Natural Cat Litter Market

Natural Cat Litter Market Size and Forecast (2023-2028):

The Global Natural Cat Litter Market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.59% during the forecast period 2023-2028 to reach USD 10327.74 million by 2028 from USD 7889.77 million.

Market Overview:

Natural cat litter is an alternative to traditional cat litter, which is clay based and non-biodegradable. This natural cat litter is a type of litter that is made up of renewable sources such as corn, wheat, and pine. This litter decomposes naturally and does not harm the environment, and it also minimizes the ecological footprint as this cat litter is made from corn, wheat, and compressed pines. It leverages materials that are sustainable and replenishable. Therefore, reduces the carbon footprint. Natural cat litter has odor control features due to its innate porous nature; it curbs odor-forming bacteria and neutralizes unpleasant smells. And therefore, provides a pleasant and hygienic environment to the owner as well as the cats.

The texture and composition of the natural cat litter further create demand in the market. It provides an important aspect to cats with sensitive paws. And therefore, with the increasing concern about ecological well-being, natural cat litter has increased in demand as it provides a vital and eco-friendly solution for the environment and hygiene-conscious consumers.

Recent Developments in Natural Cat Litter Indsutry:

• On 5th August 2023, the Philippines launched its first litter brand called Hide and Seek, which is made up of 100% cassava, a groundbreaking cat litter; it presents an eco-friendly, sustainable, and more secure option for feline companions.
• In 2020, MARS Petcare, a leading global brand in pet food, introduced CATSAN natural, Hygiene Plus non-clumping cat litter brand in India. CATSAN, a well-established name in cat hygiene, has a track record of over three decades of delivering top-notch litter solutions. It has earned its reputation as a knowledgeable companion for pet owners across numerous countries worldwide.
• Target Corporation and ökocat® together launched environmentally-friendly cat litter that promotes cleanliness and well-being for both cats and households. They are further enhancing their collaboration to facilitate this change. This decision comes in response to a notable surge of 300% in ökocat's online sales on Target.com in the year 2020.

REPORT COVERAGE:

Drivers:

The increasing number of cat households and owners is an important driving factor that is increasing the share of the natural cat litter market. Also, the shift in the attitude of people considering pets as an integral part of family members further caused an increase in the demand for products that provide basic care, health, and comfort, such as natural cat litter, as pet owners have prioritized the happiness and longevity of their pet. This has created a huge demand for products that contribute to the well-being of their pets. Natural cat litter, which is derived from the sources such as corn, wheat, and pine, has a gentle texture that safeguards cats' gentle and sensitive paws. Furthermore, its odor-controlling feature provides a comfortable atmosphere for both cats and owners. As most of them prefer clean and odorless litter, natural cat litter is an effective solution.

Another factor driving the natural cat litter market is the growing awareness of the environment, and this heightened awareness has led to the increased adoption of environment-friendly products. Natural cat litter, which is made from natural resources, does not pollute the environment when disposed of. And it, therefore, perfectly aligns with the environment-conscious consumers. It hence creates a beneficial alternative to traditional clay-based litter, which contributes to environmental degradation because of its non-biodegradable nature. By opting for natural cat litter, consumers have catered to the environment as well as their feline companions. The biodegradability of the litter ensures that litter does not linger in landfills and damages biodiversity. Hence, the environment-friendly attribute is propelling the natural cat litter market size.

Restraints:

One of the significant restraint factors that is affecting the natural cat litter market growth is the cost of the litter. Most of the natural cat litter brands are expensive as compared to the conventional litter, which therefore affects the sales and demand for these natural cat litter, especially for the consumer who is price conscious. Therefore, this leads to a decline in the natural cat litter market size. Another major factor is the clumping capacity of the natural cat litter; most of this cat litter has insufficient clumping nature, which makes it difficult for the consumer to clean the trash cans and dispose of the waste. And hence, it affects the natural cat litter market demand.

