ZooInform analyzed interest in dog and cat treats

ZooInform monitors online search trends across 80 cities in Russia, tracking user interest in multiple categories including pet food, treats, veterinary medicines, toys, accessories, and other pet-related products. The data are aggregated monthly: the system compiles the number of keyword-based search queries for each topic across all selected regions (in this case, throughout Russia). This enables the assessment of overall consumer interest in various pet product segments. The current review focuses on search activity related to dog and cat treats in 2024 and 2025.

Overall interest dynamics in pet treats

General interest in pet treats shows a distinct seasonal pattern. The highest number of searches typically occurs in the winter months, while the lowest is recorded at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

During spring, interest declined noticeably, reaching its annual low in September. By November, the number of queries began to rise again and peaked in December at 141,700.

Thus, 2024 was characterized by two pronounced peaks — at the beginning of the year and in the pre-holiday period — and a sharp decline during the summer (particularly in August and September). These seasonal fluctuations likely reflect pet owner behavior: during winter and holidays, they tend to look for treats more often, while in summer the interest drops, possibly due to vacations and other distractions.

ZooInform notes a possible slight decrease in market interest in pet treats.

Cat treats vs. dog treats

Interest in cat and dog treats demonstrates distinct dynamics. According to ZooInform’s consolidated data, the cat treats segment shows a more noticeable decline: total search volume dropped by approximately 14% compared with previous periods. In 2024, online interest in cat treats peaked at about 75,700 searches in January, then gradually decreased. In 2025, almost every month (except January and June) recorded lower search volumes than a year earlier. This may indicate that some cat owners have reduced the buying treats frequency, prioritizing basic pet food or limiting discretionary spending. The previous surge in specific cat treats popularity, such as multivitamin pastes or catnip-based products, appears to have eased compared with prior years.

Demand for dog treats remains relatively stable. The total number of search queries decreased by only 1.6%. In 2024, interest remained steady without sharp fluctuations, with peaks of around 73–74 thousand monthly searches during the winter. In the first half of 2025, search activity for dog treats was only slightly below last year’s level, and growth was even recorded in June. It can be assumed that dog owners are more consistent in their treat-buying habits — they continue to actively search for and purchase treats for training and care purposes regardless of seasonal or economic factors. The slight decline may be attributed to the high base effect from the previous year or a temporary dip in consumer activity, but overall, the dog treats segment demonstrates steady demand.

Overall, ZooInform’s analysis for 2024–2025 indicates that interest in pet treats in Russia remains stable, though without significant growth. The total search volume for this category fluctuates within normal seasonal ranges, while a minor decrease (around 2% in 2025) rather reflects market stabilization after several years of rapid expansion.

There is reason to expect that consumer interest in pet treats will remain strong, even if without new record highs. Economic conditions and reduced product novelty may act as limiting factors, while promotions, the holiday season, and the introduction of new treat varieties could stimulate demand.