PET SITTING MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Pet Sitting Market Size and Trends

The pet sitting market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.41 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.35 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1% from 2024 to 2031.

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As people remain busy with their professional and personal lives, the need for pet sitting services is growing steadily. More pet owners are opting for professional pet sitting to ensure their pets are well taken care of when they are away from home for work or leisure travel. This has driven the demand for pet sitting and similar services across the world.

The pet sitting market is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period. Rising pet ownerships and increasing disposable incomes are some of the key factors driving the demand for pet sitting services. Furthermore, the growing trend of nuclear families and dual-income households has augmented the need for such professionals who can take care of pets when owners are away. Advancements like mobile applications for pet sitting services have further boosted convenience and accessibility.

Rising Number of Pet Owners

With ever increasing number of individuals and families opting to have companion animals, the demand for pet care services has witnessed a significant surge over the past decade. According to recent surveys, pet adoption reached new heights across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic as people struggled with loneliness and lockdowns. As pet owners started spending more time at their workplaces with offices reopening, the difficulty of leaving their pets alone for extended hours came to the fore. This led many to explore reliable pet sitting options that could offer companionship and care to their cats, dogs, or other animals when they are away from home. Further contributing to this driver is the trend of nuclear families and dual-income households that leaves little time for people to look after their pets themselves. Busy lifestyles and erratic travel schedules of modern families necessitates hiring pet sitters who can stop by their houses periodically to feed, walk, play and generally keep an eye on their furry companions. Elderly pet owners who are not fully capable of carrying out strenuous pet duties also depend on these services. The availability of experienced sitters offering a range of care activities through dedicated apps and websites has made it very convenient for professionals as well as travelers to arrange supervision for their pets no matter where their jobs or leisure trips take them. This growing dependence of pet parents on third-party help is a key factor propelling the expansion of the pet sitting industry.

Rising Affluence and Humanization of Pets

The growing affluence among pet owners globally coupled with humanizing approach towards pets is driving significant growth in the pet sitting market. As more households own pets, they are also treating their pets as integral family members. Pet owners want the best and personalized care for their pets even when they are away for work or leisure travel. This has boosted the demand for professional pet sitting services that can take care of pets with love, care and personalized attention at the owner's home. Pet sitters fill the role of a companion to pets, meeting their basic needs as well as ensuring they do not feel lonely and providing mental stimulation through plays and walks. Pet owners find solace knowing their pets are being cared for as part of the family by pet sitters rather than being boarded. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend as extended periods of remote working and travel restrictions led many to adopt pets for company. But it also meant that pet owners were wary of placing their pets in conventional boarding facilities due to risk of disease transmission. This spiked the demand for in-home pet sitting services globally. According to recent data by World Animal Protection, adoptions of cats and dogs rose by about 11% each in countries across North America, Europe and Oceania during 2020-21. For instance, as indicated on the Trusted House sitters website, Denmark boasts 260 individual house and pet sitters listed, highlighting a thriving and dynamic market. This reflects a trend towards personalized care, community involvement, and a wide range of options for pet owners, rather than a focus on dedicated pet sitting companies.