The pet educational toys market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market for educational toys for pets has significantly expanded over the past few years. The size of the market is expected to escalate from $7.88 billion in 2024 to $8.56 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%.
This increase during the historical phase can be linked to the escalating awareness about the necessity of mental engagement for pets, a rise in pet ownership numbers, a prevalent trend of considering pets as part of the family, heightened consciousness about pets' mental well-being, an uptick in disposable income among pet owners, and the broadening of e-commerce platforms dedicated to pet merchandise.
The pet educational toys market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• In the next few years, the market size of pet educational toys is projected to observe significant growth, potentially escalating to $11.81 billion in 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%.
This anticipated growth during the forecast period is due to increasing trends towards enhancing pet wellbeing, advancements in pet health and behavioral studies, the rise in demand for interactive and intelligent pet toys, an increase in households owning multiple pets, and a focus on eco-friendly and sustainable pet products. Major predicted trends for this period include the incorporation of advanced technology and AI in pet toys, the use of sustainable materials in pet toy manufacturing, the proliferation of multifunctional toys, growth in subscription-based services, and breakthroughs in AI and machine learning.
The growth of the pet educational toys market is projected to be propelled by the rising trend of pet ownership. Having and caring for one or more animals as domestic companions is what constitutes pet ownership. The increase in pet ownership is due to several factors such as the need for companionship, the advantages of pet therapy, and the increasing recognition of the beneficial effect of pets on mental and physical health. Pet educational toys enhance the pet ownership experience by aiding owners in effectively engaging with and training their pets. This makes the experience of owning a pet more enjoyable and rewarding, persuading more people to adopt pets. For example, Improve International, a UK-based training provider, reported in March 2023 that approximately 57% of UK homes (around 16.2 million) have 38 million pets. This represents a 9% increase from the 35 million pets in 2022. Hence, the rise in pet ownership is a key factor driving the pet educational toys market growth.
The pet educational toys market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Product: Plush Toys, Rope And Tug Toys, Balls, Chew Toys, Squeaky Toys, Interactive Toys, Other Products
2) By Material: Rubber, Cotton, Nylon, Plastic, Other Materials
3) By Pet: Dogs, Cats, Birds, Other Pets
4) By Price Range: Low, Mid, High
5) By Distribution Channel: Online, Offline
Subsegments:
1) By Plush Toys: Stuffed Animals, Soft Fabric Toys, Plush Toys With Built-In Squeakers, Plush Puzzle Toys
2) By Rope and Tug Toys: Knotted Rope Toys, Tug-of-War Ropes, Rope Rings and Balls, Rope Toys With Handles
3) By Balls: Bouncy Balls, Treat-Dispensing Balls, Interactive Ball Toys, Ball With Squeakers
4) By Chew Toys: Rubber Chew Toys, Natural Bone Chews, Edible Chew Toys, Nylon Chew Toys
5) By Squeaky Toys: Squeaky Balls, Squeaky Plush Toys, Squeaky Rubber Toys, Interactive Squeaky Toys
6) By Interactive Toys: Puzzle Toys, Treat-Dispensing Toys, Electronic Interactive Toys, Laser Or Motion-Activated Toys
7) By Other Products: Flying Disc Toys, Catnip Toys, Tugging Balls, Training And Fetch Toys, Activity Mats And Boards
Leading firms in the pet educational toys market, such as Nylabone, are creating forward-thinking technologies, like imaginative toys, to boost cognitive stimulation and physical engagement in pets. These innovative toys are intended to nurture creativity and inspire imaginative play in pets. They usually consist of components that provoke pets to think, solve riddles, or partake in unique activities, thus enriching mental stimulation. The aim is to involve pets in tasks that exceed conventional play, fostering cognitive growth and alleviating boredom. For example, in November 2022, Nylabone, a pet products corporation based in the USA, unveiled a novel range of play toys. This collection is devised with creativity in mind and to challenge pets' ability to solve problems while also encouraging active play. It includes interactive parts and a variety of textures to stimulate both mental and physical activity.
Major companies operating in the pet educational toys market are include:
•Chewy Inc.
• BarkBox
• Melissa & Doug
• Petmate
• PetSafe
• KONG Company
• Hartz Mountain Corporation
• Ruffwear
• Multipet International
• Starmark Pet Products
• Petcube
• Tuffy’s Pet Foods
• Ethical Products Inc.
• ZippyPaws
• Outward Hound
• West Paw Design
• Petsport
• Fable Pets
• Mammoth Pet Products
• Petstages
North America was the largest region in the pet educational toys market in 2024. The regions covered in the pet educational toys market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.