Cat Litter Products Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Clumping, Conventional), By Raw Material (Clay, Silica), By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global cat litter products market size was valued at USD 9.78 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0% from 2021 to 2028. An increasing number of cat owners across the globe is expected to positively impact market growth. Most of the cat owners prefer not to let their cats outside of the house owing to various, such as human hostility and adverse weather conditions. These factors are expected to drive the product demand over the forecast period. The growing trend of pet humanization, as well as the growth of the pet population in the U.S., is boosting product sales. Thus, rising spending on pets will boost the market growth. Around 56% of households in America owned pets in 1988, which increased to 68% of households in 2016, of which, 47.1 million households owned cats.

Price, material, and functionality are the key factors influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions. Rising demand for technologically advanced litter boxes can also influence consumer’s purchasing decisions. The product price varies between USD 25-30 for an average household on account of repetitive purchases. The cost varies depending on the type of product, such as clumping, non-clumping, and others.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has also significantly affected consumer purchase decisions. A surge in demand has been witnessed for home care and healthcare products. The demand for personal and pet hygiene products has also increased during the pandemic. According to Information Resources Inc., sales of cat litter products in the U.S. increased by 14.9% from March 2019 to March 2020. Moreover, pet food and pet care product sales in Italy, France, the U.K., and the U.S. increased by 7.4%, 13.4%, 10.9%, and 6.7% respectively from March 2019 to March 2020.

Currently, businesses are taking longer to deliver orders, particularly in states, which have stay-at-home advisory and mandatory closure of nonessential businesses. In addition, the industry is witnessing supply chain disruptions across the globe. However, pet food and cat litter are considered essential goods, which act as a major driver for the market. Consumers are more likely to opt for lower-priced non-discretionary pet products, such as pet food and cat litter. Companies are facing adverse impacts; for instance, although companies are meeting the increasing consumer demand, they are facing distribution and inventory issues down the supply chain.

Raw Material Insights

The clay segment accounted for the maximum revenue share of more than 83% in 2020 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR from 2021 to 2028. The growing usage of clay in the production of cat litter products due to its highly absorbent and solid-formation properties boosts the segment growth. Moreover, products made from clay are more economical compared to other materials, which makes it a preferred choice among middle-income and multi-cat households. Moreover, such products are dust-free and unscented, which reduces the risk of any respiratory ailments.

The silica segment is estimated to record the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Products made from silica comprise silica gel crystals, which are often used as preservatives in packaged foods, medications, and other products that are easily damaged by excess moisture. In addition, silica usually generates less waste compared to other raw materials. The other raw materials segment includes recycled paper, wood, corn, walnut shells, coconut husk, and grass among others. These materials are renewable and compostable and, thus, highly preferred for the manufacturing of natural cat litter products.

Distribution Channel Insights

The retail and supermarkets segment accounted for the highest revenue share of more than 76% in 2020. The segment is estimated to expand further at a steady CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing consumer inclination toward a one-stop shopping experience. As per the Packaged Facts survey data, supermarkets, such as Walmart, top the list as cat litter products destinations among cat owners.

The online platform segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the technological advancements and rising popularity of online shopping portals. In addition, the availability of a variety of international brands, heavy discounts, free shipping services, and easy return policies offered by online platforms are boosting product sales through this distribution channel.

Product Type Insights

The clumping segment dominated the market in 2020 accounting for a revenue share of 76.0%. Consumers are more inclined to ease up the process of cleaning cat urine and feces through clumped litter owing to better scoopability and odor control techniques. Increasing adoption of cats as pets along with rising spending on pet care products is propelling the demand for various types of cat litters. Clumping litter is increasingly gaining consumer attention as cat urine and feces can be removed easily without having to empty the litter box.

Clumping cat litter is primarily made of sodium bentonite that enables the litter to clump together when in contact with moisture. Multiple product varieties including biodegradable-based premium ultra-clumping, clay-based premium ultra-clumping, and clay-based standard clumping are available in the market. The demand for traditional litter products is being driven by the consumer preference for complete odor removal that is associated with cat urine and feces. Conventional litter boxes are commonly made up of wood chips and non-biodegradable clay matter, calcium silicate, and clay crystals. According to Boxscoop Designs Inc., the yearly expenditure for cat litter, such as corn, grass, and walnut, for one large cat is USD 90, USD 87, and USD 75, respectively, for Boxscoop cat litter, and is USD 147 for clay litter.

Regional Insights

North America led the global market in 2020 accounting for a revenue share of over 39%. The region is estimated to remain dominant growing at a steady CAGR over the forecast period owing to the rise in the number of cat owners, which boosts the product demand. For instance, as per the American Pet Products Association, in 2018, there were more than 94 million pet cats in the U.S. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing regional market at a CAGR of more than 4.5% over the forecast period. Europe is estimated to be the second-largest regional market by 2028. This growth can be credited to the rising demand for cat litter products in the region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is characterized by the presence of several well-established players. These companies account for a significant market share, offer diverse products, and have a strong presence across the globe. Companies focus more on product launches to address the changing needs of customers and to gain a competitive edge over other manufacturers by offering innovative and sustainable products. For instance, in April 2018, Intersand launched a new eco-friendly clumping litter ‘Ecolife’, which is made from a unique blend of wheat & corn and is 100% natural as well as biodegradable.

Companies also emphasize geographical expansions through the establishment of new manufacturing units. For instance, in February 2019, Nestlé Purina extended its Bloomfield factory in Southeast Missouri. Mergers and acquisitions are also increasing in the market as companies strive to strengthen their industry position. For instance, in March 2018, Kent Pet Group, Inc. acquired FibreCycle Pty. Ltd. Some of the key companies in the global cat litter products market are:

• The Clorox Company

• Nestlé S.A.

• Oil-Dri Corporation of America

• Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

• Pettex Ltd.

• Dr. Elsey's

• Eco-Shell, Inc. (Naturally Fresh Cat Litter)

• RETTENMAIER & SÖHNE GmbH + Co KG (JRS)

• H. von Gimborn GmbH

• Kent Corp.

• Intersand

• Sinchem Silica Gel Co., Ltd.

• Weihai Pearl Silica Gel Co., Ltd.

• Cereria Ronca Srl

• Silgan Holdings, Inc.

Cat Litter Products Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global cat litter products market report on the basis of product type, raw material, distribution channel, and region:

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Clumping

  • Conventional

• Raw Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Clay

  • Silica

  • Others

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Retail & Supermarkets

  • Online Platform

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Germany

    • Spain

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • China

    • South Korea

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa