The cat accessories market gets smarter

The global pet accessories market is forecast to rise from 2024’s $72.5 billion (€70.1B) to $116.2 billion (€112.4B) by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 6.98%. This is driven by the surge of pandemic cats, pre-pandemic lifestyle nostalgia and pet humanization going viral.

High-tech epicenters

A survey presented at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Economic and Business Forum last October showed that cat owners had spent slightly more on pet care and accessories than in 2023, with Capital One Shopping Research reporting that the average US household spent $876 (€847) on pets in 2024.

In Europe, pet accessories are estimated to be worth $1.2 billion (€1.16B).

At the same time, per capita cat accessory expenditure has increased in East Asia, where the digital cat accessories markets in China, Japan and South Korea are booming, due to raw material abundance and low production costs.

Smart solutions for keeping in contact

An electronic cat accessory aims to provide smart solutions for everyday problems. This is achieved by product innovation and upgrading existing products.

Interactive monitors and pet cameras with two-way communication systems remain the most popular cat accessories.

“Technology is transforming how we care for our pets, making it easier to stay connected. We focus on creating accessible smart monitoring systems that bring peace of mind to pet parents,” says Yulia Popyk, Brand Manager at pet technology firm Petcube.

App developer Harmonic Soft now has a pet video-calling mobile app called Pet Phone. This allows pet owners to Skype with their cats using advanced Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

In 2024, pet collar maker Kestanlora launched a HD 1080P cat camera collar, giving owners a front-row seat for their cat’s daily adventures. Meanwhile, the Tractive smart collar available for dogs and cats, has integrated GPS tracker and offers health alerts.

Intelligent health and welfare support

Catlink, a Chinese company specializing in intelligent cat devices, grew by 39% last year. Its founder, Zhang Xiaolin, says: “We’ve witnessed the progression from automation to intelligence and now firmly believe in the path of digitization and health consciousness.”

FluentPet shook the industry when it released Cat Talking Buttons, an interactive board that allows owners to communicate with their cats while providing mental stimulation and reinforcing learning.

Fellow US business Pet Acoustics has created a multisensory speaker for cats, pre-loaded with calming music. German developer Catus has designed the Groomatic automatic cat brush that is attached to the wall, is motion-activated and supports coat health.

US-based Litter-Robot makes self-cleaning litter boxes for cats, while the UK’s Sure Petcare designs and manufactures smart doors that work only when in contact with the connected cat’s microchip.

Petwant, known for its range of electronic pet feeders, has created a cordless water fountain with a smart sensor and filtration system.

E-commerce popular for accessories

Since the pandemic, cat owners’ online shopping habits have accelerated notably. eTailPet says that the pet e-commerce market has quadrupled in size since 2013.

Customers favor online pet shopping because it offers excellent product selection, fast shipping and competitive pricing. Plus, it’s much easier to compare the features and costs of electronic and digital cat accessories online.

The general interest in smart cat feeders has grown by over 40% since 2020, with as much as 64,000 searches a month, according to a November 2024 Meet Glimpse trends report.

Social media was buzzing about the high-tech accessory, and it peaked in popularity on TikTok and YouTube. The virtual shelves of online pet retailers were soon overflowing with automatic cat feeders.

Peeking into the future

With so many revolutionary cat accessories, 2025 is shaping up to be an exhilarating year for the sector. Powered by pet owner demand, it is creating not fads but global long-term trends.

And the future of digital pet care is looking bright with electronic and digital cat accessories set to see continued growth.

“Combining engaging interactive technologies with tools that monitor and improve pet wellness, we can create innovative solutions that help owners proactively care for their [pet’s] health,” says Marko Kadunc, CEO of PetsPemf, which manufactures pulsed electromagnetic field therapy mats for pets.