by Shannon Landry
January 15, 2026
The US pet market has been undergoing a significant transformation, and durable pet care products are feeling the effects more acutely than many other categories.
The US pet market has been undergoing a significant transformation, and durable pet care products are feeling the effects more acutely than many other categories. Changes in pet ownership patterns—particularly the decline in dog-owning households, growth in cat ownership, and a shift toward larger dogs—are reshaping demand across toys, beds, carriers, feeding accessories, and other durable goods.
Dogs have long been the economic engine of the durable pet products market, accounting for roughly two-thirds of category sales. However, recent data show that the number of dog-owning households has fallen and remains well below its pandemic peak. Economic pressures, high housing costs, and rising interest rates have made dog ownership less accessible, especially for younger consumers who are more likely to rent than own homes. Because new dog acquisition typically triggers significant upfront purchases in the durables market (such as crates, beds, collars, leashes, bowls, and toys) even modest declines in dog ownership have an outsized impact on durable product sales.
At the same time, cat ownership has been steadily increasing over the past five years. Cats are often viewed as lower-cost, lower-maintenance companions, particularly appealing to older households and renters. While this trend supports growth in cat-exclusive categories such as litter boxes and accessories, it presents a more nuanced opportunity for durables marketers. Outside of litter-related products, cats historically generate less spending on durable goods than dogs, and Packaged Facts data shows that many cat owners feel underserved by product innovation and assortment. As the pet population tilts more feline, brands that invest in cat-specific design, functionality, and merchandising may be better positioned to benefit from cat owner demand.
Another important dynamic is a shift in the size of dogs in US households. Packaged Facts survey data indicate a movement away from toy and small dogs toward medium and large breeds. This shift has meaningful implications for durable product demand. Larger dogs typically require sturdier, higher-priced items, such as heavy-duty leashes, durable chew toys, orthopedic beds, and reinforced containment products, driving higher per-item spending. However, they are also less likely to use certain categories, such as soft carriers, altering category-level demand patterns.
Beyond species and size, household composition trends are also influencing the market. The growing number of households that are made up of those who are generally less likely to own dogs, such as Boomer and older senior households and lower-income households, adds further pressure to durables demand. These demographic realities, combined with economic uncertainty, are lengthening replacement cycles as a result of the “nice-to-have” perception of many durable pet products.
For manufacturers and retailers, these shifts underscore the importance of aligning product strategies with evolving ownership realities. Opportunities increasingly lie in catering to cat owners, addressing the needs of larger dogs, and emphasizing value, durability, and health and wellness benefits. As the pet population continues to evolve, durable product success will depend less on volume-driven growth and more on targeted innovation that reflects who today’s pet owners are and how they care for their pets.
Want to learn more? Check out Packaged Facts’ Durable Dog and Cat Pet Care Products in the US, 6th Edition (January 2026) or visit the Packaged Facts Pet Knowledge Center, your resource for in-depth pet market intelligence.
About the blogger: Shannon Landry is the Research Director for Packaged Facts Pet and a veteran pet market research analyst. Landry regularly presents at pet industry conferences including Petfood Forum, GlobalPETS Forum, the Pet Food Association of Canada’s annual conference, and the National Animal Supplement Council’s annual conference. She also has a bi-monthly column in Pet Food Processing and is a regular contributor to PETS International.
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