Hello, Beautiful Dog People!! I would like to you give a warm welcome to Zara. She is here today to share with us some of the evolution in pet ownership and care trends we see today.

Zara Lewis is a regular contributor at highstylife.com and a full-time animal lover. Passionate about creating a better world for the generations to come, she is a mum of two, raising them inseparably from their furry family members.

Pet Ownership and Care Trends

The way people see pets today has greatly evolved from a time when a dog was the keeper of the yard, relegated to a house with his name tag. Dogs nowadays go on vacations, fly, have their nails and furs done. For many Millennials who are struggling with finding affordable housing and paying off student loans, a family is a luxury that needs to be delayed. Pets, on the other hand, offer companionship and a sense of responsibility when many young people’s lives are unstable.

They are pampered

Pet owners today are more aware of the life experiences of their animals. More than any other previous group, Millennials are dedicated to their pets’ comfort and are ready to spend more money on non-essential pet accessories or holistic spa-treatments. They buy pet clothing and natural fibre toys, preferring crates and enclosures that stimulate exercise and entertainment. Christina Ha, co-founder of Meow Parlour, New York City’s first cat café, says that cats regularly sleep in our beds and we spend a lot on products or toys we think they’ll like. Her guests, predominantly Millennials, come to admire cohorts of free-roaming cats, all of which are ready for adoption.

Pet celebrities on the rise

While pet celebrities are nothing new, with the overall humanization of pets, more and more of them are getting their 15 minutes of fame. What started as a simple post on Reddit by Grumpy Cat’s owner, grew into a viral sensation worth more than $100 million. Now there are Grumpy Cat hats, posters, T-shirts, cards, coffee mugs – pretty much anything that can be sold with the hilarious face of the Internet’s first pet superstar. A home video of a dog attacking a child only to be saved by Tara the cat had more than 17 million views in its first days online. Now the Washington Post estimates that Tara and her owner earn between $55,500 and $400,000 a year.

Huge pet tech market

Ranging from accessories such as smart leashes and automatic feeders to ball launchers and smartphone apps, the pet tech market isn’t huge in the term of sales as it is in product innovations. Devices like the interactive Petcube camera are ideal for owners who can’t bear to be parted from their pets. Compatible with iOS and Android platforms, the camera connects through Wi-Fi and allows owners to watch and communicate with their pets using a smartphone. Tech is also changing the way dogs are exercising. The StarWalk Dog Activity Tracker by Dogtra iQPet is nothing short of a small Fitbit-like gadget that attaches to the dog’s collar. The monitor records how many steps the dog has taken in a day and the number of calories burned.

Pets going organic

In the last several years, we’ve seen an increased demand for high-end pet food and treats. For the first time, it is not the price but quality that drives the sale, as more and more dog owners consider product safety when they make their purchases. They endorse premium food brands like grain-free Ivory Coat with reduced fat content. Just as they are looking to improve their lifestyle through healthy dieting, millennial pet owners are also seeking out organic and healthy food for their fur babies.

Fur-friendly travel

There is another business concept on the rise that capitalizes on more and more people regarding their pets as beloved family members. Apart from taking them along on vacations, people today are more mobile in their search for jobs, housing or retirement. An increasing number of hotels, motels, and inns now welcome pets. Along with a variety of travel apps that can direct owners to places that welcome cats and dogs.

Through all these trends, we see that people today want to treat pets like full-time family members. Pet owners are looking to provide their pups and kittens with accessories, healthy food, travel, grooming. And every other lifestyle comfort that they enjoy themselves.

What did you think? Start a howl and comment below about the trends in pet ownership you see.

And don’t forget to go check out more of Zara’s work at highstylife.com!