Japan Joins the Pet Boom

Japan has joined the global pet boom, with its market growing by 30% in the last decade. Dogs remain the most popular pet, but cats are close behind.

The Japanese economy has experienced moderate growth over the past decade. In the last ten years, the country's GDP has barely increased by 4.3%, with several years of stagnation and even some periods of decline. However, some economic sectors have managed to expand strongly. Among them, the pet food and product market stands out. Japan has joined the global pet boom, and the sector has grown by nearly 30% in the last decade.

Pets are driving this sector to grow eight times faster than the national average. This dynamism is explained by the increase in households choosing to bring a pet into their homes, fueled by the aging population and the search for companionship in large cities. Food and veterinary service companies have successfully adapted their offerings to this growing demand.

Dogs continue to lead the ranking, but not for long

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According to data from the latest Rakuten Insight report, dogs remained the most popular pet in Japan in 2025. Present in 11% of households, dogs are the most common pet in Japanese homes, but cats have seen a significant increase in popularity. Felines are present in 10% of the country's homes, far ahead of fish (4.5%), turtles (1.6%), and birds (1.5%). This near parity between dogs and cats reflects an unstoppable trend in recent years.

Nearly nine million felines in Japan

The rise in popularity of cats in the Asian country has led to the feline population in Japan growing to nine million in recent years. While this figure decreased slightly in 2025, it shows an upward trend in cat adoption. Japan contrasts sharply with neighboring countries like China and Vietnam, where cats are still very uncommon as pets due to lingering cultural traditions and prejudices.

The Japanese spend more money on small dogs

In the dog world, the Japanese tend to favor small breeds over large ones. In fact, spending on small dogs is considerably higher than on other pets in the country, as they require specific accessories, clothing, carriers, and more frequent care.