India Pet Care Market Outlook to 2035

The report titled “India Pet Care Market Outlook to 2035 – By Pet Type, By Product Category, By Service Type, By Distribution Channel, and By Region” provides a comprehensive analysis of the pet care industry in India. The report covers an overview and genesis of the market, overall market size in terms of value, detailed market segmentation; trends and developments, regulatory and compliance landscape, buyer-level demand profiling, key issues and challenges, and competitive landscape including competition scenario, cross-comparison, opportunities and bottlenecks, and company profiling of major players in the India pet care market. The report concludes with future market projections based on pet humanization trends, rising urban middle-class incomes, nuclear family structures, increasing adoption of companion animals, veterinary infrastructure expansion, e-commerce penetration, and cause-and-effect relationships illustrating the major growth opportunities and risks shaping the market through 2035.

India Pet Care Market Overview and Size

The India pet care market is valued at approximately ~USD ~ billion, representing the combined consumption of pet food, pet healthcare products and services, grooming and hygiene products, accessories, and allied services catering to companion animals, primarily dogs, cats, birds, and small mammals. The market has transitioned from a largely unorganized, need-based segment to a structured and brand-driven ecosystem, supported by increasing awareness around animal health, nutrition, and overall well-being.

Pet care demand in India is closely linked to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes among middle- and upper-income households, and a marked shift in consumer attitudes toward pets as family members rather than utility animals. This “pet humanization” trend is driving higher spend per pet across premium nutrition, preventive healthcare, grooming, insurance, and specialized services. Urban households increasingly seek scientifically formulated pet food, veterinary-recommended supplements, and professional services that mirror human healthcare and lifestyle standards.

Dogs account for the dominant share of the Indian pet care market, driven by higher adoption rates, cultural preferences, and greater spending intensity per animal. However, the cat care segment is expanding at a faster pace, supported by growing adoption in apartments and metro cities, lower maintenance perceptions, and increasing availability of specialized cat food and litter products. The market remains highly urban-centric, with Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities contributing the majority of organized pet care spending, while Tier-3 cities and semi-urban regions represent a long-term growth frontier.

Regionally, North and West India represent the largest pet care demand centers due to higher urban concentration, income levels, and early adoption of organized pet care products. Southern India shows strong growth momentum supported by high awareness levels, a dense network of veterinary clinics, and rapid e-commerce adoption. Eastern India remains relatively underpenetrated but is witnessing gradual growth driven by rising pet ownership in urban clusters and improving access to branded products through online platforms and modern retail.

What Factors are Leading to the Growth of the India Pet Care Market:

Rising pet ownership and humanization trends strengthen long-term demand fundamentals: India has witnessed a steady increase in pet adoption over the past decade, particularly among young professionals, nuclear families, and urban households. Changing lifestyles, delayed parenthood, emotional companionship needs, and increased acceptance of pets in housing societies have contributed to a structurally expanding pet population. As pets are increasingly viewed as family members, owners demonstrate higher willingness to spend on quality nutrition, preventive healthcare, grooming, and comfort-related products. This behavioral shift directly increases average annual spending per pet and supports sustained market growth.

Premiumization of pet food and healthcare drives value expansion beyond volume growth: The Indian pet care market is undergoing a transition from homemade food and basic treatments toward branded, scientifically formulated pet food and structured veterinary care. Demand is rising for breed-specific food, age-based nutrition, functional treats, supplements, vaccines, diagnostics, and chronic disease management solutions. Pet owners are increasingly guided by veterinarians, online content, and peer communities, leading to higher acceptance of premium and specialized offerings. This premiumization trend significantly enhances market value growth even where pet population growth is moderate.

E-commerce, digital platforms, and organized retail improve accessibility and category awareness: Online pet care platforms and e-commerce marketplaces have transformed product availability, price transparency, and consumer education across urban and semi-urban India. Subscription models for pet food, doorstep delivery of medicines, tele-veterinary consultations, and digital grooming bookings reduce friction for pet owners and encourage regular consumption. Organized pet specialty stores and veterinary chains further enhance trust and brand visibility. This expanding omni-channel ecosystem plays a critical role in formalizing the market and accelerating adoption across newer consumer segments.

