Feline Spending Surge Boosts Pet Retailers as Dog Sales Soften

Cat owners are increasingly opening their wallets for their feline companions, providing a bright spot for pet food manufacturers and retailers amid broader economic headwinds.

Despite consumers closely monitoring their spending as prices of fuel and groceries climb, sales of cat food and other cat-related products are on the rise, according to major industry players. Companies such as General Mills, Chewy, and Petco Health and Wellness Co. have all highlighted the cat segment as a key growth driver during their recent quarterly earnings calls.

In contrast, sales of dog products continue to soften. The upward trajectory of cat sales aligns with data from the American Pet Products Association, which reported a 5% increase in cat ownership in 2025, estimating that 53 million households now share their homes with cats. This modest growth followed a massive 23% surge in cat ownership in 2024.

Industry executives suggest that factors driving the rise in cat ownership include the relative ease and affordability of cat care compared to dogs, as well as their adaptability to smaller living spaces like apartments.

General Mills reported double-digit percentage growth in cat food sales, including its popular Tiki Cat brand, during its recent quarterly report. Conversely, dog food sales fell by a high-single-digit percentage. These contrasting dynamics helped General Mills’ North American pet segment post net sales roughly in line with the previous year’s period.

CEO Jeff Harmening attributed the trend on an earnings call to a shift in consumer adoption, noting that Americans are adopting more cats and fewer dogs.

However, Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb emphasized that challenges in the dog food division cannot be solely attributed to pet ownership trends, stating that the company must re-evaluate its product proposition, packaging, marketing, and communication strategies. “We really have to relook at the entire proposition of the product, the packaging, the marketing, the communication, we have work to do,” she said. “And we had the same challenge on our cat Tastefuls business a few years ago, and it took us about 18 to 24 months to improve it, and that business is back to growth now.”

Other major pet retailers have reported similar contrasting trends between cat and dog products.

During a Sept. 9 earnings call, Chewy CEO Sumit Singh observed that while the dog segment appears to be worsening, the cat segment is strengthening.

Similarly, Petco highlighted strong sales of cat products in its second quarter, particularly following the launch of its new cat treat brand, Candy Shop, announced on a Sept. 2 earnings call. “In the second quarter, we introduced new high-impact brands that resonate strongly with cat parents, generating nice gains across consumables, supplements, bedding and furniture,” CEO Joel D. Anderson stated on the company’s earnings call.

Anderson noted that Petco’s second-quarter growth in the cat segment was a result of focusing on industry trends and improving their offerings. He pointed out that the dog business remains soft with adoptions down slightly, underscoring the importance of a diversified portfolio. “It just shows for you why it’s so important to be diversified. And with us having great trends in cat, really growing companion animal, our services business is growing. We’ve got a lot of diversification to not rely solely on dog,” Anderson explained.

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