Chennai Among India’s Top Pet-Loving Cities, Ranking in the Top 5 for Both Dogs and Cats
~India Moves from Pet Ownership to Pet Parenting~
| ● Chennai is among the top five cities for dog and cat care
● Pet care orders grew 41% YoY as Indians spent more on their pets ● Cat food makes up nearly 60% of pet food demand ● “Cat food” is the most searched pet term on Instamart ● Bird food grew 178% YoY, while rabbit food surged 130% ● Grain-free food surged 152% YoY, making it the fastest-growing pet food trend ● Dog shampoo searches jumped 600%, signalling a grooming boom ● Bengaluru’s pets are the most pampered, with nearly 7 in 10 purchases going beyond pet essentials ● Tier II+ India is driving the boom — pet orders up +96% YoY. ● One Delhi pet parent spent ₹60,957 on pet care in a year |
Chennai, 18th June 2026: Few cities capture India’s evolving pet culture quite like Chennai. Ranking among the top five cities for both dog and cat care, the city reflects a growing trend of pet parents spending more on their companions’ well-being than ever before. From grain-free meals and specialised nutrition to grooming products and gourmet treats, pet care is rapidly becoming a lifestyle category. Nationwide, Instamart saw pet care orders grow 41% year-on-year, with dog shampoo searches soaring nearly 600% and premium pet food trends gaining momentum across the country.
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.
All insights are derived from an analysis of Instamart orders placed between June 2025 and June 2026 across 130+ Indian cities. All metrics are indexed or relative; no absolute order volumes are disclosed.
About Instamart
Launched in August 2020, Instamart is India’s pioneering quick commerce platform. Present in 131+ cities, Instamart has superior technology and a dedicated delivery fleet to bring groceries and other daily essentials to the doorsteps of Indians.