Which Industry Challenges Have Impacted the Growth of the India Pet Care Market:

High price sensitivity and uneven affordability limit penetration beyond urban and premium consumers: While pet ownership is rising across India, discretionary spending on premium pet food, veterinary care, grooming, and wellness services remains concentrated in Tier-1 and select Tier-2 cities. A large share of pet owners continues to rely on homemade diets, low-cost local feed, and reactive healthcare rather than preventive care. Premium imported pet food, specialized treatments, diagnostics, and grooming services are often perceived as expensive, limiting adoption among middle- and lower-income households. This price sensitivity constrains volume expansion and slows the transition from unorganized to organized pet care consumption in large parts of the country.

Fragmented veterinary infrastructure and uneven service quality create trust and access gaps: India’s veterinary care ecosystem remains highly fragmented, with wide variation in service quality, diagnostic capability, and clinical expertise across regions. While metro cities have seen the emergence of modern veterinary clinics, hospital chains, and specialty services, many Tier-2, Tier-3, and semi-urban areas lack adequate access to trained veterinarians, advanced diagnostics, and emergency care. Inconsistent service standards and limited specialist availability reduce consumer confidence in formal veterinary care, leading to delayed treatment, underutilization of preventive services, and lower lifetime healthcare spending per pet.

Regulatory ambiguity and limited standardization affect product quality and market formalization: The Indian pet care market operates under a regulatory environment that is still evolving, particularly for pet food formulation standards, labeling norms, supplements, and nutraceuticals. Limited clarity and enforcement around quality benchmarks enable the presence of substandard or non-compliant products, especially in the unorganized segment. This creates uneven competition for organized players investing in quality assurance, compliance, and consumer education, while also increasing the risk of misinformation and inconsistent outcomes for pet health.

What are the Regulations and Initiatives which have Governed the Market:

Food safety, labeling, and quality norms influencing pet food manufacturing and imports: Pet food products in India are governed by food safety and import regulations that specify requirements around ingredient sourcing, labeling, shelf life, and safety compliance. These norms influence formulation decisions, packaging standards, and documentation for both domestic manufacturers and importers. As regulatory scrutiny increases, organized players are required to invest in testing, certification, and transparent labeling, shaping competitive differentiation around trust, safety, and nutritional credibility.

Animal welfare regulations shaping veterinary practices, breeding, and retail standards: Animal welfare laws and guidelines regulate aspects such as ethical treatment, breeding practices, sale of animals, vaccination norms, and veterinary procedures. These regulations impact pet shops, breeders, veterinary clinics, and service providers, influencing operational standards and compliance costs. Increased enforcement and public awareness around animal welfare are gradually pushing the ecosystem toward more responsible practices, indirectly supporting demand for professional veterinary care and ethical pet services.

Government and civic initiatives promoting responsible pet ownership and vaccination coverage: Municipal bodies and animal husbandry departments across India increasingly promote initiatives related to pet registration, vaccination drives, sterilization programs, and rabies control. While primarily focused on public health and animal welfare, these initiatives also contribute to higher awareness among pet owners about preventive healthcare, vaccination schedules, and the importance of regular veterinary engagement. Over time, this improves baseline healthcare penetration and supports the long-term expansion of the organized pet care market.

India Pet Care Market Segmentation

By Pet Type: Dogs dominate the India pet care market. Dogs account for the largest share of pet care spending in India due to higher ownership levels, stronger emotional attachment, and significantly higher per-pet expenditure on food, healthcare, grooming, and accessories. Dog owners are more likely to adopt branded pet food, routine vaccinations, supplements, grooming services, and training support. Cats represent a fast-growing segment, particularly in metro cities and apartment-led housing formats, driven by lower maintenance requirements and rising availability of specialized cat food, litter, and hygiene products. Other pets such as birds, fish, and small mammals remain niche and largely price-sensitive, with limited penetration of premium products.

