Key trends in the cat accessories market

The current global cat population is estimated at between 370 and 380 million. The pandemic and the lockdowns have boosted cat ownership and the willingness of owners to spend more time with them.

Pet and cat accessories market

The global market for pet accessories was estimated at $29.4 billion in 2020. With the number of cats taken on as pets on the rise, accessories sales are also set to grow to an estimated $42.3 billion by 2026, according to Research and Markets.

Although there are no precise predictions available regarding cat accessories sales, market research companies believe that they represent around 32% of the total pet accessories market. This percentage is expected to increase to 40% in the coming years.

“A growing cat population resulting from higher adoption rates, and robust spending on pet wellness, will foster the demand for cat accessories in the future,” co-founder and director of Research Nester Gaurav Mitra explains to PETS International.

Multi-functional beds

Housing and bedding products designed for cats are gaining popularity, and manufacturers targeting these products are emphasizing product innovations that provide support in making cat owners’ lives (and that of their cats) just that little bit easier, convenient and comfortable.

For instance, there has been a growing demand for multi-functional beds. In response, Belgian company Moderna created a 3-in-1 cat litter box, bed and scratching post.

Colorado-based producer of heated pet products K&H recently launched a ‘thermo-mod dream pod’: a heated cushion that matches a cat’s body temperature – perfect for the sweetest cat dreams.

Pet health technology company Petrics launched, what they claim to be, the first smart pet bed in the market. Featuring a built-in scale, and thermostatic heating and cooling, the bed also allows a cat’s owner to automatically or manually – adjust the bed to their cat’s ideal temperature. What’s more, a special accompanying app tracks the cat’s weight, activity, health and nutritional intake.

Ensuring a healthy cat life

Feline health is also becoming a major concern for cat owners. To get cats into better shape, Korean manufacturer The Little Cat developed a cat exercise wheel. After all, many cats live a sedentary life indoors. The wheel is controlled by an app and allows owners to check the duration and intensity of exercises undertaken by their cat. They can also check how many calories the cat burnt.

“Our enticing products make cats want to do exercises. The wheel is much like those used for hamsters. We currently export to 6 countries around the world, and sales are on the rise,” according to the company’s CEO Kim Daeyong.

The Little Cat recently also launched the world’s first pet body fat analyzer. This collects and monitors a cat’s health data, such as its metabolic rate and body mass composition.

Catertainment – keeping cats from getting bored

Owners are keen to keep cats from getting bored. Puzzles – various difficulty levels, from complex bowls to balls that act like food dispensers – are gaining in popularity. Trixie’s Mad Scientist requires a cat to flip and balance beakers upside down to release the treats.

Furniture is another fast-growing category in the accessories market. Catastrophic Creations offers a range of elegant, modular, wall-mounted cat furniture that will keep any cat busy for a long time. Add-ons include a litter, a cat tree, a hammock and a bed.

Canadian Tuft and Paw has also created a complete collection of cat accessories, based on the trending Scandinavian style. ‘It is a new standard in the pet product game,’ the company claims.