Hyderabad Emerges Among India’s Top Pet Care Markets as Premium Pet Spending Surges
● Hyderabad ranks among the top premium pet care markets in India
● Pet care orders grew 41% YoY as Indians spent more on their pets ● Cat food makes up nearly 60% of pet food demand ● "Cat food" is the most searched pet term on Instamart ● Bird food grew 178% YoY, while rabbit food surged 130% ● Grain-free food surged 152% YoY, making it the fastest-growing pet food trend ● Dog shampoo searches jumped 600%, signalling a grooming boom ● Bengaluru's pets are the most pampered, with nearly 7 in 10 purchases going beyond pet essentials ● Tier II+ India is driving the boom — pet orders up +96% YoY.
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One Delhi pet parent spent ₹60,957 on pet care in a year
Pet parenting is going premium in Hyderabad. As one of India's biggest pet care markets and among the top cities for spending on treats, toys, and other non-essential pet products, Hyderabad is helping drive a new era of pet care consumption. Across India, pet parents are increasingly investing in their pets' wellbeing, fuelling a 41% year-on-year increase in pet care orders on Instamart. From grain-free meals and specialised nutrition to grooming products and indulgent treats, pet care is evolving from a necessity into a lifestyle category. Searches for dog shampoo jumped nearly 600% over the past year, while grain-free pet food surged 152%, underscoring the growing focus on pet health and wellness.
While Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi remain the biggest pet care markets overall, the real headline is happening elsewhere: Tier II+ cities posted 96% year-on-year growth in pet care orders.
India Is Having a Cat Moment
Settling the dog vs cat-lover debate, data shows that cat food now makes up nearly 60% of all pet food demand on Instamart. Cat food is the single most-searched pet term on the platform. ● On the feline front, Mumbai is crowned India's cat capital, followed by Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata ● Kolkata stands out as India's most cat-dominated city, with more than 8 in 10 cat-and-dog food orders going to cats ● Bengaluru is India's most dog-loving city, followed by Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi ● The real dark horse? Bird food, up 178% YoY, with rabbit food close behind at 130% growth
Beyond Food: Grooming Goes Mainstream
The pet food bowl is getting a glow-up, too, and so is the rest of the pet care basket. "Dog shampoo" is now Instamart's fastest-growing pet search term. ● Grain-free pet food grew 152% YoY, making it the fastest-growing nutrition segment on the platform ● Wet food now accounts for nearly 45% of all pet food orders ● Pet supplements and wellness products are up 42%, with premium nutrition showing no signs of slowing down
Bengaluru Has India's Most Pampered Pets
Nearly 66% of all pet-care spending in the city goes toward treats, toys, and premium products, making it India's undisputed pet-pampering capital, with Gurgaon, Noida, and Hyderabad close on its heels. ● Gurgaon tops India's Pet Treat Index, clocking 37 treat orders for every 100 food orders ● Pet indulgence is going mainstream: Searches for treats, from dog biscuits and jerky to dog ice cream are climbing rapidly, with dog ice cream searches up 245% and top protein-rich pet treat brands surging 1,097% ● Treat searches (think dog biscuits, jerky, and even dog ice cream) are climbing fast ● India's most dedicated pet parent (based in Delhi) spent ₹60,957 on pet care in a single year
From Guwahati to Tirupati, Pet Parenting Goes Mainstream
Pet care isn't a metro-only story anymore. Tier II+ cities are growing 96% faster than metros, led by Guwahati (+1,473%), Dibrugarh (+796%), Meerut (+677%), Madurai (+591%), and Kottayam (+577%). Rajkot, Patna, Siliguri, and Tirupati are right behind them as the next wave of fast-growing pet care markets, and remarkably, every single one of the top 25 fastest-growing pet-care cities in India grew by more than 50% year-on-year.