and Cats, 2019 – 2024 (percent of overall households)
- National Population Trends and Macroeconomic Factors
- Table Student Loan Patterns by Generation, 2024 (percent with loans, thousands of borrowers, percent of total borrowers, and index)
- Higher-Income Households Represent Two-Thirds of Spending
- Table $70K+ Household Share of Pet Market Expenditures: By Classification, 2012 – 2023 (percent)
- “Pets as Family”
- Table Top Reasons Why Pet Owners Have Their Pet: Dog Owners vs. Cat Owners, 2024 (percent of pet owners)
- Spotlight on Pet and Human Health and Wellness
- The Economic Bite
- Industry Trends
- Chapter Highlights
- Industry Trends
- Overview
- Signs of the Economic Times
- Omnichannel and Omnimarket
- AI Is Now
- Consolidation Continues
- Pet Food Market Leaders
- Non-Food Pet Supplies Market Leaders
- Leading Veterinary and Non-Medical Pet Service Operators
- Fast-Growing Franchises and Private Companies
- Pet Care Start-up Accelerator Programs
- White House Policies Will Determine Appetite for Deal-Making in 2025
- Mergers, Acquisitions, Investments
- Focus on Pet Food and Treats
- Chapter Highlights
- Pet Food and Treats
- Sales Slow Along with Inflation
- Fewer New Products, Innovation Down
- Pet Food Purchasers (Still) Spending More
- Table Changes in Levels of Pet Food Spending in Last 12 Months, 2021 – 2025 (percent of pet care customers with 2+ years as pet owners)
- Marketer Sales Performance Reflects Challenging Environment
- The Superpremium Thrust: Less Processed, Fresh
- Table Pet Food Usage by Specialty Formulation Type: Dog Owners vs. Cat Owners, 2025 (percent of dog/cat food purchasers)
- Freeze-Dried, Air-Dried, Dehydrated
- Other “Less Processed” Forms and Claims
- Table Pet Owner Behaviors Around Human Foods and Human-Grade Pet Foods: By Generation, 2025 (percent)
- Locally Sourced, Made in the USA
- Sustainable Pet Food Formulas and Industry Initiatives
- Table Agreement with Selected Statements Related to Pet Food Sustainability and Eco-Consciousness: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent of pet food purchasers)
- Science-Based and Functional Diets
- Year of the Cat
- Pet Treats a High Interest Market Segment
- Table Household Usage of Pet Food or Treats by Type in Last 6 Months, 2019 – 2024 (percent of dog/cat-owning households)
- Meal Enhancements and Toppers
- Private Label Pet Food
- Table Usage Rates for Private Label Pet Food or Treats by Type in Last 6 Months, 2021 – 2024 (percent of category shoppers)
- The Pet Food Industry Future (and Present ) of AI
- Focus on Non-Food Pet Supplies
- Chapter Highlights
- Non-Food Pet Supplies
- Slow Going
- Pet Owners Also Paying the (Higher) Price
- Pet Health & Wellness Remains Core Market Driver
- Pet Medications Growth Moderates
- Pet Supplements Sales Slow
- AI, Smartphones at Center of Pet Tech
- Table High-Tech Pet Products Purchased in Last 12 Months, 2025 (percent of dog or cat owners)
- Table Selected Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Smartphone Apps, 2025 (percent of pet owners)
- Table Agreement with Statement, “Technology is allowing me to save time on pet care”: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent of dog/cat owners)
- Table Agreement with Statement, “Technology is allowing me to spend more quality time with my pets”: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent of dog/cat owners)
- Home Centered Marketing and Product Design
- Celebrities and Designer Brands
- Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
- Table Cat Litter Usage in Last 12 Months, 2020 – 2023 (percent of litter category purchasers)
- Focus on Veterinary Services
- Chapter Highlights
- Veterinary Sector Sales Overview
- Topline Revenues and Growth
- Table US Veterinary Sector Revenues: Overall and by Services vs. Products, 2019 – 2024 (billion dollars and percent change)
- Dog Versus Cat Share of Veterinary Revenues
- Revenues and Growth for Core Veterinary Services
- Table Core Veterinary Service Revenues, 2019 – 2024 (million dollars and percent change)
- Price Inflation for Veterinary Services
- Veterinary Share of Non-Medical Pet Care Service Revenues
- Sector Projections
- Table Projected US Veterinary Sector Revenues: Overall and by Services vs. Products, 2024, 2025P, and 2029P (billion dollars and percent change)
- Topline Revenues and Growth
- Competitive Landscape
- Business Environment
- Local and/or Corporate
- Leading Corporate Operators
- Vet Care as Omnimarket Strategy
- Usage Patterns by Service Provider Type
- Table Usage Rates for Veterinary Services by Type of Provider: Dog Owners vs. Cat Owners, 2025 (percent of veterinary customers)
- Table Levels of Agreement with Statements Related to Vet Service Providers by Type/Location: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent of veterinary customers)
- Table Most Important Sources of Pet Care Information: By Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent)
