Man's Best Friend! REALLY???

Man's Best Friend! REALLY???

The Survey Says Cat Lovers Are NOT Feeling the Love From the Pet Industry

The report conducted by Packaged Facts dug into how cats and dogs are treated in  (Durable Dog and Cat Petcare Products, 3rd Edition), published by market research firm Packaged Facts, investigates the differences in how cats and dogs are treated in the pet retail space.

It seems cat owners feel as if dog lovers get preferential treatment in the real estate dedicated to cats in physical stores AND in the offerings found online. This puts the responsibility on the shoulders of the pet product manufacturers. Personally, I can somewhat understand their dilemma. If your cat is like most cats their preference for the container or packaging the toy came in is well-documented. Can you imagine being in the product development at a pet toy manufacturer? 

There they are, looking all scientific in the white lab coat with clipboard in hand as they try to get cats to play with new toys their company has created. The cat's scathing looks would sear through the skin of most humans, but this team is used to being hated on. Finally they see two cats in the corner, excitedly playing with something. They rush over only to find the cats playing with a used Kleenex one of them had dropped. Sigh. Literally back to the drawing board.

“Traditionally and still too often, pet product manufacturers, retailers, and marketers tend to give cats short shrift, including in the minds of cat owners,” says David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts.

Over half of the cat owners stated that big box stores treat cats as second-class feline citizens, as the dogs reign supreme with row after row of dog toys, food and accessories. Cats have at best half an aisle, many consumers reported. There is hope for cat lovers, as new products are being tested and brought to market. 

It is in this spirit that we brought The Blissful Cat to the party! 

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