Cat food may look like a simple bag, but there is quite a lot inside. Although 2025 is still some time away, cats’ “appetites” and our “feeding philosophies” as cat owners are constantly evolving. To say which brands can stand at the C-position and become favorites among thousands of cats and their owners, they really need to prove their strength and keep pace with the times.

In my view, looking ahead to 2025, the cat food brands that truly win the hearts of cats and the trust of cat owners generally excel in these points: a deep understanding of cats’ biological characteristics, rigorous pursuit of ingredient quality, and following the trends of pet “humanization” and “healthification.” Those who make the list must be outstanding in these areas.

To understand the trends of cat food in 2025, we first need to talk about what exactly counts as “good” cat food. After all, “popularity” is sometimes just a surface phenomenon, while the underlying “goodness” is fundamental. Cats are carnivores by nature; this biological trait dictates they need a diet high in animal protein, moderate fat, and very low carbohydrates. Brands that claim “natural,” “grain-free,” or even “wild prey simulation” concepts are sought after precisely because they try to restore cats’ original dietary needs. According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the core of natural food is that its raw materials come from purely natural animals and plants, without chemical synthesis processes, and do not contain artificial additives (except essential nutrients). This is not just a marketing gimmick, but a real quality commitment.

Moreover, with the concept of “pet humanization” becoming deeply ingrained, we cat owners’ expectations for our cats’ diets have long surpassed just “being full.” We want them to eat healthily, happily, and even “delicately.” This shift in mentality has directly fostered the “high-end” trend in the pet food market. As some industry reports point out, the market share of high-end cat food and dog food continues to rise, growing much faster than mid-to-low-end products. The reason is obvious: we are willing to pay for better ingredients, more scientific formulas, and more transparent production processes, because the health of our furry family members is priceless. The future market definitely belongs to those brands that can achieve excellence in quality and transparency.

So, specifically in 2025, which brands are likely to become “must-stock” staples for cat owners? Based on the current market landscape and development trends, several tiers of brands deserve attention:

First Tier: Established Giants’ Continuous Evolution

These brands have been deeply rooted in the global pet food market for many years, with strong R&D capabilities and brand influence. Their product lines are usually very rich, capable of meeting the special needs of cats of different ages, breeds, and health conditions, such as urinary health, sensitive stomachs, weight management, etc.

• Royal Canin: When it comes to professional segmentation, Royal Canin is unavoidable. It is like the “nutrition expert” in the pet world, tailoring formulas for cats with various special needs. Although there are mixed reviews about its ingredients, its targeted formulas are still highly recognized in veterinary channels and among cat families with specific requirements. Their investment in research keeps them leading in special function foods.
• Hill's Science Diet/Prescription Diet: Similar to Royal Canin, Hill's is famous for its scientific formulas and prescription diets. In many veterinary clinics, Hill's prescription diet is the first choice for solving cats’ health issues. This is backed by strong R&D and clinical validation. Under the health pursuit trend, Hill’s will continue to hold an important position.
• Purina brands (Purina Pro Plan, etc.): Nestlé's Purina holds a huge global market share, with its Pro Plan series focusing on scientific nutrition. Although there are many brands, Purina maintains competitiveness in the market thanks to its scale effects and continuous product innovation.

These brands have been tested over a long market period, possessing a stable user base and channel advantages. Their challenge lies in better adapting to young consumers’ pursuit of “natural,” “transparent” concepts and maintaining vitality against emerging brands in the high-end market.

Second Tier: Advocates of High-Quality Natural Food

This tier’s brands emphasize high meat content, natural ingredients, grain-free, and even primitive diet simulation as their selling points, loved by cat owners who pursue high-quality diets. They usually have high visibility and good reputations on social media.

• Orijen & Acana: These two “Canadian heroes” have very high recognition in the domestic cat food market. Their philosophy of “biological appropriateness” emphasizes using a high proportion of fresh meat, organs, and cartilage to mimic cats’ wild diets. Although expensive, their insistence on ingredient quality has won over many owners seeking perfection. Against the backdrop of consensus on “high protein, low carb,” they remain popular options in the high-end market.
• Instinct: Coming from the U.S., Instinct’s freeze-dried raw meaty food stands out in the high-end market. Freeze-drying technology preserves nutrition and flavor to the greatest extent, fully matching the trend of “human-grade food.” Although less popular than the first two, Instinct is very competitive in the niche market pursuing “extreme naturalness.”
• Blue Buffalo: Blue Buffalo also emphasizes natural ingredients, without corn, wheat, soy, or other fillers. It holds a significant market share in North America and has some fans domestically. Their product lines are relatively rich, offering a range of prices and formulas.

