Resource library

April is National Pet Month, which gives us the purrfect excuse to celebrate the furry, feathered, and scaly friends who make our lives brighter. But beyond the cuteness and chaos, what does the science actually say about the impact of pets on human well-being? Spoiler: It’s not just fluff. There’s solid evidence that living with companion animals can improve our mental and physical health, reduce stress, and help us form stronger social connections.

Moving to a new home can be an exciting time, but it can also be challenging for our senior pets. Patience and understanding are key to ensure a safe and secure move for your animal companion. Check out these top tips from our friends at Blue Cross, Dogs Trust and PDSA to ensure you and your pet enjoy a smooth move.

In a fast-paced city where time and space are at a premium, many people are looking for a companion animal that suits modern urban living and according to London Pet Show Live, rats could be just the pet we’ve been missing.

There’s nothing quite as exciting as bringing home a new puppy or kitten, but sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming too. As pet owners, we understand this, and that’s why we’ve collated some expert-backed training tips from a host of leading UK pet organisations to help.

Caring for a pet is one of life’s great joys, but it’s also a big responsibility. Choosing the right animal companion for you is such an important decision.

Have you ever had one of those days where everything feels just a little bit off? Maybe you’re feeling lonely, overwhelmed or just completely frazzled after a tough week. Then, out of nowhere, your dog puts their head on your lap. Your cat curls up next to you and starts purring. Your rabbit does a happy little hop, and in that moment, something shifts.

UK Pet Food responds to Wild Pack's recent claims about the 'kibble cartel' and misinformation risks causing pet owners unnecessary alarm and concern.

National Pet Month – April 1 – May 1, 2024

National Pet Month – April 1 – May 1, 2024

National Pet Month – April 1 – May 1, 2024

Whiskers twitch as report reveals that more men are adopting adult cats

Learn everything you need to know about dry pet food myth-busting from the UK Pet Food team.

With a wide range of food types, on the market for small mammals, pet owners are often confused between the terms used to describe these product formats. In this factsheet the different terms used are described with examples and images.

Learn about the different types of hay for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas & degus and how to choose the right one for your pet.

RABBITS – GUINEA PIGS – CHINCHILLAS – DEGUS Feeding a high quality diet that mimics fibre-rich natural nutrition is key to keeping small herbivores in optimum health, but what does this mean?

Benyfit Natural's partnership with POP (Prevented Ocean Plastic) ensures all food tubs are fully recyclable

Purina recently introduced a simplified pouch packaging structure for its Gourmet Mon Petit range and Felix soups.

In response to the alarming rise in pet obesity, UK Pet Food is proud to announce the launch of an interactive and educational tool designed to empower dog owners with the knowledge and resources to combat this pressing issue.

Mars explains more about its new approach to using recycled plastic.

Find out more about UK based Wilsons Pet Food's relaunched range of eco-friendly packaging.

Read about another example where Tyler Packaging supplies pet food maker with fully recyclable packaging.

Read more about Butcher's journey to introducing recyclable packaging.

Immerse yourself in an enlightening virtual journey through the pet nutrition landscape tailored specifically for veterinary professionals. This concise yet comprehensive full-day programme starts with an essential overview of pet food, followed by a critical exploration of various food formats, all backed by solid evidence.

The current UK and global pet food manufacturing marketplace is changing, with the rise of gourmet recipes and owners increasingly transferring lifestyle choice to their pets.

UK Pet Food, along with The Parrot Society UK and a number of other organisations and exotic vets are running the first ever Parrot Awareness Week (PAW) from 2 to 8 July 2023

Excellent to see Nicole Paley quoted in this BBC News article about a Transport & Environment (T&E) Study looking into the diversion of important pet food ingredients to biofuels, which will ultimately be worse for the planet. The story also got a mention on this morning’s Today Programme. Nicole explains that these animal fats are valuable ingredients, which are hard to replace and they are already put to good use by our industry in a very sustainable way.

An alliance of national animal charities has joined forces with FareShare and global corporate donors including Pets at Home, Petplan, Purina Petcare, Lily’s Kitchen, and Mars Petcare to help owners in need to feed their hungry pets in the face of the cost of living crisis.

Celebrate National Pet Month with us and share your stories

UK Pet Food is at Sandown for PATS in Gold Box 3 to welcome existing and potential members to join them for a networking lunch from 1230 on Monday 27th March. PATS attendees can also book a 20-minute slot for bespoke advice from UK Pet Food by emailing info@ukpetfood.org.

UK Pet Food has announced a new online Pet Food and Nutrition Course, which runs 21 February – 2 March 2023.  The webinar series has been organised following the success of previous events and is open to all pet care professionals interested in pet nutrition and pet food production.

To support the launch of UK Pet Food’s world leading standard for raw pet food production, an educational poster which was published for London Vet Show.

Alongside a new name and new identity, UK Pet Food announces that its world leading raw pet food production scheme is now up and running.

As the industry evolves, the trade association looks confidently to the future

Make the best choices for your cat and discover what's in cat food with UK Pet Food's free guide to the essential ingredients for a healthy cat diet.

