The delicate palates of pet food taste testers

Pets can be picky eaters — especially cats — but perhaps they just have more refined palates than we give them credit for

Pet food makers are spending serious cash to study the taste preferences of cats and dogs — and to cater to their parents who increasingly see them as family members (obviously they are), per The New York Times.

Feeding frenzy

Pet owners are spending more money than ever to feed their furry family members, thanks, in part, to "petflation":

• Pet food prices jumped 24.9% between Jan. 2020 and Aug. 2026, compared to 8.8% over the previous decade.

• Americans spent $68.3B on pet food and treats in 2025.

• $17B spent on cat food last year, up 14% from two years ago.

• The global pet food market is worth an estimated $106.4B, and is projected to grow to $135B in 2030.

But dedicated owners spare no expense for their felines and canines:

• 66% of surveyed owners splurge on high-quality food.

• 37% anticipate spending more money on their pets in 2026.

• 65% would make budget cuts to their own lifestyle before disrupting their pets'.

Pet food makers have taken note...

In what sounds like a dream job, nutritionists at the Royal Canin pet center in France hang with dozens of cats and dogs as they frolic, swim, nap, and, most importantly, eat. The pet food maker — owned by candy giant Mars Inc. — uses scales to measure which kibble formula they prefer.

But they go much further, monitoring how the animals behave after eating, and — less enviable — their stool quality.

Researchers are determined to not only test flavor preferences, but also to develop foods that benefit aging pets — including those adopted during the pandemic now reaching middle age.

And Mars isn't alone: Many companies are increasingly offering specialized — and pricey — pet food lines that can support aging joints, muscles, and cognitive function.

• Nestlé, another candy giant, announced a $1.8B investment in pet food R&D in 2023.

• Jam-maker Smucker's invested $20.5m in a Kansas pet food facility and R&D in Ohio.

Boy, those snack makers really love pets, or at least, what's in their owners' wallets.