Pet Treats and Chews in the U.S., 4th Edition


Attention: There is an updated edition available for this report.

Pet Treats and Chews in the U.S., 4th Edition

Building on analyses presented in previous editions of this report, this fully updated fourth edition breaks out historical and projected retail sales from 2016 through 2025 across four categories of dog and cat treats and chews: indulgent treats, rawhide/long-lasting chews, functional treats/chews, and dental treats/chews. The report also explores competitive strategies of key players, trends in marketing and new product development, and retail dynamics including the e-commerce boom and omnichannel marketing. The analysis features data from Packaged Facts’ Surveys of Pet Owners as well as the MRI-Simmons National Consumer Study database.



  • Executive Summary
    • Market Trends
      • Introduction
      • Report Methodology
      • Market Size and Composition
      • Market Outlook
      • Looking Ahead
      • Competitive Overview
      • Market Leaders
      • The Retail Landscape
      • Treats and Chews Follow Pet Food Trends
      • Made in the U.S.A. Top Product Claim
      • Natural and Organic Treats
      • Humanization
      • Functional Treats
      • Dental Treats and Chews
      • Alternative Protein Treats Fueled by Innovative Sourcing
      • High-Protein Treats
      • Limited- and Single-Ingredient Treats and Chews
      • Sustainability
      • Trends in Rawhides and Long-Lasting Edible Chews
      • Trends in Cat Treats
      • Note on Pet Population Figures
      • Dog Population Trends
      • Cat Population Trends
      • Pet Treat Purchasing Patterns
    • Opportunities
      • Health and Wellness
      • Functional Products
      • CBD
      • Pandemic-Related Changes to "Treat" Time
      • Cat Treats
      • Alternative Proteins
      • Sourcing and Transparency
      • Subscription Boxes
      • Omnichannel Marketing Replacing In-Store Experiences
      • Creative Handling of Supply Chain Challenges
  • Market Trends
    • Chapter Highlights
    • Introduction
      • Market Definition
      • Four Product Categories
      • Other Marketing Classifications
      • Report Methodology
    • Market Size and Composition
      • Sales Growth Accelerates During Pandemic
        • Table U.S. Retail Sales of Pet Treats & Chews, 2016-2021P (million dollars)
        • Table U.S. Retail Sales of Pet Treats & Chews: Dog vs. Cat, 2016-2021P (dollars in millions)
      • Indulgent Treats Tops in Sales
        • Table Pet Treats & Chews Sales by Animal Type, 2021P (percent and dollars in millions)
      • Sales by Distribution Channel
    • Market Outlook
      • COVID-Spurred Growth Powers Treats Market
      • Pet Owners Rely on Pet Treats & Chews
      • COVID-19 Effects Still Felt Throughout Pet Market
      • Pet Treats Provide "Family" Bonding Moments
        • Table Level of Agreement with Statement: "I consider my cats/dogs to be part of the family", February 2021 (percent of pet owners)
      • Treats for Training
      • Increased Focus on Health and Wellness
        • Table Overview of Senior Pet (Age 7+) Population: Dogs vs. Cats, 2014-2020 (percent of households and number of households in millions)
      • Functional Pet Treats Compete with Other Treatments
      • Pet Owners Remain Vigilant on Pet Treat Safety
      • Safety and Transparency Go Hand in Hand
      • Opportunities in Cat Treats
      • Competition from Wet Pet Food
      • Pandemic Continues to Wreak Havoc on Supply Chain
    • Looking Ahead
      • Pet Treats to Reach $15 Billion by 2025
        • Table U.S. Retail Sales of Pet Treats & Chews, 2020-2025 (dollars in millions)
  • Competitive Trends
    • Chapter Highlights
    • Competitive Overview
      • Market Structure and Retail Dynamics
      • M&A and Investment Activity
      • Plant Expansions, Line Extensions, Packaging Changes
    • Market Leaders
      • Pet Treat Sales Controlled by Big Five
        • Table Select Marketers and Brands of Pet Treats, 2021
      • Pet Owners Loyal to Food, Treat Brands
