How Cultivated Meat for Pets Is Made

The process behind cultivated meat mirrors what happens inside an animal's body, but it takes place in a bioreactor instead of on a farm. Here is a simplified step-by-step overview:

1. Cell collection — A small sample of animal cells (often from an egg or a painless biopsy) is collected once. Meatly, for example, works from a single chicken egg cell sample that it says can produce enough protein "to feed pets forever."
2. Cell cultivation — The cells are placed in a bioreactor and nourished with a nutrient-rich growth medium containing amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. As of 2026, leading companies are replacing traditional fetal bovine serum with plant-based alternatives to reduce costs.
3. Tissue formation — The cells multiply and form muscle, fat, and connective tissue that is biologically identical to conventional meat.
4. Harvesting and formulation — The cultivated meat is harvested and combined with other ingredients—often plant-based components—to create treats, toppers, or complete meals for dogs and cats.

Because pet food does not need to replicate the look and texture of a steak or chicken breast, cultivated meat companies face fewer technical hurdles in the pet market than in human food. As one industry CEO explained, for dogs and cats "it has to taste good, but it doesn't necessarily have to taste like chicken, exactly."

Key Companies and Products Available Now

The cultivated pet food market has moved rapidly from concept to commercial reality. Below are the pioneering companies leading the way.

Meatly (United Kingdom)

Meatly became the first company in the world to sell cultivated meat for pet food when it launched "Chick Bites" dog treats in February 2025 in partnership with plant-based brand THE PACK. The product went on sale at Pets at Home in London at £3.49 (roughly $4.35) for a 50-gram pack. Meatly had previously gained UK regulatory approval in July 2024—the first such approval globally for cultivated meat in pet food. The company has stated plans to expand across Europe and eventually into Canada and the US.

Friends & Family Pet Food (Singapore / California)

Friends & Family Pet Food launched cultivated meat-based treats and toppers for both cats and dogs in Singapore retail stores on April 28, 2025, making them the first cultivated pet food products sold in Asia and the first cultivated meat products specifically for cats. Their retail debut included 12 SKUs across four functional lines—Pure Protein, Digestive Balance, Teeth & Gum Care, and more—all in a freeze-dried format made with cultivated quail meat. Each product contains cultivated meat as the first ingredient by volume, with inclusion levels up to 70%.

BioCraft Pet Nutrition (Austria)

BioCraft is a B2B biotechnology company producing cultivated meat ingredients for pet food manufacturers. The company cultivates mouse, rabbit, and chicken meat cells specifically chosen because cats and dogs naturally prefer these proteins. BioCraft's ingredient offers a hypoallergenic protein source and claims a superior omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio compared to traditional meat. Early palatability tests showed exceptional acceptance rates among cats for its cell-cultured mouse mousse product.

BeneMeat (Czech Republic / EU)

BeneMeat launched its European Try & Share program in September 2025, distributing cultivated meat dog treats to participants across 25 countries. Early results were encouraging: 90% of dog owners confirmed their pets liked the treats, overall positive feedback reached 98%, and 85% of respondents said they would buy the treats if commercially available. BeneMeat was also the first company in the EU to register as a cultivated meat producer for pet food, achieving this in autumn 2023.

Bond Pet Foods (United States)

Bond Pet Foods, based in Boulder, Colorado, takes a slightly different approach using precision fermentation rather than direct cell cultivation. The company introduces chicken DNA into yeast cells and brews the resulting protein similarly to craft beer. This method may prove more cost-efficient at scale, though the end product differs from cell-cultivated meat.

Environmental Benefits: Why Cultivated Meat Matters for Pet Food

Pets account for a surprisingly large share of global meat consumption. Around 20% of all meat consumed in high pet-ownership nations goes to feed dogs and cats rather than people. This makes pet food a significant contributor to the environmental footprint of animal agriculture.

Cultivated meat offers meaningful reductions across multiple environmental metrics:

• Greenhouse gas emissions — When powered by renewable energy, cultivated meat production can emit up to 92% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional beef farming.
• Land use — Traditional meat production uses about 40% of global habitable land; cultivated meat uses approximately 2%, representing a 95% reduction.
• Water use — Conventional meat requires roughly 30% of global fresh water, while cultivated meat uses around 6%, a 78% reduction.
• Energy — Compared to traditional beef, cultivated meat uses 45% less energy overall.

These figures are based on estimates from the European Environment Agency comparing cultivated meat to conventional beef production. The environmental gains are somewhat smaller when compared specifically to poultry, but remain significant.

Is Cultivated Meat Safe for Dogs and Cats?

