Founder's Notes · Industry News · MEOW! Franchise Insights · Pet Industry Trends
Here at MEOW! we could not be more excited about the latest pet care industry data — and about why 2026 is shaping up to be the year for cat franchises.
For decades, the pet industry’s driving force was dogs. Look at marketing, retail shelf space, or professional pet-sitting services and the narrative was almost exclusively canine. Cats were treated as the low-maintenance afterthought — the pets who supposedly didn’t need specialized care, professional engagement, or premium services.
If you’ve been paying attention lately, you know the dog days are being met with a sophisticated rival.
We are officially living in the Cat Renaissance.
As the founder of MEOW! Franchising, I’ve watched this shift happen in real time since 2018. The data coming out of 2025 and into 2026 confirms it isn’t a passing trend. It’s a change in how Americans live, spend, and care for their animals. If you’re looking to enter the pet care space — a U.S. industry the American Pet Products Association valued at $158 billion in 2025 — here’s why the cats-only model is the most strategic move on the board.
The most startling figure in APPA’s recent reporting is the sheer volume of cat households.
Cat-owning U.S. households
49M
Up from 40 million in 2023 — a 23% increase in a single year, and nearly four in ten American households.
Homes with three or more cats, since 2018
+36%
Single-cat households fell from 64% to 58% over the same stretch. More cats per home means longer visits.
Cat owners using training methods
48%
A 41% increase since 2018. Puzzle toys, clicker training, harness adventuring — engagement that was once dog-only.
Cat acquisitions are surging because cats fit the modern lifestyle. They thrive in urban environments. They suit the flexibility Gen Z and Millennial pet parents want. And they’re finally being recognized as family members deserving the same premium care once reserved for dogs.
The low-maintenance myth is dead. Cat parents are spending more on specialized wellness, high-end nutrition, and professional services than ever before, and the multi-cat household has become the norm rather than the exception.
What does that mean for a MEOW! franchisee? Your ideal client is no longer someone looking for a neighbor to pop in. Your client is a dedicated cat parent who views their cats as family. They aren’t looking for a generalist. They’re looking for a specialist who understands the behavior and medical needs of a cat-only environment.
The pet-sitting industry has a service gap. There are thousands of dog-walking companies, and comparatively few providers cat owners feel actually understand cats — or who have availability when they need them. Ask any cat owner who has tried to book holiday care and you’ll hear it.
Operating a cats-only franchise means you aren’t just another pet-sitting business. You’re the answer to a shortage. And the operating profile is different too: no liability from dog aggression, no overhead from large outdoor facilities. Instead you serve a segment that the dogs-first market has left underserved for years.
Grand View Research projects the global pet sitting market will grow at an 11.8% compound annual rate through 2030, reaching roughly $5.1 billion — and identifies cats as the fastest-growing pet type segment within it. Different research firms put the overall figure anywhere from 7% to 12%, so treat any single number as one estimate rather than gospel. But the direction is consistent across all of them, and the cat-specific finding is the part that matters here.
As urban living increases and the Cat Renaissance keeps its momentum, demand for expert feline care will only intensify. We’re proud to be among the pioneers of this movement.
Ownership opportunities in select markets
The market is ready. The cats are waiting. Are you ready to lead it?
Tell us the city and state you have in mind and we’ll follow up personally. Start a franchise inquiry, or read the steps to ownership first.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. An offer may be made only through delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document in compliance with applicable law. Market and industry figures cited above describe the pet care sector generally and are not representations of the financial performance of any MEOW! franchise.
Sources
More from the MEOW! Journal
