Despite economic pressures, pet owners in 2024 are prioritizing their pets with health care and quality time ranking as top concerns. In a new survey report from the American Pet Products Association, the company looked specifically at dog and cat parents (the largest segment of pet owners) to understand the ongoing shifts leading to the rise in spend.
The APPA study of more than 10,000 U.S. adult pet owners revealed that today pet parents are more involved with their dogs. These parents are taking dogs to parks, bringing them along on daily activities like errands, including them in vacations and are even hosting more parties for their dogs — not to mention buying them more gifts. Fifty percent of dog owners said they take their dog somewhere on foot and 53 percent said they take them in the car for errands and routines at least once a week.
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With that in mind, the researchers said dog owners are presenting a deeper bond with their dogs today. Pet birthday parties continue to gain momentum with 27 percent of dog owners and 20 percent of cat owners reporting that they have thrown a party for their pets, up from 20 percent and 16 percent, respectively, in 2022.
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As purchases of pet products increases across all pet categories, the APPA report found that leading the way is prioritization for products that cater to obesity and anxiety with a rise in dogs being actively treated. According to APPA’s data, the use of calming products has grown by 168 percent for dogs and 174 percent for cats since 2018. Twelve percent of dog owners and 17 percent of cat owners admitted that their veterinarian considers their pet obese, and 11 percent of dog owners and 13 percent of cat owners have been prescribed weight loss diets.
In a more general sense, consumers are also investing in health and wellness purchases including vitamins, supplements and CBD. Since 2018, vitamin and supplement use has increased by nearly 50 percent for dogs and 60 percent for cats.
“The enduring emotional connection between humans and their pets remains deep. With that said, 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,” said Peter Scott, president and chief executive officer of APPA. “It indicates that pets’ quality of life has become a top priority for owners. As an overwhelming majority believe that their pets bring them happiness and emotional support, increased quality time spent and travel with pets follow suit.”
When it comes to travel accommodations, pet owners are thinking of their pets and how to include them. More than half (55 percent) of dog owners and 36 percent of cat owners said they “accommodate their pets, the desire to spend quality time with pets extends beyond the day-to-day and into travel.” Just in the last year, 88 percent of dog owners and 90 percent of cat owners said they have traveled with their pet in the car while 68 percent of dog owners and 80 percent of cat owners said they have traveled with their pets on a plane.