What’s new in the stain and odor control pet market?
Discover the latest trends shaping the stain and odor pet product section as it evolves to cater to the growing needs of pet owners.
With pet ownership on the rise, so is the need for products that eliminate pet stains and odors. However, the market is responding to consumer demand with a wave of new and innovative products, including a shift beyond traditional cleaning methods with solutions like tech-enabled odor control, odor-eliminating air purifiers, pet-safe deodorizers, advanced cat litter and stain-fighting cleaning products.
Research shows demand
According to the National Pet Owners’ Survey 2023–2024 by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 12% of dog parents and 24% of cat parents mentioned odor and cleanliness as drawbacks of pet ownership.
The data from the pet trade association also reveals that 40% of dog owners and 29% of cat owners had a pet stain remover at home in 2022. Wipes, pee pads and fragrance products were also popular among US pet owners.
According to the data, the use of odor neutralizers among dog owners rose from 39% in 2020 to 42% in 2022. These products were most popular among Gen Z (55%), millennials (51%), and pet owners with small children (50%).
Fresh to the market
There has been a relative surge in products merging technology with cleanliness. For example, in January, smart fragrance company Pura launched Open Air TechTM with 8 fragrances for its air diffuser product. This product neutralizes and reduces unwanted odors “at a molecular level”, particularly targeting fabrics, carpets, furniture and pet areas.
Last year, Japanese care product company Sunstar also unveiled the QAIS-air-04, a wall-mounted ‘plug- and-go’ chemical-free air purifier that eliminates bad odors by disinfecting these compounds at the source. The company developed the product after conducting market research that revealed 63% of dog owners cared about the smell of their pets.
South Korean company PalmBee launched an odorless mineral-based product called WIS4PET for companion animals in response to consumers’ demand for sterilizing pet deodorants. This product can be applied directly to pets to eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
Litter box innovation
Cat litter companies have continued to innovate in the odor-control product category. BSB Products introduced its OdourLock® maxCare range, which, in addition to locking in foul odors, uses Blücare® technology to allow cat owners to detect biomarkers like blood and glucose, the early signs of urinary disease and diabetes, in their pets’ urine.
Petterm introduced its odor-removing Hidden Cat Litter Boxes last year, which are equipped with artificial plants to blend in with home decor while neutralizing odors.
The stain control cleaning product category has seen many launches from pet product manufacturers and the larger cleaning supply industry. Prominent category leaders include Skout’s Honor, Simple Solution under the Compana brand, Rocco & Roxie Supply Co., and Angry Orange. Most recently, pet care brand Oxyfresh unveiled a ‘powerful’ premium pet stain and odor remover to effectively tackle pet messes.
While demand remains high, there is unlikely to be any let-up in the push to create tech-savvy solutions to manage odors and stains.
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