Market Trends of United Kingdom Cat Litter Industry
Non-clumping Cat Litter Dominates the Market
The growth in the population of pet cats and the increase in the number of multi-cat households are the factors driving the demand for non-clumping cat litter. For instance, according to the United Kingdom Cat Organisation, the cat population in 2021 was 10.8 million, which increased to 11.0 million in 2022. In addition, introducing efficient products is making it easier to care for cats. Therefore, self-cleaning cat litter helps to maintain the cat’s hygiene despite the time constraints of the cat’s owner.
The shift from pet ‘ownership’ to pet ‘parenting’ has been a crucial trend in the market studied. About one-third of the households in developed countries own a pet. This concept of pet humanization led to increased health consciousness and generated a demand for pet products, such as non-clumping cat litter.
Non-clumping cat litter has become very popular among many cat owners. It sticks to cat paws quite easily and gets tracked around the house. It needs to be replaced often because of its limited ability to absorb liquid and suppress odor. In the United Kingdom, the market for non-clumping cat litter is growing fast, and it is the preferred type of cat litter. People prefer non-clumping litter because it is often less expensive than clumping litter, while others like it because their cats like it. The desire to own a cat is increasing as cat care becomes easier with the introduction of efficient products. This scenario will drive demand for non-clumping cat litter during the forecast period.
The Internet Sales Segment Holds a Significant Share by Distribution Channels
Internet shopping is more prevalent in the United Kingdom than in any other major country. According to the International Trade Administration, over USD 3 billion is spent weekly in the UK internet retail sector; consumer e-commerce now accounts for over 36% of the total retail market in the United Kingdom (up from 20% in 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic has only added to this boost. The increase in internet sales is also significant in the pet products segment. The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the rapid surge in online shopping for pet products. With pet owners becoming more concerned about their pet's health and hygiene and the ease of buying products through e-commerce sites, cat owners are inclined toward online shopping. This growth in online shopping of pet care products, including cat litter products, shows consumers' rapid shift toward internet sales.
The surge in online shopping's popularity is reshaping the e-commerce landscape. Online platforms empower manufacturers to broaden their customer base, improve communication, monitor finances, and boost brand awareness cost-effectively. This digital shift has opened avenues for the cat litter market's growth and attracted a sizable online shopping audience. For instance, in 2022, petsathome.com was the leading online retailer in the UK’s cat litter e-commerce industry, generating a net revenue of USD 1,426.2 million from 1,236.8 million in 2021.
Reducing the use of packaging is a new trend in online shopping for pet care products, such as cat litter. For instance, in November 2020, Nestle Purina launched its 'Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean' cat litter, available on shopping websites, and aims to eliminate waste using reusable and refillable packaging. As per the company's official statement, this partnership is part of Nestlé's broader set of actions to reduce single-use packaging.