- Telemedicine as Facet of Broader Transformation
- Table Levels of Agreement with Selected Statements Related to Telehealth, 2025 (percent of veterinary customers)
- Veterinary Service Usage and Spending Patterns
- Vet Services Usage Rates and Customer Base
- Table Veterinary Service Usage Rates: Overall and by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2019 – 2024 (percent of dog/cat owning households)
- Table Client Base for Veterinary Services vs. Overall Dog/Cat Household Population, 2021 – 2024 (in millions of households)
- Patterns for Regular/Check-Up vs. Urgent/Emergency Care Visits
- Patterns by Number of Vet Visits
- Table Patterns for Annual Number of Visits to Vet by Selected Dog/Cat Owner Classifications, 2021 – 2024 (percent of veterinary customers)
- The Income Factor to Use of Vet Services
- Table Indexes for Use of Veterinary Services by Household Income Bracket: by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2024 (base index = 100)
- Vet Care Spending per Client Household
- Table Veterinary Care Spending by Dollar Ranges in Last 12 Months per Client Household, 2021 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Veterinary Care Spending by Dollar Ranges in Last 12 Months: By Household Income Grouping, 2021 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Veterinary Care Spending by Dollar Ranges in Last 12 Months: Dog Owners Overall, Dog Owners without Senior Dogs, and Dog Owners with Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2021 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Veterinary Care Spending by Dollar Ranges in Last 12 Months: Cat Owners Overall, Cat Owners without Senior Cats, and Cat Owners with Senior Cats Age 7+, 2021 – 2024 (percent)
- Vet Services Usage Rates and Customer Base
- Focus on Pet Services
- Chapter Highlights
- Non-Medical Pet Services Sector
- Market Segmentation and Performance by Category
- Table US Sales of Non-Medical Pet Services by Category, 2023 – 2025P (billion dollars and percent change)
- Table Share of US Pet Services Sales by Category, 2022 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Changes in Levels of Spending on Non-Medical Pet Services in Last 12 Months, 2021 – 2025 (percent of pet services customers with 2+ years as pet owners)
- Table Share of Pet Owners Facing Significant Challenges with Pet Care Costs: By Topline Sector and Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent)
- Table Pet Services Usage Rates by Type: Overall and by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2019 – 2024 (percent of dog/cat owning households)
- Table Overall Dog/Cat Customer Base for Pet Services by Type, 2019 – 2024 (thousand households and percent change)
- Table Pet Care Services Considered Most Important to Health and Wellness: Overall and by Generational Cohort, 2025 (percent of dog/cat owners)
- A Shifting Market Landscape
- Franchisors to the Fore
- Best Friends Pet Care
- Non-Franchise Pet Services Chains
- Rover and Wag! Dominate App-Based Pet Sitting/Walking
- Walmart Rolling Out More Pet Services Centers
- Pet Specialty Retailers and Shoppers All in on Services
- Table Selected Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Pet Services, 2025 (percent of pet services customers)
- Chewy Remains Focuses on Pet Insurance, Vet Care
- Pet Insurance Is Top Performer
- Table Percent of Customers with Veterinary Expense Coverage: Overall, Pet Wellness Plans, Pet Insurance, 2025 (percent of dog/cat veterinary customers)
- Emerging Services
- Market Segmentation and Performance by Category
- Retail and E-Commerce Trends
- Chapter Highlights
- Retail Sector Sales Overview
- Topline Revenues and Growth
- Table US Retail Sector Sales of Pet Products: Overall and by Pet Food/Treats vs. Non-Food Pet Supplies, 2019 – 2024 (million dollars and percent change)
- Brick-and-Mortar Versus E-Commerce Sales
- Table Pet Product Retail Sales and Shares: Overall and Brick-and-Mortar (In-Store) vs. E-Commerce, 2019 – 2024, 2025P, and 2029P (billion dollars, percent growth, and percent share)
- Breakout of Brick-and-Mortar Sales: Mass Market Versus Pet Specialty
- Table Brick-and-Mortar (In-Store) Retail Sales of Pet Products: By Sector, 2019 – 2024 (billion dollars, percent growth, and percent share)
- Sector Projections
- Table Projected Retail Sector Sales of Pet Products: Overall and by Pet Food/Treats vs. Non-Food Pet Supplies, 2024, 2025P, and 2029P (billion dollars and percent change)
- Topline Revenues and Growth
- Competitive Landscape
- Omnimarket vs. Omnichannel
- Consumer Priorities in Choosing Where and What to Buy
- Table Especially Important Considerations in Choosing Where to Buy Pet Products, 2025 (percent of pet product shoppers)
- The Omnipresent Internet
- A Limited Moat for Customer Loyalty
- Private Label Outpaces National Brands in Growth
