Commercial pet food is commonly traced to James Spratt’s dog biscuit, introduced in England around 1860, but that product was a baked biscuit—not modern dry kibble. Later milestones included canned dog food in 1922 and extruded dry food in 1956. These dates come from industry and company histories, so “first” claims should be read as attributed accounts rather than independently settled archival findings.
Commercial pet food timeline
| Date | Milestone | What the historical account says |
|---|---|---|
| Around 1860 | Spratt’s dog biscuit | The Pet Food Institute identifies businessman James Spratt’s product in England as the first commercially prepared pet food. Spratt’s company history also dates its founding in London to 1860 and describes a mass-produced biscuit. Pet Food Institute; Spratt’s history |
| Late 19th century | Production expands | The Pet Food Institute says a British public company took over Spratt’s formula and production began at a U.S. operation around 1890. Spratt’s history describes international expansion and an 1881 U.S. patent; together, these accounts indicate wider production, but do not establish a complete ownership chronology. Pet Food Institute; Spratt’s history |
| 1907 | Milk-Bone dog biscuits | A secondary U.S. manufacturing history reproduced in a National Academies publication says F. H. Bennett’s company was formed in New York and introduced Milk-Bone biscuits, marketed as a complete dog food. Pet Food Institute historical overview |
| 1922 | Canned dog food | The Pet Food Institute dates Ken-L Ration’s canned dog food to 1922 and identifies horsemeat as its main ingredient. Pet Food Institute |
| 1956 | Extruded dry dog food | Purina’s U.S. company history dates Dog Chow made using extrusion technology to 1956. This is a company milestone claim. Purina: Our History, Mission & Values |
| 1962 | Cat food | Purina’s U.S. company history dates the introduction of Purina Cat Chow to 1962. Purina: Our History, Mission & Values |
What Spratt’s introduced—and what it was not
Spratt’s early product was a dog biscuit, not the extruded dry food commonly called kibble today. The Pet Food Institute describes the biscuit as a mixture of wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot, and beef blood. That is a historical description of ingredients, not a modern nutritional analysis or evidence of how the food performed.
The Pet Food Institute and Spratt’s company history both place the business’s beginnings around 1860. The Pet Food Institute calls Spratt’s the first commercially prepared pet food; that priority claim belongs to the source and should not be mistaken for a conclusive ruling on every earlier feeding product or practice.
How prepared food developed across formats
Biscuits: portable, prepared food
Spratt’s biscuit established an early commercial format for feeding dogs. The late-19th-century expansion described by the Pet Food Institute and Spratt’s shows that production and distribution grew beyond the original London business. The historical accounts do not provide a full company-ownership sequence.
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Canned food: a different product form
Ken-L Ration’s 1922 canned dog food represents a distinct format from the earlier biscuit. The Pet Food Institute notes horsemeat as its main ingredient. The milestone documents a product and its composition; it does not establish a modern comparison of nutritional quality.
Extruded dry food: a later manufacturing milestone
Purina dates Dog Chow made with extrusion technology to 1956. That is a company history’s milestone for extruded dry food, not a claim that Spratt’s biscuit was kibble or that extrusion by itself made food healthier. Purina’s history then dates Purina Cat Chow to 1962, extending the timeline to a cat-food product.
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Why commercial pet food grew
The Pet Food Institute connects demand for prepared food with the growth of companion-animal keeping, owners’ desire to protect valued animals, broader availability, and marketing. It also describes veterinary nutrition science as emerging in the late 19th century, with animal science and nutrition knowledge continuing to evolve in the 20th century. These are qualitative historical explanations, not measured causes or proof that commercial diets are inherently better than other ways of feeding pets.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this timeline can—and cannot—tell you
- It shows changing formats: biscuit, canned food, and extruded dry food appear as distinct milestones.
- It records attributed dates: the 1860 priority claim comes from industry and company histories, while the 1956 and 1962 milestones are presented in Purina’s company history.
- It does not rank nutrition: the cited histories do not support comparing these products’ nutritional quality by today’s standards.
- It is not a complete ownership history: the accounts describe expansion, but do not trace every change in control or production.
For a broader account of manufacturing history, FEDIAF also publishes a history of pet food manufacturing.
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