Each year, PetFoodProcessing.com publishes a “State of the US Pet Food, Treat Industry” report. The latest report, for the past 52 weeks ending 8/10/25, gives us statistics to what US pet owners are buying for their pets (and what they are not buying).
Dry dog food sales dropped 2.9% in the past year, but dry cat food sales rose 3.3%. With dog food, sales for almost every style category dropped in this time frame EXCEPT the category of refrigerated/frozen dog food which rose by a whopping 17.8%. This category (refrigerated/frozen) includes human grade pet foods.
Of the leading manufacturers of dry dog food, almost all saw sales losses. Purina sales of dry dog food saw a loss of almost 1%, Mars Petcare sales of dry dog food dropped 10%, Mars Petcare brand Champion Pet Foods also saw a sales loss of 4.4%. KLN brands (Tuffy’s and Nutrisource) saw sales of dry dog food drop almost 21%.
Dry cat food sales were very different than dry dog food. Almost all brands of dry cat food saw sales increases in the same 52 week period.
The sales stats for leading refrigerated/frozen dog and cat foods were:
To read more in this report, Click Here.
Note: Please be aware that just because a pet food is refrigerated/frozen or displays beautiful images of food on their label – does not guarantee the product is made with edible (human grade) ingredients. We have already seen some of the big pet feed brands enter into this style of pet food, it is certain more will follow. Pet owners need to be diligent in doing their research before they trust the brand with their pet’s life.
For starters, ask the manufacturer:
- Do you guarantee all ingredients, including supplements, are human edible/human grade?
- What testing is regularly performed on raw ingredients, and finished pet foods?
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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T Allen
October 30, 2025 at 2:33 pm
That is really sad about the rise in dry food for cats. Not just because of the toxic garbage in it but because cats don’t drink water like dogs do. If a cat it drinking water it is really thirsty and will be in a continuous state of dehydration all the time, leading to poor health. We need to do a better job of educating people on how to feed cats. If you have to feed kibble at least add a good amount of water to it at every meal!
Cece
October 30, 2025 at 4:33 pm
This is powerful evidence! Pet owners are finally paying attention to the beneficial quality of human-grade pet food and waking up to the fact that “you are what you eat”. Kibble manufacturers should be absolutely ashamed of themselves! Our pets deserve so much better care.
Bonnie S Morris
October 31, 2025 at 10:47 pm
This absolutely thrills me.
The best possible news, except for the cats. I’m so thankful there are people in this world who are fighting back.
Thank you Susan for all you do. If we are ever lucky enough to meet you can expect a huge hug. Told you before “we love you at my house”.