Pets at Home reports strong rise in festive spending on cat products
New data from Pets at Home has revealed that festive spending on pets is up 4% year-on-year.
However, cats have emerged as the clear winners with spending on cat specific Christmas products rising by 26% compared to growth of 2% for dogs. Small animals have also received a festive boost with spending on accessories increasing by 40%.
Pets at Home said advent calendars are more popular than ever with 18% more pets receiving one this year. Cat advent calendars have seen a 31% rise in popularity compared to 16% for dogs.
The retailer has also found that almost nine in ten shoppers are choosing to buy Christmas pet treats and toys in its stores compared to 12% online. In addition, research by Pets at Home has shown that 3.1 million households will spend more on gifts for their pets this Christmas than on any other family member.
Anja Madsen, chief operating officer at Pets at Home said: “This Christmas, we’re seeing more people than ever heading into store to choose something special for their pets, and it’s clear that cats are coming out on top.
“Shoppers really value being able to browse festive treats and toys in person, experiencing the joy of Christmas shopping and picking something they know their pets will love.
“Cat owners in particular this year are spending more on their pets, from toys to advent calendars, reflecting just how much all species of pet are part of the family.
“More so than ever, pets are being included in the festive fun and we love being able to share that experience with customers when they come into our petcare centres”.
