The rise of smart accessories for cats
Driven by innovative technologies designed for cats’ well-being, connectivity and mental stimulation, this market has a bright future.
According to Business Research Insights, the global pet accessories market was valued at $20.51 billion (€18.76B) in 2022 and is expected to reach $32.29 billion (€29.54B) in 2028. One of the most notable trends propelling demand is high-tech devices for cats, such as wearables, automatic feeders, self-cleaning litter boxes, smart toys and robot companions.
The current landscape
Humans are becoming increasingly comfortable with the integration of connectivity into their lives, so it’s no surprise that the benefits in the pet market are being embraced too. Smart pet accessories enable owners to care for their cats more easily and effectively, as well as help them to better understand their pets’ health and happiness.
Cat owners who can’t be with their pets all day are turning to smart accessories to fill in for them in their absence. According to Fact.MR, the global smart pet feeder market alone experienced year-on-year growth of 5.2% in 2021 to reach a market valuation of $187.3 million (€171.33M). This growth is expected to continue and reach an estimated $419.2 million (€383.47M) by the end of 2032.
A solution to loneliness?
In addition to feeders that can be operated by apps to dispense portion-controlled meals or treats, there is a new breed of robotic companion emerging that has the potential to combat loneliness in cats by providing mental and physical stimulation throughout the day.
The O Sitter from HHOLOVE combines a pet activity tracker, customizable feeder and remote-controlled camera in what the company says is “the world’s first smart companion robot for cats”. An integrated laser play function in the O Sitter also allows an owner to interact with their cat remotely, while two-way HD video calls enable a cat to be reassured by the sound of their owner’s voice.
Mental stimulation through smart play
For a cat to have a healthy and happy life, mental stimulation is essential. Without sufficient stimulation, they can become bored or depressed, which can lead to undesirable behaviors such as being destructive or overly vocal. Smart toys are a great way to keep a cat entertained and tend to have a longer-lasting appeal than traditional toys.
The Instachew Purechase Smart Mouse toy is an app-enabled play device for cats. Controlled by an owner’s smartphone, the mouse-shaped toy offers long-lasting fun through the unpredictability of its movements. The toy can rotate 360 degrees and its speed can also be adjusted via the app, putting the owner in control and making the experience more of a collaborative play session.
Instachew’s cutting-edge pet technology has caught the eye of retail giant PetSmart, which has recognized consumer interest in smart pet accessories. In November, the 2 companies announced they were joining forces in a bid to “redefine the pet care landscape”.
Time-saving solutions
Smart cat accessories are also taking over the more time-consuming and less enjoyable elements of cat ownership, and this is most evident in the success of Litter-Robot, the self-cleaning litter box that promises owners will “never scoop again”.
“We’ve continued to see meaningful and steady growth since 2014,” says Jacob Zuppke, CEO of Whisker, the company behind Litter-Robot and, more recently, Feeder-Robot.
Zuppke adds that there are more than a million robots in the field, which has seen his company expanding into large retailers like Costco and PetSmart, emphasizing that pet parents are keen to automate and find time-saving solutions to certain tasks associated with cat ownership.
“Data will be a massive consideration in pet tech accessories moving forward, not only to improve ease of use for consumers but to monitor and maintain pet health,” concludes Zuppke.
Future opportunities
Looking ahead, there is plenty of scope for more innovation in smart pet accessories and no shortage of start-ups eager to find a place in this exciting market. Korean start-up Petnow is an example of just 1 company that is using AI to enhance pet ownership. Petnow uses AI as a non-invasive alternative to microchips to identify cats through cutting-edge scanning technology.
The software company’s world-leading cat ID service allows owners to register their cat’s face using its AI biometric recognition technology, which they can do from their smartphones. Once registered, cats can be identified by comparing a scanned face to the ones on the Petnow database. In tests, Petnow attained an impressive recognition rate of up to 99%.
The applications of AI in the smart pet accessories market are far-reaching, from enabling smart devices to distinguish between cats in a multi-cat household and preventing unfamiliar cats from entering your home to even translating feline meows.
MeowTalk is an AI-powered translator app that interprets a cat’s sound by comparing it to a database of noises collected and labeled by vets. Since November 2020, MeowTalk has seen over 20 million downloads worldwide, indicating a definite appetite for AI in the pet market.
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