More Owners Prioritize Pets’ Quality of Life

An American Pet Products Association report has demonstrated that dog and cat owners gave top priority to the animals’ health and spending quality time with their pets.

The recently released “Dog and Cat Report: Strategic Insights from the National Pet Owners Survey” contained 200 pages of analysis and visuals concerning pet owners’ shopping trends, sentiments, demographics and behaviors.

“Our findings both confirm evolving trends and reveal surprising shifts in how pet owners bond with and care for their pets,” said APPA’s president and CEO, Peter Scott. “The data show that despite the economic pressures, the majority of pet owners continue to spend on their pets.”

Key findings from the report include:

• The use of calming products has grown by 168% for dogs and 174% for cats since 2018.
• A growing number of dog owners (12%) and cat owners (17%) said their veterinarian diagnosed their pets as obese, up from 9% and 15%, respectively, in 2022.
• More dog owners (11%) and cat owners (13%) said their veterinarian prescribed a weight-loss diet, up from 9% and 12%, respectively, in 2022.
• Vitamin and supplement use has grown by nearly 50% in dogs and 60% in cats since 2018.
• About 15% of dog owners take their pets with them on daily errands.
• More cat owners are training their pets, with 31% owning leashes and 23% owning harnesses, up from 21% and 13%, respectively, in 2018.
• 44% of dog owners and 32% of cat owners purchase a birthday gift for their pets.
• More dog owners (55%) than cat owners (36%) tailor their travel plans to accommodate their pets.
• Over the past year, 34% of dog owners took their pets on three or more car trips and 22% on three or more plane trips. In contrast, 30% of cat owners took their pets on three or more car trips and 22% on three or more plane trips.

“We were surprised and eager to see the increased pet owner prioritization and concern over the health of their pets, whether that be obesity, anxiety or overall wellness,” Scott said. “It indicates that pets’ quality of life has become a top priority for owners.”