Pet owners buy a lot of things for their pets. From food and toys to bedding and clothes, the pet supplies industry is a multi-billion dollar one. Our pets are our family and we want to spare no expense in making sure they’re happy and well-cared for. But what exactly have pet owners been buying for their pets so far this year?
Jungle Scout’s Q2 2021 Consumer Trends Report looks at what pet owners bought for their pets in the second quarter of 2021 and surveyed 1,066 American consumers, 786 of whom reported that they had purchased pet supplies. This makes roughly 65% of those surveyed pet owners.
Key Takeaways
- Millennials are the largest group of pet owners and make up 52% of the population who bought pet supplies according to the 2021 Consumer Trends Report.
- Amazon is the most popular website for online pet supplies purchases.
- 40% of pet owners use Facebook to make pet supplies purchases.
- Automated pet feeders, smart toys, and cat backpacks are among the most popular pet products of 2021.
Who Owns Pets in the US?
Jungle Scout did a separate survey to find out what kind of people own pets. They found that more men than women were pet owners, most pet owners worked either full- or part-time, and that while people of all ages are pet owners, the largest age group of pet owners in the survey was Millennials, who made up 52% of those who bought pet supplies. Pet owners also on average made big changes to their lives in the past year. For many, that was the decision to adopt a pet, a decision that may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where Do Pet Owners Shop?
The Jungle Scout survey asked pet owners about their online shopping habits for their pet supplies. Amazon was by far the most popular website for online pet supplies purchases, with 76% of the survey participants shopping on Amazon. Next was shopping via a search engine like Google or Bing, with 50% of pet owners shopping for the products they wanted to buy first on a search engine. Most used Amazon to search for products as well as to purchase.
Pet owners also shopped on social media platforms. Facebook was the most popular, with 40% of pet owners buying pet supplies there. YouTube and Instagram were close behind in popularity, and some also shopped on TikTok. Only about 23% of pet owners did their browsing directly on the website of a pet supplies retailer. Social media was popular for pet shopping because pet owners can see what’s trending and popular with other pet owners. Plus, there are images showing products in use and reviews from fellow pet owners.
What Are the Top Products for Pets in 2021?
The top pet products of 2021 so far have included:
- Calming, anti-anxiety pet chews
- Automatic pet feeders
- Smart toys
- Cat backpacks
- Dog car seats
