Americans love Fluffy and Fido. According
to the 2013-2014 American Pet
Products Association
(APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, 68% of U.S.
households have at least one pet. The APPA also estimates pet industry
spending for 2014 at $58 billion. With these numbers, seeing the trend carry into the remodeling industry is no surprise.
More people are starting to think of their pet’s comfort at home. Both Houzz and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) have reported trends toward incorporating pet needs into home designs.
“The pet industry was not hit during the recession,” says Jeanne Caples, founder of Bathtubs for Pets by Forever Stainless Steel. “People were staying home and spending more time with their pets.” The result, she explains, was more requests for in-home products. Bathtubs for Pets originally sold product mainly to the pet service industry, but that has started to change as demand grows.
Michael Kornowa, director of marketing at MTI Baths, says the company developed its Jentle Pet product because of the trend. “We actually saw this direction developing back in 2006,” he recalls. “More and more homeowners are building in dedicated spaces for their pets when building a new home or remodeling their current one.”
Research done by Moen found that about 47% of American pet owners bathe their pets at home in the bathtub or shower and only 6% take the animal to a groomer. Recognizing the trend, manufactures are responding by offering more products for pet care at home. If you’re interested pet products for your project, check out the slideshow for new releases.
