Trendy Pets? Trends in the Pet Industry Today.

Pets are part of the family for many people. 54% of people in the UK support bereavement leave on the loss of a pet, showing just how important pets are to their owners.

Some interesting pet facts –

Australia, for example, has one the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with 2/3 of households holding at least one pet.
60% of people in the UK own a pet, not including fish. The most popular pet is dogs, with cats coming a close second.
70% of Gen Zs (people born 1997 – 2012) have pets.
There are approximately 30 million pets in Australia.
There are 6.3 million pet dogs in Australia.
There are 13.5 million pet dogs in the UK and 12.5 million pets.
92% of Brazilians and 86% of Irish people have pets.
Other popular pets are domestic fowl, rabbits, indoor birds, ponies, hamsters, snakes and horses.

We spend a lot of money on our pets.

How Much is the Pet Industry Worth?

The pet industry is massive. It is estimated that the pet industry is worth $330 billion worldwide. Experts suggest it will be worth $500 billion by 2030.

It is estimated that -

People in Australia alone spend $22 billion a year on their pets.
America has the biggest expenditure on their pets. The pet industry in America is worth an estimated $140 million, and it is rapidly increasing.

So what is trendy now for our beloved pets?

Pet Pampering

Lots of pets love a pamper and grooming can be a bonding moment.

51% of Brazilians believe it is a bonding moment

There are more than 4000 dog groomers in Australia, more than 10,000 in the UK, and more are needed.

It is estimated that the grooming market in Australia alone is worth $160 million. But worldwide, it is worth a massive $6.8 billion for grooming services, and another $14.6 billion for products!

Grooming has become more popularly known as PBG – Pet Bathing and Grooming.

Grooming services can include –

Clipping
Washing
Trimming
Dental care
Claw trimming
Spa treatments for paws and noses
Fancy grooming products
Pet perfumes

More beauty and bathing products for pet are becoming available, such as natural and gentle products, spa type treatments, with new products becoming available all of the time for our pets.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Products

Eco-friendly and sustainable products are another increasingly popular trend for pet owners. These products include –

Organic food
Ecofriendly grooming products
Natural treats, flea and tick treatments etc.
Biodegradable toys
Recycled products, for example, cat litter made from recycled paper.

Pet Wellness

Pet obesity levels increased during the COVID lockdown, leading to owners becoming increasingly interested in pet health. This has included new trends, such as –

Fitness trackers for pets
Pet toothbrushes
Specialised diets
Supplements for their pets, such as probiotics.

Pet Food

Sixty percent of the money spend on pets is actually on pet food. 44% of this market is for dogs. Cats have the next biggest share, then other animals.

It is estimated that the American pet food industry is worth $65 – 70 million.

Pet owners are increasingly looking to provide their pets with foods that improve their health and wellbeing. Owners are paying more attention to ingredients, splashing out on fresh and raw diets for their owners. It is estimated that 12% of cat owners and 16% of dog owners in the UK are now opting to buy fresh pet food. Around 17% of dog owners use subscription models to get their dog food and 13% of cat owners.

Many owners are now preparing home cooked meals for their pets too.

Luxury Items

There has been a rise in luxury services for pets. We have already talked about fancy grooming products, but other examples include –

Pet spas
Pet hotels
Luxury pet carriers
Gourmet food for pets
Catios (Outdoor cat enclosures). These enable worried owners to give their cat sometime outdoors, without the worry of them running away or harming birds and other wildlife.

Customisable Products

As well as luxury products, more owners are choosing customisable products.

For example –

Collars and leads with the dog’s name on.
Personalised bedding, toys and other equipment for the pet.
Matching or customised products and clothes for the owner. We see matching Christmas jumpers for the owner and pet.
Right through to individual and personalised pet food formulas.

Technological Advances

We have already talked about fitness trackers for pets, but there are lots of other technological advances for our pets –

Pet tracking devices in collars.
Cameras to watch what our pet is up to at home. Or film our pets about their day, for example, filming a bird in their cage.
Automated feeders.
Automated litter boxes.
Automated cat flaps, linked to a microchip in the cat’s collar so only your cat can be let in.
Interactive toys controlled by smart phones.
There are even TV channels specifically aimed at pets.

The Humanisation of Pets

The humanisation of pets has led to other changes. For example –

There are more and more clothes options available for pets today. Some pets have their own entire wardrobe.
Petfluencers (or pet influencers) are very popular on social media.
As are TV programmes and other media about pets.

Fashions come and go in the human world, and it looks like fashions and trends are definitely changing in the animal world.

Would you like to

Get ahead of the pet industry trends?
Start a new business in the pet industry?
Learn more about caring for your pet?

Learning more is never wasted; and there are lots of ways to learn more about pets.

You might start with a course (we have lots of options). You can also learn a lot just be getting out and about: visiting events or volunteering for example.

If you want to talk to someone to chew over the possibilities, let us know.

Email admin@acs.edu.au

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