Safety is understandably the top concern for pet owners considering cultivated meat treats. Here is what we know so far:

• Regulatory approvals — The UK approved cultivated meat for pet food in 2024, making it the first and currently only country with a specific regulatory framework for this category. Singapore has also approved cultivated meat products from Friends & Family Pet Food. In the US, the USDA approved lab-grown meat for human consumption in 2023, but specific pet food regulations are still developing.
• Feeding trials — Meatly conducted what it describes as the first feeding trials in the world evaluating a cultivated meat ingredient for pets. Results demonstrated that Meatly Chicken is safe, showing no significant adverse effects across 134 recorded observations. Additionally, 75% of dogs reportedly enjoyed the cultivated meat more than their baseline diet.
• Cancer concerns addressed — Some consumers worry about immortalized cell lines used in cultivation. Scientists and the FDA have stated there is no evidence that ingesting cultured cells can cause cancer. The FDA noted that cultured cells lose their reproductive capacity after leaving a bioreactor and are further broken down by cooking and digestion.
• Nutritional profile — Cultivated meat is biologically identical to conventional meat at the cellular level, meaning it provides the same essential amino acids, fatty acids, and micronutrients. Some companies, like BioCraft, claim their products offer additional functional advantages such as hypoallergenic properties and optimized fatty acid ratios.

How Much Do Cultivated Meat Pet Treats Cost?

Pricing remains one of the biggest barriers to mainstream adoption. Meatly's Chick Bites launched at £3.49 ($4.35) for 50 grams, which placed them in the mid-range for dog treats at Pets at Home. However, production costs are still high, and companies are actively working to bring them down through improved growth media and larger-scale bioreactors.

Industry leaders expect cultivated meat production to be integrated directly into leading pet food manufacturers' operations within the next five years, which should drive costs down significantly. For now, cultivated meat treats occupy the premium segment of the market.

Cultivated Meat vs. Other Alternative Proteins for Pets

Key Takeaways

• Cultivated meat treats are made from real animal cells grown in bioreactors—they are biologically identical to conventional meat but produced without slaughtering animals.
• Meatly launched the world's first cultivated dog treat (Chick Bites) in the UK in February 2025, and Friends & Family Pet Food followed with the first cultivated cat and dog products in Singapore in April 2025.
• Environmental benefits are substantial: up to 92% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, 95% less land use, and 78% less water use compared to conventional beef.
• Early feeding trials and consumer programs show high palatability and safety, with 90% of dogs in BeneMeat's EU trial liking the treats.
• The category is still in its early stages with limited availability and premium pricing, but industry leaders expect integration into mainstream pet food manufacturing within five years.
• Pet food is seen as an ideal entry point for cultivated meat because the texture and appearance requirements are far less demanding than for human food products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is cultivated meat in pet treats?

Cultivated meat is real animal meat produced by growing animal cells in a controlled laboratory environment (bioreactor) instead of raising and slaughtering animals. The cells are nourished with nutrients and guided to form muscle, fat, and connective tissue. The result is meat that is biologically identical to conventional meat but produced more sustainably and without animal harm. In pet treats, this cultivated meat is typically combined with plant-based ingredients and functional supplements.

Are cultivated meat treats safe for my dog or cat?

Based on current evidence, yes. Meatly's feeding trials—described as the first in the world for a cultivated pet food ingredient—showed no significant adverse effects. Regulatory bodies in the UK and Singapore have approved cultivated meat for pet food after safety reviews. Scientists and the FDA have also confirmed there is no evidence that consuming cultured cells poses a cancer risk, as the cells lose reproductive capacity once harvested and are further broken down during processing and digestion.

Where can I buy cultivated meat pet treats?

As of mid-2026, availability is limited. In the UK, Meatly's Chick Bites have been sold through Pets at Home, though initially only in limited quantities at select locations. In Singapore, Friends & Family Pet Food sells cultivated quail meat treats and toppers for both cats and dogs in retail stores. In the EU, BeneMeat has been running a trial distribution program. The US market does not yet have cultivated meat pet food on shelves, though several companies are working toward regulatory approval and launch.

Is cultivated meat nutritionally complete for pets?

Cultivated meat itself provides animal-based protein, essential amino acids, and fatty acids comparable to conventional meat. However, most current products are treats or toppers rather than complete meals, meaning they supplement rather than replace a pet's regular diet. Some companies, like Friends & Family Pet Food, offer functional lines targeting specific health needs like digestive balance and oral health.

How is cultivated meat different from plant-based pet food?

Cultivated meat is real animal tissue grown from animal cells, making it biologically identical to conventional meat. Plant-based pet food uses proteins derived from plants like soy, peas, or lentils and does not contain any animal cells. This distinction is particularly important for cats, which are obligate carnivores and require certain nutrients most readily available from animal tissue.

Why is pet food considered a good starting point for cultivated meat?

Pet food has lower technical barriers than human food because it does not need to replicate the specific look, texture, and bite of a chicken breast or steak. Pet parents are also increasingly open to novel ingredients and innovation in their pets' diets. As one industry leader noted, there is now more experimentation in pet food than in human food, with pet owners actively seeking new and diverse nutrition options.