natural pet


FOOD TRENDS What Dogs and Cats Will Eat This Year by Ronica O’Hara


PET-PLEASING


D 22 Central Florida www.NACFL.com


og and cat food is becoming ever more humanized in the U.S. Market researchers and


veterinarians report that consumers are increasingly demanding for their pets what they want for themselves: high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients that are free of questionable byproducts. “Organic, gluten-free and even vegan are now mainstream when it comes to Fido and Fluffy,” says integrative veterinarian Carol Osborne, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. “Fancy foods, gourmet treats, even personal pet chefs have become the norm.” In a turnabout on animal testing, some companies advertise that their pet food products are tested on humans.


It’s the logical outcome of an


evolution in how pets are regarded, say psychologists. Only a few decades ago, most dogs slept in doghouses rather than in bedrooms, and most cats were free-range explorers of the outdoors. Today, two in three American households have a pet, and the animals are increasingly part of the family— sometimes even more beloved than human family members. One study, for example, found young children more likely to confide in a pet than in a sibling. A mattress company survey found


that 71 percent of pet owners sleep with their furry friends. The forced togetherness of the pandemic drew pets


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