A Pet Business Sector That's Growing by Leaps and Bounds - Cats

• Cutting Cat Claws

Here's another trend that spells opportunity: a growing percentage of pets in America are cats. Yes, cats now outnumber dogs. This trend is driven by a number of factors:

--Americans have busier lifestyles, with fewer children in the family, and pets fill the void (with cats increasingly being the pet of choice).
--More homes are empty of people during the day (and cats are better than dogs at being left alone).
--Landlords who once would've forbidden all pets are more likely to accept cats.
--More pets are being kept indoors, and cats are more adaptable to an indoor lifestyle.
--As the human population ages, more older people are looking for furry companionship, and cats are easier for seniors to care for.

This is a trend with no end in sight, which presents an opportunity to put more emphasis on cat products and services. Consider just a few possibilities:

--Cat houses, trees, swings, and other elaborate cat play equipment. Some people have a family room or game room with a large amount of space devoted to such things. An entrepreneur with handy skills could provide ready-made products and/or plans for do-it-yourselfers. Good-quality cat toys will always be in demand.
--Cat photography and portraiture. Just as some photographers specialize in photographing, painting, and drawing children, an entrepreneur with a love of cats could carve out a niche in providing a photography service for cats. How about a mobile photography service? Most cats don't like to ride in cars.
--Cat-decorated stuff. A spinoff of the photography service could be a selection of items adorned with the cats' pictures-mugs, bags, shirts, calendars, etc.
--Cat treats for senior cats. Less-active cats have special dietary needs; some senior cats have trouble chewing. You can find (or create) a recipe, find molds in cute, cat-related shapes, and start your own cat-goodie bakery. You can sell them online as well as to pet shops, boutiques, and veterinary offices.
--Cat day care or in-home visitation for people who don't want to leave their cats alone, but don't want to remove them from their familiar surroundings either.
--Cat wearables. Cats generally aren't as agreeable to wearing human-type clothing as dogs are, but many people buy fancy collars for their cats. Breakaway collars and glow-in-the-dark tags are evidence of cat owners' concern for their pets' safety.
--Cat breeding, if you're passionate about a particular breed of cats. Just be sure to learn everything you can about breeding to make sure you raise healthy cats.

And when you're ready to market your new "catty" business, be sure to work with a copywriter who shares your passion for cats. Best of success in your cat-pampering purr-suits!