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Thuyen Vu

Thuyen Vu is a marketing and insights leader with 17 years of experience turning global consumer data into bold strategies that drive brand growth and business impact.

Key Insights from the TGM Turkey Pet Care Survey 2026

Pet Care in Turkey 2026 vs. 2024: A Potential Economy Powered by Cat Lovers

March 08, 2026

(Updated July 10, 2026)

Turkey’s pet-care landscape is transforming faster than ever. In this article, we are going to explore the latest pet-care behaviors in Turkey and the shifting culture between 2024 and 2026.

The pet industry in Turkey is catching up with global trends through its stronger emotional connection between people and their pets. The TGM Pet Care Insights 2026 dataset offers a clearer view of how today’s owners differ from those just a few years ago. Rising quality of care and increased interest in pet wellness show a market that is maturing quickly.

Key Takeaways

Pets remain an important part of family life in Turkey, with many owners seeing their pets as family members or even as their children.
More than half of Turkish pet owners still own only one pet, showing stable and consistent ownership habits.
Cats are the heart of Turkey’s pet market 2026, with 60% multi-pet households owning cats.
Online shopping for pet food and supplies has grown strongly, rising from around 38% consumers in 2024 to 49% in 2026.
Younger pet owners, especially ages 25–34, are increasingly interested in DIY pet care such as grooming and supplements at home.
Turkish consumers are becoming more proactive about pet health, driving stronger demand for veterinary services, wellness products, and premium pet care solutions.

Turkey's pet culture is characterized by steady habits and strong emotional bonds

The Pet Ownership: Minor Shifts, Major Heart

According to TGM Global Pet Care Insights 2026, Turkey is seeing a gentle rise in multi-pet owners, but the overwhelming majority still own just one pet.

Back in 2024, most Turkish people owned only one pet and had a great affection for them:

64% of Turkish had at least 1 pet at home.
41% considered their pets family members.
21% regarded them as their baby or child.

In 2026, these behaviors remained almost the same, showing only minor changes:

More than 50% are single-pet owners
39% consider their pets family.
25% see them as their baby or child.

The small shifts between 2024 and 2026 suggest that pet humanization in Turkey has stabilized rather than grown or declined.

Turks continue to see their pets as emotionally significant companions, and the cultural mindset around “pets as family” remains consistently strong.

Pet Care in Turkey 2026: A Potential Pet Economy Powered by Cat Lovers

Cats vs. Dogs: Who Leads Turkey’s Pet Market?

While dogs may dominate the global spotlight, Turkey tells a different story. Turkish always have a strong cultural connection with cats, and this extends into pet ownership:

In 2024, cats are the most popular pets, owned by 66% of multi-pet households. Dogs take second place, while fish and parrots held modest shares.

By 2026, cats continued to dominate the Turkish pet landscape, chosen by 78% of multi-pet owners (N= 289), with dogs remaining in second place. The standout change, however, is the rise of fish as a new trend: 23% of Turkish multi-pet owners own fish as pet (N= 289) — nearly twice the share seen in 2024.

Health Services: The Consistent-Growing Category Through Years

In 2024, Turkey’s pet-care ecosystem had already begun expanding, with veterinary services and pet daycare among the most used options. By 2026, the trend becomes even clearer: regular veterinary care remains the most frequently used wellness services.

One of the most noticeable developments between 2024 and 2026 is in at-home pet care activities. Pet owners—especially cat owners—are increasingly purchasing grooming supplies and supplements to handle routine care themselves. This behavior is most common among young adults aged 25–34, who show high comfort with DIY care and strong interest in specialized wellness products (TGM Turkey Pet Care Insights 2026, N= 702)

The strong demand for both routine and emergency vet services, combined with rising DIY care, reflects a broader cultural shift: Turkish pet owners are becoming more proactive and preventive in looking after their pets.

Where Turkey Shops for Pet Food and Which Platforms Win the Basket

When it comes to pet-food shopping, Turkish owners gradually changed their habits after a year:

Between 2024 and 2026, the most significant shift in Turkey’s pet-supply purchasing habits is the strong rise of online shopping, from 38% in 2024 to 49% in 2026, making digital platforms the #1 channel. These options have clearly become the preferred choice, driven by convenience, better assortment, and expanding trust in e-commerce.

Supermarkets remain an important channel, though their share dips slightly from 44% to 42%, hinting that shoppers may be moving away from general retailers toward more specialized options. Interestingly, veterinary clinics remain stable at 33%, reflecting their continued role as a trusted source for health-related purchases.

At the same time, specialty pet chains are gaining momentum, signaling a move toward more curated and premium shopping experiences.

Another subtle but meaningful change is the growing interest in smaller or alternative channels, such as local producers or convenience stores, suggesting that Turkish consumers are exploring more flexible, or locally sourced options.

Altogether, TGM Research's findings paint a clear picture of pet-care market, in which owners are not only spending more on their pets but are also shifting the way they shop, moving decisively toward online platforms, becoming more selective, more digital as they increasingly treat pets as full members of the family.

Implications for Brands and Care Providers

Turkey’s pet-care landscape in 2026 is not just expanding, it’s becoming more emotionally driven, more digital, and more differentiated across species and generations. With cats continuing to dominate pet ownership and younger consumers—especially those aged 25–34—leading the rise of at-home care, brands should prioritize solutions tailored to feline needs.

Premiumization in pet health: Brands offering high-quality, functional nutrition or health-focused items will gain long-term loyalty.
Omnichannel is becoming a competitive advantage: Though online channels are growing fast, supermarkets and independent stores remain trusted; brands must ensure strong availability across all chanels.
At-home care is reshaping product demand: Brands that offer easy-to-use, DIY-friendly products (grooming kits, supplements, hygiene care) can tap into a rapidly expanding segment.
Feline-focused innovation is becoming essential: Brands that develop cat-specific formulas, textures, accessories, and enrichment products will gain a strong edge. Tailored communication helps strengthen relevance and loyalty.

If this momentum continues, 2026 is likely to bring even more surprising developments, new consumer behaviors, and emerging brand winners.
This article was originally developed by TGM Research for GlobalPETS. We are proud to share this collaborative insight with our wider community. You can find original publication and further industry analysis on the GlobalPETS platform.

Methodology

The TGM Global Pet Care Insights 2026 study is based on a large-scale quantitative survey conducted across 6 countries in APAC and Turkey, targeting a representative sample of adults aged 18 to 55+. The survey is designed to explore changing trends and consumer behaviors shaping pet care in 2026.

Survey Methodology: Online interviews using CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing)
Sample Size: 1,305 participants, including 702 pet owners
Age Groups: 18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55+
Country Coverage: Turkey
Data Weighting: Results have been weighted to reflect regional demographics for accurate market representation.

For a deeper exploration of what’s next for the Turkish pet economy, get the full reports about: Pet Nutrition, Pet Health & Vet Care, Pet Accessories & Services, Pet Ownership & LifeStyle, and Tech & Innovation.

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