Cat food helps lift General Mills’ pet sales in Q3

General Mills said its North America Pet segment posted third-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of about $640 million, up 3% from a year earlier, with growth led by double-digit gains in cat food brands Blue Buffalo Tastefuls and Tiki Cat. The company said cat feeding and treats offset continued softness in dog food, while the segment also benefited from the prior acquisition of Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American business, which brought Tiki Cat into the portfolio. General Mills is also continuing its push into fresh pet food with Blue Buffalo’s Love Made Fresh line, even as pet segment organic sales declined 3% and operating profit fell because of higher costs and launch-related investment. (investors.generalmills.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the quarter is another sign that premium cat nutrition remains a relative bright spot in a pet food market that’s been uneven, especially in dog food. General Mills has been signaling for months that cat feeding is gaining share and growing faster than the rest of its pet portfolio, helped by Tastefuls and the newer Tiki Cat business. That matters for clinics because pet parents are continuing to trade into premium, palatability-focused feline diets and treats, even as broader household budgets stay pressured. It also suggests manufacturers will keep investing in feline innovation, fresh formats, and therapeutic-adjacent premium positioning, which can shape conversations around nutrition, compliance, and expectations in the exam room. (investing.com)

What to watch: Watch whether General Mills can translate cat momentum into sustained share gains while stabilizing dog food performance and scaling Love Made Fresh through the rest of fiscal 2026. (investors.generalmills.com)