    • The Retail Landscape
      • Pandemic Alters Shopping Habits
      • Private-Label Treats Follow Trends
        • Table Select Private-Label Treat Brands, 2021
      • Retailer-Exclusive Products
      • Autoship and Treat Subscription Boxes
      • Petco Removes Rawhides from Offerings
  • Marketing & New Product Trends
    • Chapter Highlights
    • Trends in Treats and Chews
      • Treats and Chews Follow Pet Food Trends
      • Made in the U.S.A. Top Product Claim
      • Natural and Organic Treats
      • Humanization
      • Functional Treats
      • Dental Treats and Chews
      • Alternative Protein Treats Fueled by Innovative Sourcing
      • High-Protein Treats
      • Limited- and Single-Ingredient Treats and Chews
      • Sustainability
      • Trends in Rawhides and Long-Lasting Edible Chews
      • Trends in Cat Treats
  • The Consumer
    • Chapter Highlights
    • Note on Pet Population Figures
      • Two Data Sources
      • Packaged Facts vs. MRI-Simmons Pet Population Estimates
      • Generational Cohorts
    • Dog Population Trends
      • Dogs in Context
      • Distribution of Pet Ownership by Number of Dogs Owned
        • Table Share of Dog-Owning Households by Number of Pets Owned, 2016/17 - 2020/21 (percent of dog households)
      • Customer Household Base by Number of Dogs Owned
        • Table Household Base by Number Dogs Owned, 2016/17 - 2020/21 (in millions)
      • Growth in Share of Dog Owners with Senior Dogs
        • Table Household Ownership of Dogs: By Age of Dogs, 2020/21 (percent and number of dog-owning households)
      • Trend Toward Medium-Size Dogs
        • Table Size of Pet Dogs: Previously Acquired and Recently Acquired, February 2020 vs. February 2021 (percent of dog owners)
        • Table Distribution of Dog-Owning Households by Size of Dogs, 2012/13 - 2020/21 (odd-numbered years) (percent)
        • Table Distribution of Dog-Owning Households by Size of Dogs, 2012/13 - 2020/21 (odd-numbered years) (number in millions)
    • Cat Population Trends
      • Cats in Context
      • Distribution of Pet Ownership by Number of Cats Owned
        • Table Share of Cat-Owning Households by Number of Pets Owned, 2016/17 - 2020/21 (percent of cat households)
      • Customer Household Base by Number of Cats Owned
        • Table Household Base by Number of Cats Owned, 2016/17 - 2020/21 (in millions)
      • Growth in Share of Cat Owners with Senior Cats
        • Table Household Ownership of Cats: By Age of Cats, 2020/21 (percent and number of cat-owning households)
    • Pet Treat Purchasing Patterns
      • Indulgent Treats Most Popular Choice
      • COVID-19 Drives Treats Purchasing Increase
        • Table Purchase Rates of Treats by Number of Packages, Past 30 Days, 2021 (percent of dog and cat owners purchasing treats in the past six months)
      • Long-Term Treat Usage
      • Treat Purchasing Rates by Number of Pets
        • Table Purchase Rates of Treats by Number of Packages, Past 30 Days, 2021 (percent of dog and cat owners purchasing treats in the past six months)
      • Pet Treat/Chew Usage Rates by Size of Dog
        • Table Pet Treat Purchase Rates by Size of Dog, 2021 (percent and number of dog treats purchasers)
      • Treat Purchasing Rates by Age of Pet
        • Table Purchase Rates of Treats by Age of Pet, 2021 (percent of dog and cat owners purchasing treats in the past six months)
      • Treat Purchasing by Channel
        • Table Product Purchasing and Other Uses of the Internet in Past 12 Months: Selected Pet Product Types, February 2021 (percent of dog or cat pet product shoppers)
      • Treat Purchasing Demographic Patterns
        • Table Dog and Cat Treat Purchaser Demographics, 2021 (percent, number, and index)
      • Treat Purchasing by Brand
      • Treat Purchasing Demographic Patterns by Brand
        • Table Indicators for Dog Treat Purchasing by Top Brands, 2021 (index and number)
        • Table Indicators for Cat Treat Purchasing by Top Brands, 2021 (index and number)

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