Dogs  ~65 %
Cats  ~20 %
Birds & Small Mammals  ~10 %
Fish & Others  ~5 %

By Product & Service Category: Pet food forms the backbone of market value.
Pet food represents the largest and most recurring expenditure category in the Indian pet care market, supported by increasing adoption of packaged and nutritionally formulated diets. Dry food dominates volumes, while wet food and treats drive premiumization. Veterinary healthcare and services constitute the second-largest segment, encompassing consultations, vaccinations, diagnostics, medicines, and preventive care. Grooming, hygiene, accessories, toys, and emerging services such as boarding, training, and insurance continue to expand but remain secondary in value contribution.

Pet Food  ~55 %
Veterinary Products & Services  ~25 %
Grooming & Hygiene Products / Services  ~10 %
Accessories, Toys & Others  ~10 %

Competitive Landscape in India Pet Care Market

The India pet care market exhibits low-to-moderate concentration, characterized by a mix of multinational brands, large domestic players, and a long tail of regional and unorganized manufacturers and service providers. Competitive intensity is shaped by brand trust, veterinary recommendation strength, pricing strategy, distribution reach, and consumer education capabilities. While multinational brands dominate the premium pet food segment, Indian companies remain strong in mass and mid-priced offerings, supported by local sourcing, cost advantages, and expanding retail footprints.

The market is witnessing increasing formalization, with organized players investing in veterinary engagement programs, digital marketing, e-commerce partnerships, and portfolio expansion across nutrition, healthcare, and services. At the same time, unorganized players continue to compete aggressively on price, particularly in Tier-3 cities and semi-urban markets.

Some of the Recent Competitor Trends and Key Information About Competitors Include:

Mars Petcare (Pedigree, Whiskas): Mars remains the market leader in India’s organized pet food segment, leveraging strong brand recall, deep veterinary engagement, and wide retail penetration. The company focuses on expanding packaged food adoption among first-time pet owners while strengthening premium offerings through targeted education and distribution programs.

Nestlé Purina: Purina operates largely in the premium and super-premium nutrition space, emphasizing scientific formulation, life-stage nutrition, and veterinary-backed credibility. Its growth strategy in India is centered on urban consumers, specialty retail, and professional recommendations rather than mass-market pricing.

Drools Pet Food: Drools has emerged as the leading domestic pet food brand by volume, competing aggressively on value-for-money positioning while steadily upgrading product quality and branding. The company benefits from local manufacturing, competitive pricing, and strong presence in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Royal Canin: Royal Canin maintains a strong premium positioning focused on breed-specific, size-specific, and therapeutic diets. Its growth in India is closely tied to veterinary prescription channels and increasing acceptance of specialized nutrition among informed urban pet owners.

Himalaya Pet Wellness: Leveraging its ayurvedic and herbal legacy, Himalaya focuses on supplements, wellness products, and preventive healthcare solutions. The brand resonates with consumers seeking natural alternatives and complements conventional pet food and veterinary treatments.

What Lies Ahead for India Pet Care Market?

The India pet care market is expected to expand strongly by 2035, supported by rising pet ownership, rapid urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and the continued shift toward pets as family members. Growth momentum is further enhanced by the premiumization of pet nutrition, expansion of organized veterinary care and grooming services, and rising digital adoption that improves product access across Tier-1, Tier-2, and increasingly Tier-3 cities. As households increasingly seek standardized nutrition routines, preventive healthcare, and lifestyle-oriented services, the Indian pet care ecosystem will continue to formalize and evolve into a broader “companion animal wellbeing” market through 2035.

Transition Toward Premium Nutrition, Functional Treats, and Condition-Specific Diets: The future of India’s pet care market will see a continued shift from homemade feeding and basic packaged diets toward premium, science-backed nutrition. Demand is increasing for life-stage diets (puppy/kitten, adult, senior), breed and size-specific formulations, sensitive stomach and skin-coat solutions, and therapeutic diets recommended by veterinarians. Functional treats, supplements, and nutraceuticals are expected to grow rapidly as owners increasingly adopt preventive wellness routines such as joint support, immunity boosters, dental care, and gut health. Companies that build veterinary credibility, transparent labeling, and consistent quality will capture higher-value demand and strengthen long-term consumer trust.

