Mumbai is India's cat capital; new report reveals startling insights

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Indians love their pets and that not only includes dogs but also cats, and can be seen in the fact that there are not only more pet-friendly cafes but also pet care services that have grown over time, and a new report highlights exactly that.

Indians are becoming much more indulgent while taking care of their pets. 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 per cent 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 per cent, grain-free pet food grew 152 per cent 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 2 cities posted 96 per cent 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 per cent of all pet food demand on the quick commerce platform. Cat food is the single most-searched pet term on the platform.

1. On the feline front, Mumbai is crowned India’s cat capital, followed by Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata.

2. Kolkata stands out as India’s most cat-dominated city, with more than 8 in 10 cat-and-dog food orders going to cats.

3. Bengaluru is India’s most dog-loving city, followed by Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi.

4. The real dark horse? Bird food, up 178 per cent YoY, with rabbit food close behind at 130 per cent 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 the platform’s fastest-growing pet search term.

1. Grain-free pet food grew 152 per cent YoY, making it the fastest-growing nutrition segment on the platform.

2. Wet food now accounts for nearly 45 per cent of all pet food orders

3. Pet supplements and wellness products are up 42 per cent, with premium nutrition showing no signs of slowing down

Bengaluru has India’s most pampered pets

Nearly 66 per cent 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.

1. Gurgaon tops India’s Pet Treat Index, clocking 37 treat orders for every 100 food orders

2. 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 per cent and top protein-rich pet treat brands surging 1,097 per cent.

3. Treat searches (think dog biscuits, jerky, and even dog ice cream) are climbing fast.

4. India’s most dedicated pet parent (based in Delhi) spent Rs 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 2 cities are growing 96 per cent faster than metros, led by Guwahati (over 1,473 per cent), Dibrugarh (over 796 per cent), Meerut (over 677 per cent), Madurai (over 591 per cent), and Kottayam (over 577 per cent).

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 per cent year-on-year.

All these insights are derived from an analysis of the platform’s orders placed between June 2025 and June 2026 in more than 130 Indian cities.

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