Market Trends of Cat Litter Industry
Increasing Pet Humanization
The shift from pet 'ownership' to pet 'parenting' has been a crucial trend in the market studied, particularly in developed countries. About one-third of the households in developed countries own a pet. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, there was a significant rise in cat population in the United States, from 73 million in 2000 to about 220 million in 2021. This concept of pet humanization led to an increase in health consciousness and generated a demand for pet products, such as cat litter. Along with this, the growing human-animal bond augments the consumers' willingness to spend more money on their pets. This is a clear indicator of people's inclination toward buying more products (like cat litter), ensuring their pets' health and sanitation.
According to the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Pet Products (Abinpet), there were around 27.1 million cats in Brazil in 2021 which increased from 25.6 million in 2020. This growth in the population of pet cats and the increase in the number of multi-cat households are the factors driving the demand for cat litter. In addition, it is becoming easier to take care of cats with the introduction of efficient products in the market. Therefore, self-cleaning cat litter helps to maintain the cat's hygiene, despite the time constraints of the cat's owner. Thus, the increasing number of pets and pet owners worldwide and the increased per capita income facilitated pet humanization. This factor is expected to drive the market for sanitation products, like cat litter, among health-conscious pet owners.
North America dominates the market
North America is the largest market for cat litter. This region is a fascinating and lucrative market for cat litter, as demand continues to rise. Cats are the most popular companion animal in this region. The increased importance of pets in American families and better marketing via large-scale outlets and specialized stores are driving this growth. In addition to this, owing to the high demand by pet owners, for innovative products to maintain the hygiene of their cats is also driving the market growth.
Along with this, due to the increasing number of cat owners in the region, the region continues to be the leading market. Countries such as the United States and Canada are the major markets in the region. According to the American Pet Products Association's survey for 2021-2022, 45.3 million households. Approximately USD 1,000 is spent annually for the well-being of pet cats. Moreover, in Canada, many companies are marketing their cat litter product intensively. For instance, "Canada Litter" claims its product has a high absorption rate and good clumping. The company markets its product, saying it makes it easy to scoop from the cat's tray without leaving a mess of broken clumps or hardened sand stuck to the side of the tray.
Furthermore, continuous product developments and expansions in the cat litter market are bolstering the growth of the market. For instance, in October 2022, Clorox Company's opened a new cat litter manufacturing plant in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The plant will produce Fresh Step and Scoop Away cat litter products. Theincreased number of e-commerce stores offering various pet care products, including cat litter. For instance, according to Amazon.com, the online retail of pet care products in Mexico was recorded at USD 0.48 million in 2020, rising by14.3% from the previous year.