Growing Emphasis on Preventive Veterinary Care, Diagnostics, and Specialty Clinical Services: Veterinary care is expected to move steadily from reactive treatment toward preventive and continuous care, driven by improved awareness, higher spending capacity, and better access to clinics and hospitals in urban India. Vaccination adherence, regular deworming, flea/tick control, basic diagnostics, and chronic disease management (skin issues, obesity, diabetes, kidney conditions) will become more mainstream. As clinic chains and modern pet hospitals expand, demand will rise for imaging, pathology, surgeries, dental care, emergency services, and specialist consultations. Players enabling reliable service standards, better diagnostics access, and integrated healthcare pathways will benefit from rising lifetime healthcare spend per pet.

Acceleration of E-commerce, Subscriptions, and Digital Pet Care Platforms: Digital channels will remain a key growth engine through 2035, with increasing adoption of e-commerce and app-based platforms for repeat purchases, subscriptions, and service bookings. Subscription models for pet food and consumables (treats, litter, supplements), home delivery of medicines, tele-veterinary consultations, and grooming/boarding bookings reduce friction and increase purchase frequency. As logistics networks deepen and digital payments become ubiquitous, online penetration is expected to expand beyond metros into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, enabling faster market formalization and greater brand discovery.

Expansion of Pet Services: Grooming, Boarding, Training, Daycare, and Insurance-Led Protection: With growing nuclear-family structures and busy urban lifestyles, demand for pet services will rise meaningfully by 2035. Professional grooming and hygiene services will expand beyond premium consumers as pet owners seek convenience and consistent quality. Boarding, daycare, and training will grow in high-density cities, driven by travel frequency and work patterns. Pet insurance is expected to gradually scale as awareness improves and more owners seek financial protection against high-cost surgeries and hospitalization. Service providers that combine trust, standardized operating processes, and omni-channel access will be best positioned to scale.

India Pet Care Market Segmentation

By Pet Type
• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds & Small Mammals
• Fish & Others

By Product Category
• Pet Food (Dry Food, Wet Food, Treats)
• Pet Healthcare (Medicines, Vaccines, Supplements, Preventives)
• Grooming & Hygiene (Shampoos, Trimmers, Hygiene Products)
• Accessories (Leashes, Collars, Toys, Beds, Apparel, Litter)

By Service Type
• Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals
• Grooming Services (Salon / At-Home)
• Boarding / Daycare
• Training & Behavior Services
• Pet Insurance & Wellness Plans

By Distribution Channel
• Pet Specialty Stores
• Veterinary Clinics & Pharmacies
• Modern Trade / General Retail
• Online Marketplaces & D2C Platforms

By Region
• North India
• West India
• South India
• East India

Players Mentioned in the Report:

• Mars Petcare (Pedigree, Whiskas)
• Nestlé Purina
• Royal Canin
• Drools
• Himalaya Pet Wellness
• Heads Up For Tails (HUFT)
• Supertails and other digital-first pet care platforms
• Regional pet food manufacturers, veterinary clinic chains, grooming networks, and pet specialty retailers

Key Target Audience

• Pet food manufacturers, importers, and ingredient suppliers
• Veterinary clinic chains, pet hospitals, and diagnostic labs
• Pet grooming, boarding, daycare, and training service providers
• Pet specialty retailers and e-commerce / D2C pet care platforms
• Animal healthcare companies (vaccines, parasiticides, supplements)
• Investors and private equity players tracking consumer healthcare and lifestyle categories
• Real estate developers and mall operators enabling pet retail formats
• Regulators, municipal bodies, and animal welfare organizations

Time Period:

Historical Period: 2019–2024
Base Year: 2025
Forecast Period: 2025–2035