Why cost of wet food for pets are so high in India?

Wet food for cats or dogs is expensive in India primarily because of import costs and production logistics.

Import Taxes: Most wet food (roughly 70%) is imported from Thailand or Europe. India imposes a “30-35% import duty” on pet food, which immediately inflates the retail price.

Production Costs: Wet food requires “retort” processing—cooking food inside sealed pouches or cans. This is more expensive than the “extrusion” used for dry kibble. India currently has “limited domestic facilities” for this, keeping local supply low and prices high.

Shipping Water: Wet food is about “80% water”. You are essentially paying for the weight and shipping of water in specialized, heavy-duty packaging to prevent spoilage in India’s heat.

Ingredient Quality: Unlike dry food which uses high amounts of grain fillers, wet food uses more “meat and fish proteins”, which are costlier raw materials.

Pro-tip for stray feeding: To save money, you can mix a small amount of wet food with warm water and dry kibble to create a “gravy” that cats find just as addictive.

Are you aware of your pets food requirements? Do you feed them homecooked meals? Did you confirm its usage with your veterinarian? Share your views and experience by email to GET@BUDVICE.COM