Our best tips and advice on how to care for rabbits so you can ensure your furry friend lives a happy and healthy life. From the team at UK Pet Food.

UK Pet Food is working hard behind the scenes with our members, Government, and the wider food sector to minimise any disruption and to help support pets and their owners during this current crisis.

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) are delighted to welcome our latest Associate Member – QCL who provide analytical solutions to the pet food industry.

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The PFMA Parrot Symposium on 21 September will provide a unique learning and networking opportunity for all parrot experts and enthusiasts.

The leading pet food body, PFMA, is delighted to welcome in to Associate Membership, Think Incentives (TI).

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) are delighted to welcome our newest Associate Member – Pollen Consulting Group - onboard.

The survey of almost 9000 UK households confirmed that dogs top the charts with 13 million, followed closely by cats with a population of 12 million.

The leading pet food body, PFMA, is delighted to welcome in to Associate Membership, Tyler Packaging. With a strong focus on sustainable, innovative packaging, PFMA is delighted with this new partnership.

Claire brings a wealth of experience to the role following many years as a representative on the PFMA Executive Committee and Chair of the Sustainability Committee.

Nicole Paley, Deputy Chief Executive of the PFMA comments: “We are delighted to see that well over a half of the UK are feeding the birds and as a result benefitting from the pleasure of watching and supporting wildlife in the garden.

At PFMA we encourage research into pet diets as this contributes to the overall knowledge and better understanding of pet nutrition and health.

Today, we release our annual population data, with a record 35m pets in the UK in 2022.

UK Pet Food member companies are responding individually to humanitarian aid appeals to support the people of Ukraine and their pets. PFMA itself has also donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

In just one year (to November 2021) the new Export Health Certificates (EHCs) requirements imposed on exports to the EU is estimated to have cost at least £60m in paperwork, with more than 288 thousand EHC applications requiring the equivalent of 580,000 certifier hours - 285 certifier years.

PFMA — the leading trade body for the UK pet food industry — has announced multi-award-winning PR agency spottydog communications as its latest Associate Member, unleashing a host of new benefits for its members.

In November, PFMA welcomed it's third Associate Member, Anthesis Ltd, on-board.

This week, the pet food industry held its first “face-to-face” Annual Convention for two years.

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) recently launched a new Associate Member category for those who work closely with the pet food industry.

On 26 August, the FSA issued an updated statement, which highlighted that following extensive wide scale laboratory testing, no causative link between the recalled cat food and feline pancytopenia has been established.

PFMA (now UK Pet Food) continues to monitor investigations into Canine DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) in the US, and urges pet owners to feed their pets with a complete and balanced diet, made by reputable manufactures.

For the first time in fifty years, those working closely with the pet food sector can now apply to become an Associate Member.

Latest information for pet owners concerned about pancytopenia Q & A

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) are currently investigating a spike in cats presenting with the symptoms of pancytopenia. This is a condition which causes a deficiency in all types of blood cells. Symptoms can include fever, pale gums, blood in the urine and faeces and bleeding from the nose.

PFMA, alongside other organisations making up the SPS Certification Working Group, which includes food and feed trade associations, hauliers, farmers and veterinary and environmental health professional organisations have joined together to propose in a new report an urgent new veterinary agreement and streamlined processes to resolve crippling restrictions to exports to the EU, Britain’s largest trading partner.

3.2m UK homes have a pandemic pet with 38% admitting it’s just like having a new baby

We are aware that some retailers are currently experiencing shortages of pet food pouches due to unprecedented demand. However, we would like to reassure pet owners there is a good supply of pet food in all other formats across the brands.

PFMA, the representative body for the UK pet food industry, has raised alarm bells over the severe challenges faced by pet food businesses exporting to the EU.

PFMA is aware of the recent study from Exeter University that focuses on cat predation and the role of specific interventions including play and diet in limiting this natural behaviour. As an organisation committed to the well-being of all animals, including the wildlife population and biodiversity, we welcome research in this area.

As a result of this morning’s feature, we would like to share our guidance on responsible raw feeding.

Today, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association releases its brand NEW Covid-19 Pet Survey confirming a staggering rise in pet acquisition.

September 2020: The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) has published a full UK Pet Data Report 2020 making in depth data available to a wider audience for the first time.

To celebrate National Kitten Day (Friday 10 July), PFMA has released a new factsheet with all the guidance needed to ensure a healthy balanced diet for the nation’s kittens.

Celebrating its 50th birthday, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) launches a short film to honour the role pets play in our lives.

The world of pet supplements is diverse, with a wide range of products offering all sorts of functions and benefits. But what should pet professionals advise pet owners when asked about supplements?

Whilst the products tested were selected from the Portuguese market, as this was covered in the UK press, PFMA would like to provide reassurance and guidance to UK pet owners.

Reopening garden centres, while prioritising safety of staff and customers, could improve the availability and supply of bird food products, contributing to the welfare and conservation of wild birds.

Engaging with garden birds is a rewarding and enjoyable activity. Let's take a look at bird food sales and market trends before and during the lockdown period.

