India's Pet Care Market
More pets, more care and stronger pet parents bonds are driving the rise of subscription-like demand - shaping the $5 billion pet care market in in India.
- 42MTotal Pet Population in India (2024)
- $ 4.6bnPet Care Market in India 2024
- 15%Market CAGR (2024-2028P)
A monthly visit to the vet and grooming for my dogs are now non-negotiable. What started as emergency visits and basic food slowly turned into a fixed monthly budget. Today, my fur babies get the full package: preventive care, grooming, toys, treats, and even their favorite colored-sweaters.
As a mum to Kaju and three other fur babies, food, grooming and preventive care are no longer optional. What surprised me wasn’t the cost, but the predictability. Every month looks the same.
This same pattern is playing out across urban India. Veterinary clinics are busy year-round. Pet parents purchase food and care on a subscription basis. Services once seen as optional now see steady demand. This isn’t a market driven by indulgence. It’s driven by routine.
This same pattern is playing out across urban India. Veterinary clinics are busy year-round. Pet parents purchase food and care on a subscription basis. Services once seen as optional now see steady demand. This isn’t a market driven by indulgence. It’s driven by routine.
A photo of my one-year-old dog, Kaju
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Indian pet parents are spending 3x more per pet than they did 5 years ago - as care becomes routine, not optional.
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Pet Care Market in India
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Key Trends Driving Growth
Pet Humanization
Pets are no longer "owned." They are raised.
Urban pet parents spend more on quality food, preventive healthcare, grooming and comfort. Price matters less than trust and outcomes
Urban pet parents spend more on quality food, preventive healthcare, grooming and comfort. Price matters less than trust and outcomes
DINKs (Dual Income, No Pets) with Pets
~22% of married urban households now have dual incomes and no children.
Delayed parenthood shifts emotional spending towards pets, driving higher per-pet spend, subscription behaviour, and repeat purchases
Delayed parenthood shifts emotional spending towards pets, driving higher per-pet spend, subscription behaviour, and repeat purchases
Premiumization across categories
~60% of urban pet parents now choose premium services.
From food to healthcare to grooming, "upgrades" are becoming the new normal. This shift increases monthly spend and builds long-term, predictable demand.
From food to healthcare to grooming, "upgrades" are becoming the new normal. This shift increases monthly spend and builds long-term, predictable demand.
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What's driving this growth in pet care demand?
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Demographic & Economic Drivers
Urbanisation is accelerating along with growing nuclear family.
India’s urban population is expected to grow from 35% to ~67% by 2030.
Pets offer companionship without long-term disruption. Hence, pets serve a better fit in modern city life than children. -
Emotional & Awareness Drivers
Pet care is shifting from reactive to planned.
Digital access, e-commerce, and online payments enable research-led, preventive and subscription-driven care.
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Pet Care Segments
- Food: Fastest-growing segment (1.8x growth from 2024-2028)
- Healthcare: Remains the largest segment, 45% of total market value
- India's per-pet spending ($125) is ~signlificantly lower than the annual spend on pets in China and the US. As disposable income in India rises, the pet care spending trajectory is likely to mirror China’s rapid growth pattern over the past decade.
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5 Investment Opportunities
pharmapro's take on five high-impact opportunities in pet care
- Pet InsuranceRising pet healthcare costs; Low penetration <1%01
- Pet WellnessHigh-margin, repeat category; Validated wellness supplements, diagnostics02
- Veterinary workforceUnderstaffed clinics, Rise of organized vet clinics and pet services chains03
- Pet AllergyHigh humidity + pollution = high atopy/dermatitis rates in pets04
- LUXURY PET CAREDesign-forward products and premium services for affluent pet parents05
The $7.9B pet care is there to capture for innovators and operators. But winning requires execution. Market growth alone is not enough.
The companies that win will pair consumer insight with strong distribution and capital discipline; they will build repeat behavior, not one-time demand. The ones that lose will mistake a fast-growing market for a validated business model.
I write this not just as an observer, but as a pet parent living this shift every month. I understand how spending patterns change when care becomes routine, emotional and non-negotiable.
The companies that win will pair consumer insight with strong distribution and capital discipline; they will build repeat behavior, not one-time demand. The ones that lose will mistake a fast-growing market for a validated business model.
I write this not just as an observer, but as a pet parent living this shift every month. I understand how spending patterns change when care becomes routine, emotional and non-negotiable.
If you are a founder or investor in the Indian pet care space and would like to have a chat – please reach out to me at chandra@pharma-pro.in
Send me the full report
Reference:
- All Pet Food Industry Media. Indian Pet Food Market: Growth Drivers, Premiumization, and Product Segmentation (2024)
- Mars Petcare Global Research & ANI News: Pet Ownership Trends Among Gen Z and Millennials in India (2024)
- Axios Health: Rising Demand for Preventive Pet Care and Treatment of Seasonal Allergies in Companion Animals.
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