- Table Store Brand Usage Rates by Dog or Cat Product Category, 2021 vs. 2024 (percent of category purchasers)
- Priority on Customer Loyalty and Rewards Programs
- Growing Role for Payment Services
- In-Store and E-Commerce Shopping Patterns
- Topline Retail Shopping Patterns
- Table Where/How Purchased Pet Products in Last 12 Months, 2023 – 2025 (percent of pet product shoppers)
- Table General In-Store vs. Online Shopping Patterns, 2023 – 2025 (percent of pet product shoppers)
- Table Most Recent Purchase of Pet Products: In-Store, Online, by Smartphone App, 2025 (percent of pet product shoppers)
- Topline Retail Shopping Patterns
- Channel Purchasing Patterns
- Mass, Pet Specialty, and Online Share of Pet Product Shoppers
- Table Pet Food Shopper Base for Selected Retail Channels, 2023 vs. 2024 (thousand households)
- Table Pet Food Shopper Base for Selected Retail/E-tail Leaders, 2023 vs. 2024 (thousand households)
- Leading Pet Specialty Retail Chains
- Table Leading Pet Specialty Retailers in North America, 2024 (number of stores)
- The Fresh Food Factor
- Top Websites for Pet Products
- Cross-Shopping Among Top Retailers and E-Tailers
- Table Pet Food Cross-Shopping Indices Across Key Retailers and Retail Classifications, 2024
- Mass, Pet Specialty, and Online Share of Pet Product Shoppers
- Pet Population Trends
- Chapter Highlights
- Overview by Dog/Cat Ownership Classification
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Table Household Ownership Rates by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Household Ownership Base by Dog/Cat-Keeping Classification, 2018 – 2024 (thousands)
- Green Shoots for Dog Population Growth?
- Topline Ownership Rates and Population
- Focus on Dog Population Trends
- Topline Dog Ownership Rates and Population
- Table Dog Ownership, 2018 – 2024 (percent and million households)
- Trends by Number of Dogs Owned
- Table Household Ownership Rates for Dogs: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2024 (percent of US households)
- Table Dog Ownership Distribution by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2024 (percent of dog-owning households)
- Table Household Base of Dog Owners: Overall and by Number of Dogs, 2018 – 2024 (thousands)
- Size of Dogs Owned
- Puppy and Senior Dog Populations
- Table Percentage of Dog-Owning Households with Puppies Under Age 1 or Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2019 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Number of Dog-Owning Households with Puppies Under Age 1 or Senior Dogs Age 7+, 2019 – 2024 (thousands)
- Table Share of Dog Owners with Special-Need Dogs, 2024 (percent)
- Dog Ownership by Generational Cohort
- Table Dog Ownership Trends by Generational Cohort, 2018 – 2024 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)
- Table Gen Z Patterns for Dog Ownership: Overall and by Household Head Status, 2024 (percent)
- Dog Ownership and Household Income
- Table Dog Ownership Trends by Household Income, 2018 – 2024 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)
- Topline Dog Ownership Rates and Population
- Focus on Cat Population Trends
- Topline Cat Ownership Rates and Population
- Table Cat Ownership, 2018 – 2024 (percent and million households)
- Trends by Number of Cats Owned
- Table Household Ownership Rates for Cats: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2024 (percent of US households)
- Table Cat Ownership Distribution by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2024 (percent of cat-owning households)
- Table Household Base of Cat Owners: Overall and by Number of Cats, 2018 – 2024 (thousands)
- Size of Cats Owned
- Kitten and Senior Cat Populations
- Table Percentage of Cat-Owning Households with Kittens Under Age 1 or Senior Cats Age 7+, 2019 – 2024 (percent)
- Table Number of Cat-Owning Households with Kittens Under Age 1 or Senior Cats Age 7+, 2019 – 2024 (thousands)
- Overweight and Special Needs Cats
- Table Share of Cat Owners with Special-Needs Cats, 2024 (percent)
- Cat Ownership by Generational Cohort
- Table Cat Ownership Trends by Generational Cohort, 2018 – 2024 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)
- Cat Ownership and Household Income
- Table Cat Ownership Trends by Household Income, 2018 – 2024 (percent who own, share of total owners, thousand households, and index)
- Topline Cat Ownership Rates and Population
- Ownership Rates for Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats
- 14% of Pet Households Have Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats
- Table Topline Ownership Rates for Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats, 2024 (percent of pet-owning households)
- Skew to Newer Pet Owners
- Table Ownership Indices by Types of Pets Owned: Selected Demographics, 2024 (index)
- 14% of Pet Households Have Pets Other Than Dogs or Cats
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