For years, the U.S. pet food business has been built around dogs, with cats treated as a smaller, secondary opportunity. Packaged Facts analysts suggest that this dynamic may be increasingly out of date as 2025 gives way to 2024. In “Pet Food in the US, 19th Edition (November 2025),” Packaged Facts reports that dog ownership has declined in recent years, especially among Gen X, Baby Boomer, and older senior households, while the number of cat-owning households has increased between 2021 and 2025. At the same time, cat ownership has held up better among older consumers than dog ownership, helping to stabilize and grow the feline base even as dog numbers retreat. Taken together, these shifts point to a “cat renaissance” with real consequences for how manufacturers and retailers plan their portfolios.
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