Cat Ownership Growth Boosts Pet Retailers' Sales
Pet retailers are seeing increased sales driven by rising cat ownership, with General Mills, Chewy, and Petco highlighting strong performance from their cat product lines during recent earnings calls. The American Pet Products Association reported a 5% increase in cat households in 2025 following a significant surge the previous year. Executives attribute this trend to cats being more affordable and easier to care for compared to dogs, especially appealing to apartment dwellers. In contrast, sales of dog-related products are softening across these companies. General Mills reported double-digit growth in cat food while experiencing high single-digit declines in its dog food segment. Chewy's CEO noted worsening trends in the dog market and strengthening performance from cats, while Petco emphasized new product launches targeting cat owners to drive second-quarter gains. The shift is prompting retailers like General Mills to reevaluate their strategies for dog products, with executives acknowledging a need to improve packaging, marketing, and overall offerings. Diversification into growing segments such as cat care appears critical for maintaining revenue growth in the face of declining demand from dog owners.
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Topics: cat ownership trends consumer spending earnings calls pet food