Market Trends of japan pet food Industry
Japan's unique culture of cat cafes and cat islands is driving the market for adoption of cats in the country
- Cats have been a part of Japanese society for centuries and are highly regarded for their beauty, grace, and independence. The pet cat population is highest in Japan, which accounted for about 43.6% of the total pet population in the country in 2022. This larger pet cat population in the country is mainly due to their cultural significance, and it has been considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity for centuries.
- Additionally, Japan has a unique culture of cat cafes and has more than 11 cat islands, which have helped to popularize cats as pets. Cat cafes allow people to spend time with cats in a relaxed setting, while in cat islands, cats roam freely. Among all cat Islands in Japan, Aoshima Islands is well known for its large population of cats, which is significantly higher than the number of human residents, and the ratio of cats to people on the island ranges from 10:1 to as much as 36:1.
- However, the pet cat population in the country grew by 2.1% between 2019 to 2022. The primary factor restricting the pet cat population in Japan is the country's aging population, and it has the world’s second-highest proportion of people aged 65 years and above. As people get older, they may find it more difficult to care for pets, leading to a decrease in pet ownership.
- There are also concerns about the welfare of cats in Japan, particularly regarding the high number of abandoned cats in pet shops and breeding facilities that prioritize profit over the well-being of cats. It is found that a minimum of 10 thousand cats die annually at pet shops and breeding facilities across Japan due to poor sanitation, negligence, and illness. All these factors are anticipated to result in a slow growth rate of the cat population during the forecast period.
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Shift in the purchasing power of pet parents due to higher disposable income and pet humanization are increasing the pet expenditure
- Japan has been witnessing a trend of increasing pet expenditure because of growing premiumization and an increase in the prices of pet food products. For instance, in 2022, the prices of pet food products increased by 3%-10% as pet parents started purchasing high-priced premium pet food for their pets. Additionally, there has been a shift in the purchasing power of pet parents due to increasing disposable income and new varieties of pet food available in the market. These factors increased pet expenditure in the country by 24.6% between 2017 and 2022.
- Cats have a lower pet expenditure than dogs because cats consume less amount of pet food as compared to dogs. Therefore, there is less spending by cat owners compared to dog owners. For instance, in 2022, in the country, an average dog owner spent about USD 40 monthly on pet food for a dog, while cat owners have to spend about USD 32 monthly for a cat.
- Pet parents have been purchasing high-quality pet food for their pets as they treat them as family members. This trend of pet humanization has helped in the growth of premiumization as pet parents are purchasing more super-premium pet food products, with health and wellness concerns becoming their top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to an increase in pet parents purchasing pet food products with ingredients that are sickness-preventive, allergen-free, vitamins/supplements fortified, gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and high in protein. It helped premium pet food sales to increase by 3.7% between 2018 and 2019. A wide variety of product availability with price fluctuations and growing premiumization in the country are expected to help the growth of pet expenditure in the country during the forecast period.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Dogs are the most popular and valued pets in Japan, accounting for 36.3% of the total population in 2022
- Traditional beliefs in Japan's Shinto religion consider small animals such as birds to be sacred, driving their adoption
