Making Natural Pet Treats for Dogs and Cats: Small-Scale Production, Growing Demand
Pet owners are actively looking for healthy alternatives to commercial treats โ home production makes it possible.
Making natural treats for dogs and cats is a production-based side income suited to people with an interest in animal nutrition. It involves preparing treats from natural ingredients (meat, fish, vegetables) without artificial additives, packaging them, and selling โ typically via an online shop, farmers' markets, or local pet shops. A key requirement is complying with the veterinary and food hygiene standards that apply in the UK, which are mandatory even for small producers. The business has relatively low entry costs compared to industrial production, but requires patience โ the first months are spent on recipes, registrations, and building an initial customer base.
Shop shelves are packed with treats containing lengthy lists of additives and preservatives. Dog and cat owners are increasingly reading labels and looking for something different โ shorter ingredient lists, local origin, no artificial colours. Large manufacturers are slow to fill this gap because their processes aren't built for small batches.
๐The natural pet treats market is growing consistently
Natural treats for dogs and cats are among the fastest-growing segments in the UK pet industry. Consumer interest in ingredient transparency has risen sharply, supported by broader trends in health-conscious spending.
