The pet-raising pattern has changed drastically in a decade, with cats becoming young people’s top choice. The 2026 “China Pet Industry White Paper” shows the 2025 urban dog-cat consumption market hit 312.6 billion yuan, with cat consumption growing much faster than dogs and cat numbers leading by nearly 20 million. This article analyzes the market logic, reasons for the cat economy’s surpass and future trends.
Core Data Released: 312.6B Market, Cat-Dog Pattern Rewritten
The 2026 “China Pet Industry White Paper” shows the 2025 urban pet market grew steadily, with a “cats stronger than dogs” pattern.
Core Data Summary:
✅ Total Market: 312.6B yuan (2025, +4.1% YoY); expected to hit 405B yuan in 2028 (CAGR >8%).
✅ Quantity: 126M total dogs & cats; 72.89M cats (+1.9%), 53.43M dogs (+1.6%); cats lead by nearly 20M, gap expanding.
✅ Consumption Growth: Cat consumption 152B yuan (+5.2%), dog consumption 160.6B yuan (+3.2%); cat consumption to surpass dogs in 1-2 years.
✅ Per-Pet Consumption: 3,006 yuan/dog annually, 2,085 yuan/cat; cats have larger base and higher penetration, greater potential.
The cat economy has overtaken the dog economy via quantity and growth advantages, becoming the core growth engine.
3 Core Logics for Cat Economy’s Surpass
The cat economy’s surpass is no accident, but a result of fitting contemporary lifestyles, emotional needs and policies.
Logic 1: Space Adaptation — Cats Fit Small-Space Urban Living
With China’s urbanization rate over 67%, most young people live in small apartments/rentals. Dogs need outdoor walking space, while cats need no walking and adapt well to small spaces, making them ideal for renters.
Logic 2: Time Adaptation — Unobtrusive Companionship for Busy People
Busy young people (996 work schedule) have little time. Dogs are gregarious and anxious when alone, while cats are independent, offering companionship without disturbance.
Logic 3: Policy & Cost — Lower Threshold for Cats
Dog control policies (registration, leashing) increase costs; cats have no policy restrictions. Cat-raising costs (food, grooming, medical) are lower than dogs, fitting young people’s budgets.
Segmented Track: Cat vs Dog Consumption
Food, medical care, supplies and services are core tracks; consumption preferences differ, boosting the cat economy.
1. Food Track: Freshness Trend, Clear Preferences
Food accounts for 53.7% of the market; cat food grows faster.
✅ Cat Food: Baked, fresh and freeze-dried food are popular; demand for cans and functional snacks rises.
✅ Dog Food: Freeze-dried/baked food in demand; dried meat is top choice, with focus on immunity/joint snacks.
2. Supplies Track: Cat Litter as Necessity, Smart Supplies Boom
Supplies account for 12.2%; cat supplies grow faster, with cat litter and smart products as highlights.
✅ Cat Supplies: 94.2% of cat owners buy litter (45.8% mixed); demand for bath lotion and travel supplies grows.
✅ Dog Supplies: Toys/cushions mainstream; smart supplies grow slower and are less segmented.
3. Medical Track: Rising Demand, Differentiated Prevention
Medical care accounts for 27.6%; demand is strong, with differences in consultation reasons and prevention needs.
✅ Cat Medical: 39.6% for diagnosis (gastroenteritis, otitis common); focus on skin care, hair removal and physical exams.
✅ Dog Medical: 52.0% for diagnosis (gastroenteritis, skin diseases common); focus on immunity/joint health, demand slightly down.
4. Service Track: Refinement, Faster Cat Service Growth
Services account for 6.5%; cat services are more convenient and refined, fitting young people’s needs.
✅ Cat Services: Home feeding/grooming in high demand; cat funeral/insurance penetration rises, emotional services premium.
✅ Dog Services: Traditional grooming/boarding; slow growth, lack of innovation.
Future Trends: 405B Market in 2028
The report predicts 405B yuan urban dog-cat market in 2028 (218.4B cat consumption, 192.3B dog consumption), with 3 key growth directions.
Trend 1: Accelerated Compliance, Enterprise Shuffling
Stricter regulations will eliminate non-compliant brands; compliant, quality-focused cat-related enterprises will gain more market share, supported by policies.
Trend 2: Consumption Upgrade, Driven by Emotion + Health
Nearly 90% of pet owners treat pets as family; cat consumption upgrades to “quality living”, with high-end food, smart supplies and health care (chronic disease, elderly care) as highlights.
Trend 3: Technology Empowerment, Segmented Tracks Boom
AI penetrates the cat economy; smart supplies become standard. Exotic pets and elderly cats are booming segments, with growing demand for elderly cat products.
FAQs (Must-Read for New Owners & Practitioners)
5 core questions to help avoid pitfalls.
Q1: Is raising a cat or dog cheaper in 2025?
Cats are cheaper: 2,085 yuan/year vs 3,006 yuan/dog (gap in food, grooming, medical). High-end raising narrows the gap, depending on habits.
Q2: Why is mixed cat litter mainstream? How to choose?
Mixed litter combines tofu (dissolvable) and bentonite (clumping), deodorant and easy to clean (45.8% market share). Choose by city: tofu (1st-tier), mixed (2nd-tier), bentonite (3rd-tier+); focus on clumping, deodorant and dust.
Q3: Which tracks should practitioners focus on?
Prioritize 3 tracks: ① Cat food (fresh, functional, high-end cans); ② Cat supplies (smart litter boxes, traction ropes); ③ Cat services (home feeding, grooming); focus on elderly cat products.
