A recent survey covering 2,708 pet owners across Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, the UK, and the US highlights a clear pattern:

👉 Pet accessories have become a regular expense —
but purchasing behavior is increasingly shaped by budget pressure and channel preference.

Most pet owners buy accessories a few times per year, with spending typically falling into a mid-range level.

At the same time:

👉 Consumers are becoming more selective —
expecting safety, quality, and value in every purchase.

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Core Categories: Toys Lead, While Functional Products Stay Essential

Across both dog and cat owners:

• Toys are the most purchased category
  • Dogs: 44%
  • Cats: 40%

For dog owners, functional categories remain highly relevant:

• Leashes, collars, and harnesses: 36%
  • Higher in Mexico (45%) and Australia (43%)

Other key categories include:

• Bedding (blankets, beds): 32%
• Grooming products: 31%
  • Particularly strong in Brazil (40%) and Mexico (39%)

👉 This highlights a consistent pattern:

Everyday functional products — especially harnesses, collars, and leashes — remain core purchasing drivers.

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Cat Accessories: Strong Demand in Key Markets

Cat owners show different purchasing behavior:

• Bowls and feeding accessories: 31%
• Scratchers: 28%
• Grooming tools: 24%

The US stands out:

• Toys: 50%
• Scratchers: 36%
• Cat trees: 28%
• Bedding: 26%

👉 This indicates:

Higher engagement markets tend to drive broader category expansion.

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Decision Drivers: Safety and Quality Come First — Price Still Matters

When choosing accessories, consumers prioritize:

• Pet safety: 72%
• Quality and durability: 71%
• Price: 60%

Regional sensitivity:

• Brazil: 65% price-sensitive
• Australia: 64%
• US & Canada: 63%

Lower priorities include:

• Design: 23%
• Reviews: 23%
• Sustainability: 17%
• Brand: 9%

👉 Key insight:

Consumers are not buying based on branding —
they are buying based on trust in performance and value.

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Purchase Behavior: Occasional, but Not Irrelevant

Accessories are not high-frequency purchases:

• 41% buy several times per year
• 38% buy more than once every three months
• 10% buy once per year
• 8% only replace when necessary

At the same time:

• 51% see accessories as an “occasional treat”
• 44% see them as a “needs-based purchase”

👉 This creates a dual nature:

Accessories are both functional essentials and emotional purchases.

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Spending Patterns: Mid-Range Dominates, but Premium Is Growing

Annual spending:

• $30–$75: 35%
• $75–$150: 29%
• $150–$300: 14%
• $300+: 10%
• Below $30: 13%

👉 Important shift:

More consumers are moving toward higher spending tiers.

Budget allocation:

• 10–25% of pet budget: 49%
• Below 10%: 25%
• 26–50%: 17%
• Above 51%: 7%

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Channels: Online Dominates — But Not Alone

Online marketplaces are now central:

• 66% of consumers buy from platforms like Amazon
• US: 85%, Mexico: 73%

👉 Amazon is becoming a core purchasing channel:

• 80% have bought from it
• 28% increased purchases in the past 12 months

Discount platforms (Temu, AliExpress, Shopee, Wish):

• Used by 30%
• Brazil: 55%

👉 This reflects:

Growing demand for low-cost alternatives.

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Why Consumers Buy Online

Top reasons:

• Lower prices: 60%
• Convenience & delivery: 52%
• Promotions: 52%
• Wider assortment: 41%

👉 Price advantage remains the strongest driver.

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Offline Still Matters

Despite online growth:

• Large pet chains: 54%
• Independent stores: 49%
• Supermarkets: 41%

👉 Physical retail still plays a key role —
especially for immediate and trust-based purchases.

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Future Outlook: Stable, but Selective Growth

Looking ahead:

• 69% plan to maintain spending
• 19% plan to increase spending
• 5% plan to reduce spending

👉 Growth remains —
but not aggressive.

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Final Insight

The pet accessories market is not shrinking —
👉 it is becoming more selective.

• Consumers still buy
• But they compare more
• And expect more value

👉 The challenge is no longer demand —
but conversion and positioning.

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2️⃣ What This Means for the Pet Industry

The accessories category is evolving into a value-sensitive but stable segment:

• Demand exists, but is not high-frequency
• Price sensitivity is increasing
• Functional products remain core
• Online channels are becoming dominant

At the same time:

👉 Consumers expect more for every purchase.

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3️⃣ What This Means for Pet Brands Working with OEM Partners

The Problem

Brands are facing:

• Increasing price sensitivity
• Slower purchase frequency
• High competition in similar products
• Pressure from low-cost online platforms

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The Need

Brands now need:

• Better cost-performance products
• Clear differentiation in basic categories
• Flexible product development
• Faster response to market demand

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Where OEM Partners Create Value

OEM partners help brands by:

• Offering cost-efficient production
• Supporting functional upgrades (e.g., harness, collar improvements)
• Enabling flexible SKU development
• Ensuring stable quality and supply

👉 In a price-sensitive market,
the right supplier directly impacts competitiveness.

^{Source: GlobalPETS}