Following a recent genomics study of the new Coronavirus, and a hypothesis around the role of stray dogs in initiating it, PFMA takes a look at the latest science.

Recent news reports may have left owners feeling concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on their pets. PFMA throws light on the latest science to reassure pet owners.

If you are walking someone else’s dog, the Canine Feline Sector Group, comprised of the UK’s leading pet welfare organisations, have developed some guidance to help keep everyone safe

The body representing the UK pet food industry calls on pet owners to shop sensibly, advising there is enough pet food for all.

Here are some top tips from the UKs best loved national pet charities and experts.

In response to controversy around the role of carbohydrates, FEDIAF has worked with nutrition experts on its Scientific Advisory Board to develop a new factsheet about carbohydrates in dog and cat food.

The ‘Handling Commercial Raw Pet Food Safely’ poster gives a step by step guide on best practice hygiene and handling steps for owners feeding a commercial raw pet food.

A survey of UK pet food manufacturers by the trade body for the sector, the PFMA, reveals that the last three and a half years of uncertainty and no-deal planning has damaged businesses.

PFMA helps owners understand pet food labels and explains terms such 'meat and animal derivatives'.

Today, PFMA releases new data in its Obesity Report, highlighting that an alarming 51% of dogs, 44% of cats and 29% of small mammals are overweight or obese

PFMA provides advice and reassurance to owners regarding their pet's diet

New survey taken by PFMA members[i] confirms reasons why pet food manufacturers value the trade body.

Under the theme ‘Pet food nutrition: what’s next on the menu?’, there is a lot more clarity and certainty about the pet food sector’s objectives than what’s on the Brexit Menu

Celebrating the start of National Pet Month, with its focus on the positive impact of pets on mental wellbeing, the PFMA release its 2019 pet data, based on interviews with 8000 households.

PFMA responds to a recent study in Vet Record on feeding commercial raw pet foods.

Following two successful events in June and October 2019, PFMA prepares for opening its Pet Food and Nutrition Course to non-members

PFMA responds to recent media comments on pet food labels. An article in the media today focused on pet food labelling and suggested that pet food manufacturers are not being transparent when using generic labelling terms. This is not the case.

Celebrating the end of the first year of PFMA’s Pet Food Vision, with its focus on Animal Welfare, the trade body has produced an Animal Welfare Framework.

With Brexit bills dominating the government agenda and negotiations underway to seek a new relationship with the EU, the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) has published its Brexit Manifesto at pfma.org.uk/brexit.

Following last night’s episode of ‘Trust Me I’m a Vet’, PFMA would like to reassure pet owners that they should not be concerned about arsenic levels in fish based pet food

A key priority for the food and drink industry is to secure tariff-free trade with the EU, which remains our largest external market and our largest source of imported supplies.

The PFMA is delighted to announce that it will be attending PATS Telford 2016, (25-26 September) for the first time. The PFMA team is taking Stand C53 to reinforce its educational messages following 'The Truth about Pet Food' campaign.

PFMA is aware of the recent study from Nottingham University Vet School looking at changes in canine reproduction and the potential effect of environmental chemicals.

Comment from Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA)

The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) is delighted to have been recognised for innovation, winning the award for 'Digital Campaign of the Year' at the prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards and Dinner 2016 on 7 July.

The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) has released its well-respected annual Pet Population data.

Last night's bumper edition of Supershoppers (CH4, 8pm, 29 Feb) included a brief focus on pet food looking at the pet food label highlighting terms such as 'meat and animal derivatives'. To ensure pet owners are well informed, PFMA would like to expand on the snippets of information given.

PFMA has launched a new group in its membership dedicated to focusing on the issues for commercial raw producers.

With the aim of tackling stubborn pet food myths, the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) held its first ever 'Pet Nutrition Debate' at the London Vet Show this November.

PFMA is pleased to announce that a brand new Pet Size-O-Meter for guinea pigs is now available from www.pfma.org.uk. Developed by the PFMA, led by Dr John Lowe in conjunction with Dr Wanda McCormick at Moulton College, the aim of this body condition score chart is to help the UK’s population of 500,000[1] guinea pigs stay healthy and trim.

The PFMA is aware of the recent media coverage in the Daily Mail/The Mirror, which reported shocking and clearly unacceptable welfare conditions for farmed rabbits in Europe. Both articles claim that rabbits are farmed to meet the demands of the UK pet food industry, however this is not the case.

PFMA is aware of the recent study by a student at Nottingham University Vet School using DNA testing to identify protein sources in pet food and comparing this with the information provided on the pet food label. We very much welcome this study and the opportunity to talk about pet food labelling as it highlights a common and very reasonable misunderstanding of how pet food labelling legislation works. We hope with this additional background we can help clarify and explain some of the outcomes of the research.

Annual pet population data released by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) during National Pet Month (April 1 – May 4) is for the first time showing a steady decline. The UK pet population has fallen by 16% or 10.8 million over three years and 2% fewer households have a pet.

Recent research among 2100 pet owners and 150 veterinary professionals conducted by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) indicates a high level of confidence in the pet food industry.