Pet Care Trends 2026: Mumbai is crowned India's cat capital

India's relationship with its pets is changing fast and becoming much more indulgent. From grain-free meals and gourmet treats to premium grooming kits and specialised nutrition, pet parents across the country are truly taking care of their fur babies.

Instamart recorded a 41% growth in pet care orders, as shoppers move beyond the basics and start treating their pets' wellness like their own. Searches for dog shampoo surged nearly 600%, grain-free pet food grew 152% year-on-year, and treats are outpacing every other category in the pet aisle.

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.