Market Trends of south america cat food Industry
Brazil accounted for the largest cat population in the region owing to their adaptability to smaller living spaces and lower maintenance
- The pet cat population in South America has been steadily increasing, and it increased by 13.3% between 2019 and 2022. This upward trend could be attributed to the higher adoption rates of cats as companions during the extended periods of home confinement brought on by the pandemic. Among the countries in the region, Brazil had the largest cat population, accounting for about 55.5% of the total cat population as of 2022. In South America, cats comprised 19.3% of the overall pet population in 2022. This relatively lower proportion of cats could be attributed to the cultural perception that dogs are more practical and valued pets. As a result, the number of cats represented only 50.0% of the total dog population in the region.
- However, the adaptability of cats to smaller living spaces, without feeling confined, coupled with their lower maintenance costs compared to dogs, contributed to an increased preference for cat ownership. This trend led to a significant rise in the pet cat population across the region. In Brazil alone, as of 2020, about 14.3 million households owned cats as pets. Similarly, in Argentina, the rate of cat ownership was higher, with 31.4% of households, or 4.6 million households, having cats as pets.
- An important emerging trend in the region is the establishment of cat cafes. As of 2021, around 20 cat cafes were in Brazil, providing customers with a unique opportunity to enjoy a drink while interacting with cats in a comfortable setting. This growing trend of cat cafes and the cat's ability to adopt smaller living spaces can further enhance the adoption of cats as popular pets in the region.
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Higher-income pet owners' preference for natural ingredient cat food and growing product premiumization driving pet expenditure
- The expenditure on pet cats in South America steadily increased by about 22.3% between 2019 and 2022. This increase was mainly due to the rising pet ownership across the region. For instance, the number of households owning a pet cat in Brazil increased by about 11.1% between 2016 and 2020, while in Argentina, it increased by about 10.3%. Pet owners in the region are increasingly focused on pet humanization, and higher-income pet owners are driving sales growth through the use of natural ingredients and product premiumization. For instance, the retail sales value of premium dry cat food in Brazil saw a rise from USD 100.2 million in 2016 to USD 122.4 million in 2022, with a CAGR of 3.4%, reflecting the rising demand for premium cat products.
- However, with an economic downturn prevailing across the region, price sensitivity has become a crucial factor in choosing cat food brands. In Argentina, pet owners frequently switch brands or opt for the most affordable options to manage their expenses. The largest portion of sales in 2020 belonged to 'Economy' food brands, which accounted for 49.5% of the total dry cat food sales value. This trend indicates the leading preference for cost-effective cat food options.
- Offline retail channels such as pet shops, vet clinics, and supermarkets are the preferred distribution channels for purchasing pet food products in the region. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce's share in pet food distribution reached 11.1% as of 2022. The higher consumption of premium pet food and growing awareness about the benefits of healthy, nutritious pet food helped increase pet expenditure in the region.
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