Hey pet parents! If you’re browsing Amazon for the perfect food for your furry friend, you’ve probably noticed the dizzying array of options for cats and dogs. But have you ever wondered why cat and dog foods are so different? It’s not just marketing—cats and dogs have unique nutritional needs that shape what goes into their kibble, cans, or treats. Thanks to a detailed 2025 report from Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), prepared for IFEEDER, we’ve got a treasure trove of data on pet food ingredients to help you make sense of it all. Let’s dig into what makes cat and dog foods distinct and how you can pick the best option for your pet.
Why Cats and Dogs Eat Differently
Cats and dogs aren’t just different in how they chase (or ignore) a laser pointer—their bodies have different dietary needs. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat to thrive. Their food has to be packed with animal-based proteins and fats, plus nutrients like taurine for healthy hearts and eyes. Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores, so they can handle a mix of meat, grains, and veggies to get their energy and nutrients.
The DIS report, based on Nielsen data from 2024 U.S. pet food sales, spells this out clearly:
-
Cat foods:
- Crude protein:
- Dry: 11% to 59%
- Wet: 1% to 39%
- Treats: 3.4% to 75%
- Crude fat:
- Dry: 4% to 31%
- Wet: 0.1% to 16%
- Treats: 0.1% to 31%
- Crude protein:
-
Dog foods:
- Crude protein:
- Dry: 5% to 60%
- Wet: 1% to 25%
- Treats: 1% to 80%
- Crude fat:
- Dry: 0.2% to 36%
- Wet: 0.3% to 16%
- Treats: 0.1% to 26%
- Crude protein:
One big difference? Cats need less fiber—maxing out at 12% in dry food compared to 20% for dogs—since they don’t digest plant-based stuff as well.
What’s in the Bag? Comparing Ingredients
The DIS report analyzed 602 standardized ingredients across U.S. cat and dog foods, with 282 shared between them. But the way these ingredients are used tells a different story for each species. Let’s break it down.
Meat and More: Animal-Based Ingredients
Both cat and dog foods lean heavily on animal-based ingredients, but cats rely on them more. The report shows that in 2024, U.S. pet foods used 9.28 million tons of ingredients, with:
- Cat food: 2.57 million tons
- Dog food: 7.24 million tons
Cat Food:
- Chicken tops the list at 2.21 million tons across all pet foods, with a big chunk in cat food.
- Marine ingredients like salmon and cod total 502,013 tons.
- Why? Cats need high-quality proteins and fats, and marine products—worth $3.5 billion—are packed with essential fatty acids and taurine.
- You’ll see animal proteins like chicken meal or fish meal listed 15,241 times on cat food labels, showing how critical they are.
Dog Food:
- Dogs also love chicken and beef (1.26 million tons).
- Their foods include a wider variety, like pork or bison.
- Animal protein meals and fats add up to 1.6 million tons, valued at $1 billion.
- Dogs get more plant-based ingredients to balance their omnivorous diet. Think grains like corn or rice, which provide carbs for energy.
Veggies and Grains: Plant-Based Players
Dog foods often include more plant-based ingredients, which makes sense given their ability to digest them. The report notes:
- 4.1 million tons of farm or mill-based ingredients, worth $3.4 billion.
- Grains: 1.84 million tons
- Milled grains: 1.59 million tons
Dog foods might list ingredients like barley or brown rice to keep your pup fueled.
Cats, however, don’t need as many plants. Specialty crops like fruits and veggies show up 13,299 times on labels, but in smaller amounts, since cats get less nutritional bang from them. For example, you might see carrots or blueberries in cat treats, but they’re more for flavor than nutrition.
Sustainable Choices: Upcycled Ingredients
Both cat and dog foods use upcycled ingredients—think broths or animal byproducts—that are good for the planet and your wallet. The report highlights:
- 184,737 tons of broths, valued at $554 million, used across pet foods.
Cat foods:
- Lean toward animal-based broths (like chicken or fish) to boost flavor and hydration, especially in wet foods (852,081 tons sold).
Dog foods:
- Mix in vegetable broths, too, aligning with their broader diet.
How Ingredients Have Changed (2019–2024)
The DIS report compares 2019 and 2024 data, showing some big shifts.
- Cat food sales volume dropped 5.2% (from 2.71 million to 2.57 million tons)
- Dog food crept up 1.5% (from 7.13 million to 7.24 million tons)
- But the value of both skyrocketed:
- Cat food sales jumped 64.3% to $15.3 billion
- Dog food hit $36.4 billion, a 72.8% increase
Why?
Premium ingredients are on the rise.
- Marine ingredients, like salmon and cod, saw huge spikes—up 95% in quantity and 262% in value.
- For cats, salmon’s value surged 367%, and cod jumped 901%, reflecting their growing role in high-quality cat food.
- Dogs saw a similar trend but also used less corn (-23%) and more chicken (+32%) across both foods, pointing to a shift toward protein-heavy recipes.
This aligns with what you’re probably seeing on Amazon: more “grain-free” or “high-protein” labels as pet owners demand premium options.
Tips for Picking the Perfect Pet Food on Amazon
So, how do you choose the right food for your pet? Here are some tips based on the DIS report:
Cats Need Meat
- Look for cat foods listing animal proteins (chicken, fish, beef) as the first ingredients.
- Marine ingredients are a bonus for their fatty acids and taurine.
- Wet cat food, making up 852,081 tons of sales, is great for hydration.
- Check out brands like Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin for high-protein options.
Dogs Need Balance
- Dogs do well with a mix of proteins and carbs.
- Dry dog food dominates with 5.36 million tons sold, worth $19.7 billion, so brands like Blue Buffalo or Hill’s Science Diet can offer a balanced mix of meat and grains.
Read Labels Carefully
- The report shows that additives (like flavors or preservatives) can make up 15.3% of some products’ weight.
- Stick to foods with whole ingredients listed first and avoid those heavy on fillers.
Match Your Pet’s Needs
- Cats and dogs vary by breed and size, with unique nutritional needs.
- For example, a large-breed dog might need joint-supporting ingredients, while a kitten needs extra protein.
- Check with your vet to match food to your pet’s health.
Go Sustainable
- Upcycled ingredients like broths or byproducts are common and eco-friendly.
- Brands using these, like The Honest Kitchen, can be a smart pick without skimping on nutrition.
Wrapping It Up
The DIS report, packed with 2024 Nielsen data, shows that cat and dog foods are tailored to their unique needs—cats crave protein-heavy diets with marine ingredients, while dogs thrive on a mix of meats and plant-based carbs.
With $51.7 billion in U.S. pet food sales, the industry is booming, and Amazon’s endless options reflect that. By focusing on high-quality proteins for cats, balanced nutrition for dogs, and sustainable ingredients for both, you can find the perfect food to keep your pet happy and healthy.