Opportunities:

The increasing surge in online shopping has created an opportunity for the natural cat litter market. As more and more consumers are choosing e-commerce platforms and online shopping sites. Natural cat litter manufacturers and producers leveraged this opportunity to reach a wide consumer base globally. E-commerce platforms provide convenience while purchasing products from the comfort of their home; it therefore perfectly aligns with consumers who have busy lifestyles. Natural cat litter brands, therefore, should utilize this opportunity to create a strong online presence by creating a user-friendly interface. With online accessibility, e-commerce platforms can cross geographical boundaries to extend their market penetration to areas where the demand for natural cat litter is high, but the supply is low. Therefore, the proliferation of e-commerce can lead to exponential market growth for the natural cat litter market.

Covid-19 impact on the natural cat litter market:

The outbreak of COVID-19 led to a heightened awareness of hygiene and health practices for humans as well as for their pet companions. Pet owners started seeking solutions to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment during the pandemic, and it caused them to use natural cat litter options. This shift was fuelled due to awareness that maintaining proper hygiene not only safeguards family members but extends to the well-being of their beloved pets, which led to the use of natural cat litter more than ever before. The features of litter, such as effective odor control and enhanced cleanliness, matched the demand that was essential during the pandemic. As more people were spending more time indoors, the need for an effective odor control litter was needed, as traditional cat litters were ineffective in handling odor and also created a mess. Natural cat litter, with its eco-friendly and health-conscious qualities, is aligned with environment and hygiene-conscious consumers. It offers a solution that allows pet owners to prioritize both their pet's comfort and the overall cleanliness of their homes. By adopting natural cat litter, pet owners created safer and more hygienic living environments. Thus, the impact of COVID-19 had a positive impact on the natural cat litter market shares.

Natural Cat Litter Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Product Type:

• Corn Cat Litter
• Wheat Cat Litter
• Pine Cat Litter

The pine cat litter segment dominated the market share. Pine cat litter is made up of pine wood particles. The dominance of this segment is due to its effective odor control feature, and thus, it became a popular choice among pet owners who prioritize environmentally friendly options and sustainability. It has natural scent-neutralizing properties, which block the unpleasant odors in the litter box. It helps mask the smell and releases a pleasant wood aroma. The wheat cat litter segment is gaining traction over the growth rate of the market due to its affordability, eco-friendly characteristics, and ease of disposing of nature without harming the environment. Whereas Corn cat litter, also known as corn-based cat litter, is natural and biodegradable cat litter made from corn kernels or corn byproducts. This type of litter has gained popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional clay-based litter.

By Application:

• Online Sales
• Offline Sales

Offline sales have the highest market share as many cat owners prefer to purchase cat litter from retail pet shops and mass market retail stores because of the low price and different varieties. Supermarket/hypermarkets have also gained popularity, as it has started selling pet care items for consumer convenience. Recently due to digitalization increasing the number of online retail stores and e-commerce platforms, there is to be significant growth in the market share of the offline sales segment, and it is forecasted to increase over the years.

Geographical Segmentation Analysis:

• North America - the United States and Canada
• Europe - United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France
• The Asia Pacific - India, Japan, China, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia
• Latin America  - Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Rest of LATAM
• The Middle East and Africa - Africa and Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus)

By Region Analysis:

Based on the region, the North American segment holds the highest share in the natural cat litter market; this dominance is primarily because of the increasing population of cat owners in the United States and Canada. With the increasing count of people adopting cats, the demand for natural cat litter has been increased and forecasted to increase over the years. Following North America, Europe has the largest market share; this is because of the increasing cat adoptions and increasing awareness for using natural, eco-friendly, and sustainable cat litter. Asia Pacific is set to have the fastest growth rate for the natural cat litter market due to increasing awareness of adoption and animal welfare. Latin America has seen to have steady growth in market share. The Middle East and Africa have a low market share as compared to other regions in the natural cat litter market.

Key Players in the Market:

Major Key Players in the Global Natural Cat Litter Market are

• BLUE
• Purina
• Church Dwight
• Oil-Dri8
• World’s Best Cat Litter
• Mars
• sWheat Scoop
• Clorox
• Feline Pine