T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Pet food and pet care products in Italy - statistics & facts
Around 10.2 million cats and 8.8 million dogs roam the households of Italian families. Italy has in fact one of the largest domestic animal populations in Europe. Notably, the country boasts the highest number of birds on the whole continent, with almost 13 million ornamental birds residing in Italian households. Moreover, there are just under two million small animals and 1.4 million reptiles found in these households. Nevertheless, the most numerous pets in Italy are fish, with a count of nearly 30 million. As a result, not only cats and dogs, but also small pets such as hamsters and rodents are popular pets in the country.
Dogs and cats
While the population of small pets is larger in absolute numbers, cats and dogs are just more commonly found in Italian homes. In 2018, some 27 percent of households owned at least one dog, while about 18 percent had a cat. By 2022, these percentages had equalized, with both dogs and cats being owned by 25 percent of households. Consequently, the food market for cats and dogs has become a significant industry. The sales value of dog and cat food reached nearly 2.8 billion euros in 2022 and showed a constant increase in recent years. Food for cats was worth more than for dogs. Indeed, cat food sales reached almost 1.5 billion euros, while dog food reached under 1.3 billion euros in the same period. In terms of food types, cats showed a preference for wet food, whereas dogs seemed to lean towards dry food options.Distribution channels
Data on the different distribution channels show new emerging trends in purchasing habits. Italians seem to prefer buying pet food in supermarkets, which held the largest market value, followed by traditional stores. In 2022, sales in traditional pet shops accounted for roughly 674 million euros, registering an increase in value but not in volume. Pet shop chains, which pose increasing competition for both traditional pet shops and retail stores, experienced significant growth in the sales value of pet food, surpassing 385.1 million euros in 2022.