The core competitiveness of these brands lies in their commitment to quality and clear brand philosophy. As consumers pay more attention to cat food ingredients, their market share is expected to continue growing.

Third Tier: Rapidly Rising Domestic Forces and Niche Innovators

In recent years, some excellent domestic brands have risen quickly by deeply understanding the local market and responding fast, along with innovation in specific processes or ingredients. At the same time, some niche brands focusing on wet food, freeze-dried food, or special functions have also taken a place in their respective fields.

• Myfoodie: As one of the earlier domestic entrants in pet food, Myfoodie has recently invested a lot in brand image and product development, especially launching many competitive products in the mid-to-high-end market. Their e-commerce channel operation ability is strong, reaching young consumers more easily.
• NOURSE: NOURSE has a foundation in nutritional supplements and has recently made efforts in the main food market. Its product line covers different price points, and its marketing is quite active.
• Emerging freeze-dried/baked food brands: Brands like Xianlang focusing on baking or freeze-drying, though currently with relatively small market shares, have unique processes and selling points closer to natural food, fitting trends of premium and healthy products, with considerable growth potential. These brands often have higher unit prices, targeting niche markets with higher quality demands.

The biggest advantage of domestic brands is their closer alignment with local consumers’ needs and consumption habits, as well as more flexible market strategies. Their future development largely depends on continuous investment in quality control and brand building to win consumers’ long-term trust.

The Philosophy of Choice: No Best, Only the Most Suitable

That said, which cat food is the “most popular”? This is actually a dynamic and hard-to-generalize question. Market favorites change, but cats’ nutritional needs do not. Instead of blindly chasing rankings, it’s better to return to basics and focus on the quality of the cat food itself.

Practical advice for cat owners:

1. Understand the ingredient list: The first ingredient must be clearly identified animal meat (chicken, fish, beef, etc.), not “meat meal,” “by-products,” or grains. Avoid unnecessary additives like artificial preservatives, synthetic colorants, sweeteners, etc. As the saying goes, “real gold stands the test of fire,” good cat food ingredients are open to disclosure.
2. Pay attention to nutritional content: Crude protein should meet cats’ physiological needs (adult cats recommend over 26%, higher for kittens, pregnant/lactating queens, and seniors), fat content moderate, and carbohydrates as low as possible. Taurine is essential.
3. Wet food is indispensable: Cats’ ancestors lived in deserts and have poor water intake habits; long-term dry food alone may cause urinary system problems. Wet food (cans, rehydrated freeze-dried food, etc.) provides sufficient moisture; it’s strongly recommended to feed or largely supplement with wet food if conditions allow.
4. Consider individual differences: Every cat is an individual with different age, weight, activity level, health status, and even taste preferences. The most popular cat food may not be the best for your cat. Observe your cat’s condition after eating a certain food—spirit, weight changes, stool condition, coat gloss—these firsthand data are more important than any ranking.
5. Try small amounts first: Changing food must be gradual, giving the cat’s stomach time to adapt. It’s best to buy small packages to try first to ensure the cat likes it and has no adverse reactions before buying in bulk.

In 2025, the cat food market will undoubtedly continue moving toward “high quality, personalization, and health.” Brands that truly start from cats’ health, are willing to invest in raw materials, formulas, and processes, and build trust with consumers, are the ones who may ultimately succeed and become the “must-stock” choices in the hearts of cat owners. After all, we don’t just raise pets, but family. Choosing the best for family is natural love.

(References: including but not limited to Chuhai (Outsourcing) Net, NetEase, What is Worth Buying, Taobao Encyclopedia, Mordor Intelligence, Guanyan Report Network, Sina Finance, nutrideer, and other platforms’ reports and analyses on pet food market trends, cat food ingredients, and brand rankings.)