Executive Summary: India’s pet care market is projected to reach ₹11,167 crore (≈$1.34 billion) by 2031, growing at an 8% CAGR, according to a Euromonitor International report unveiled at the CII India Petcare Summit 2026. Industry leaders argue the next phase of growth depends less on demand alone and more on stronger regulation, veterinary capacity and industry collaboration.
Key Facts
- Market size by 2031
- ₹11,167 crore (≈$1.34B)
- Growth rate
- 8% CAGR, 2026–2031
- Source report
- Euromonitor International — “Pet Care in India: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Companion Care Landscape”
- Event
- CII India Petcare Summit 2026, New Delhi, 10 August 2026
- Packaged-food penetration
- 9% of dogs, 27% of cats
- Pet food share of retail value
- 86%
- Key government bodies
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD); Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS); Animal Welfare Board of India
- Featured companies
- Mars Pet Nutrition India, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina Petcare South Asia, Supertails
What Happened
At the CII India Petcare Summit 2026 — held in New Delhi on 10 August 2026 under the theme “Reimagining the Future of Companion Care” — Euromonitor International unveiled its latest outlook for Indian pet care. The headline figure: the market will surpass ₹11,000 crore by 2031, expanding at an 8% compound annual growth rate from 2026. But the report’s central argument is that scale alone is not the constraint; the sector’s next chapter will be defined by the quality of its regulatory and infrastructure foundations.
Background
India remains a low-penetration market with outsized headroom. Only 9% of dogs and 27% of cats are currently fed packaged pet food, yet pet food already accounts for 86% of pet care retail value. That gap between limited penetration and high category value is precisely what makes India one of the most watched pet care markets in Asia. A generational shift — Millennials and Gen Z increasingly treating pets as family — is pulling demand toward premium, health-focused nutrition.
Industry Context
Globally, pet care is consolidating around science-based nutrition, transparent labelling and verifiable quality. India’s regulators are moving in step: the Bureau of Indian Standards is revising the national pet food standard to align with the latest science and global practice, with stronger labelling and quality requirements. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has repeatedly stressed science-based nutrition, ethical breeding, sustainable manufacturing and veterinary infrastructure as prerequisites for responsible growth.
Market & Business Impact
For multinational and domestic players, the message is a dual opportunity and obligation. A clearer, globally aligned standards regime lowers the cost of investment and builds consumer trust, while stronger veterinary capacity and local manufacturing expand the addressable market beyond metros. Mars Pet Nutrition India, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina Petcare South Asia and digital-first retailer Supertails all framed regulatory alignment as a prerequisite for scaling investment rather than a hurdle to it.
Companies & Brands Involved
The summit convened senior leadership across the ecosystem. Manish Syag, Managing Director of Mars Pet Nutrition India, moderated the opening panel “From Labels to Laws – Building India’s Future-Ready Pet Food Regulatory Ecosystem.” Royal Canin’s Managing Director Satinder Singh described a “pets first, science and trust” framework, while Pallavi Anand, Business Head of Nestlé Purina Petcare South Asia, joined the discussion on collaborative standard-setting. Supertails represented the digital retail and services front.
Data & Evidence
Primary data points (Euromonitor International, CII India Petcare Summit 2026): market value ₹11,167 crore (~$1.34B) by 2031; 8% CAGR 2026–2031; packaged-food penetration 9% (dogs) / 27% (cats); pet food = 86% of pet care retail value. Government voices included Dr. Naveena Kumar (Animal Husbandry Commissioner, DAHD), Dr. Sujit Kumar Dutta (Joint Commissioner, DAHD & Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India), and Pradeep Sharma (Scientist-C & Deputy Director, Bureau of Indian Standards).
What This Means for the Pet Industry
India’s pet care growth is real but conditional. The 8% CAGR is achievable only if regulation, veterinary capacity and industry collaboration mature together; without them, demand alone will not convert headroom into durable, trusted market value. For global suppliers, the window to build local capability and shape standards is now.
Key Takeaways
- India’s pet care market is forecast at ₹11,167 crore (≈$1.34B) by 2031, an 8% CAGR.
- Penetration is still low — 9% of dogs and 27% of cats eat packaged food — but pet food drives 86% of category value.
- Regulators (DAHD, BIS, AWBI) are rewriting pet food standards around science, labelling and quality.
- Mars, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina and Supertails tied future investment to regulatory alignment.
- The next growth phase depends on veterinary capacity and collaboration, not demand alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the projected size of India’s pet care market by 2031?
Euromonitor International projects ₹11,167 crore (about $1.34 billion) by 2031, growing at an 8% CAGR from 2026.
What is driving pet care growth in India?
A generational shift in which Millennials and Gen Z treat pets as family is lifting demand for premium, health-focused nutrition, on top of a very low packaged-food penetration base.
Which government bodies are shaping pet food regulation?
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Animal Welfare Board of India are leading standard revisions, labelling and veterinary infrastructure.
Which companies were featured at the CII summit?
Mars Pet Nutrition India, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina Petcare South Asia and Supertails, among others.
Sources
- Euromonitor International — “Pet Care in India: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Companion Care Landscape” (presented at CII India Petcare Summit 2026).
- CII India Petcare Summit 2026, New Delhi, 10 August 2026 — “Reimagining the Future of Companion Care” (reported by The Tribune / LatestLY / Devdiscourse).
- Bureau of Indian Standards — revision of India’s pet food standard (labelling & quality requirements).
