Pet parents & CBD: consumer survey results

In collaboration with Yummypets, we asked 944 dog and cat owners about their thoughts on CBD (cannabidiol, a cannabis ingredient with certain health benefits) and their purchasing habits.

Pet parents from the US (33%), Canada (31%), France (20%) and the UK (17%) participated in the survey.

How interested are they?

Most pet owners (72%) are familiar with CBD, but nearly half of those surveyed (49%) indicate that they’d never bought a CBD product for themselves or their pets.

About 16% of pet parents have bought a CBD-based product for their pets, 41% of pet parents would be interested in trying one and 13% aren’t really interested.

As US consumers are most familiar with CBD – and the strongest proponents for it – it’s no surprise that they’re also more likely to have bought these products for their pets. On the other hand, French consumers are least likely to have purchased CBD products. They’re also the least acquainted with it and are most likely to strongly disapprove of CBD.

How often do they buy?

Of those respondents who have bought a CBD pet product before, the majority indicate that they have only tried it once (18%) or rarely give it to their pets (33%). A small group of CBD buyers (13%) regularly give these products to their pets.

Interestingly, while more US pet parents have tried CBD for their pets, they don’t use it more often. So, even though CBD is more widespread in the US, this popularity doesn’t necessarily equate to more frequent use. UK pet parents are most likely to have just tried it once.

This could have something to do with the fact that a large portion of CBD consumers (47%) tried it for the first time in the last 6 months – so they might not have had enough time for repeat usage.

In fact, 82% of people indicated they would buy a CBD pet product again. Only 8% think they won’t.

Product popularity

The most popular types of CBD pet products are the most readily available: oils (63% have used it) and chews (59%). Biscuits (22%), sticks (12%) and paste (9%) are bought much less.

US consumers prefer chews over oil. Canadian pet parents, on the other hand, prefer oil over chews.

Effect & satisfaction

Most owners who have tried CBD pet products (71%) indicate that they’re satisfied with the effect the product had on their pet. 78% indicate that they noticed positive changes in their pet after consumption.

The experience of a small group of pet parents was less positive: 14% indicate that they noticed some negative changes in their pets after consumption.

The motivations behind (not) buying

The most common reasons people buy CBD-based pet products are for stress relief (65%) and relaxation (54%). Others include pain relief (41%), joint care (27%), general health improvement (31%) and mood enhancement (30%).

Of those who haven’t bought any CBD pet products, 41% indicate that their pet doesn’t need it. Uncertainty or limited understanding about these products also plays a role: 35% are concerned about product safety, its legality (22%), whether their pet would become addicted (21%) or high (21%), or that the benefits haven’t been proven (29%).

If non-buyers were to start buying CBD products, the main reasons would be stress relief (62%), pain relief (57%), relaxation (50%), joint care (46%) and general health improvement (43%).