Germany’s pet population slips in 2025 as market stays steady

Germany’s pet population edged down in 2025, but spending stayed remarkably stable. New data from the German Pet Trade & Industry Association, or ZZF, and the Industrial Association of Pet Care Producers, or IVH, put the country’s pet population at 33.4 million animals, excluding fish and reptiles, down from 33.9 million in 2024. Pet presence in households also slipped slightly, with 43% of German households reporting at least one pet in 2025, versus 44% a year earlier. Even so, the total pet care market held at €6.99 billion, with prepared pet food reaching €4.27 billion, online sales rising to about €1.52 billion, and accessories declining 4.6% to €1.06 billion. Cats remained the most common pets at 15.7 million, followed by 10 million dogs. (zzf.de)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway is that Germany’s companion animal base may be leveling off rather than expanding, but pet parent spending remains resilient in core categories. That suggests continued support for demand in preventive care, chronic disease management, nutrition-linked counseling, and feline and canine services, even as discretionary retail categories soften and more purchasing shifts online. The underlying dataset comes from a representative Skopos survey of 5,000 households paired with industry sales data from ZZF and IVH member companies, giving clinics a useful read on both patient population trends and household spending behavior. (zzf.de)

What to watch: Watch whether 2026 brings a further softening in household pet counts, or whether stable spending on essentials translates into steadier veterinary demand despite a flatter pet population. (globalpetindustry.com)