Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Pets will shape travel plans for 68% of owners, Subaru survey finds
A Subaru-commissioned Talker Research survey of 2,000 pet-owning drivers, released October 13th, 2026, says 68% expect their pet to affect travel plans this year and 73% would drive instead of fly to bring the pet. New in this release, 10% may host, 10% may shorten a trip and 8% may skip gatherings. In our view, the trip-length and planning numbers are the ones sitters and kennels can use.
New vets carry record debt into a weaker real paycheck
Preliminary AVMA data shows the class of 2026 averaging a record $185,424 in vet school debt while inflation-adjusted starting pay fell. 58.0% had accepted full-time jobs and 7.4% had no offer, up from 2.1% in 2022. Signing bonuses are common, but loan repayment topped the benefits veterinarians want and lack.
Kennel Connection will refer owners weighing a sale to Cantara Pet Advisors
Kennel Connection, whose software runs more than 5,500 U.S. pet care locations, will recommend Cantara Pet Advisors to owners weighing a sale, with no referral fee. The release argues that clean operational data is a valuation input, as aggregators like Village Pet Care court sellers.
Cat visits grow 2.7% as U.S. vet visits fall 1.9% in the third quarter
U.S. veterinary clinical visits fell 1.9% in the third quarter of 2026 while cat visits grew 2.7% and dog visits fell 3.3%, CATalyst Council reported from Vetsource data. Puppy visits are on track to finish 44% below the pre-Covid baseline. By our math, cat growth offset about a quarter of the canine decline.
Pets will shape travel plans for 68% of owners, Subaru survey finds
A Subaru-commissioned Talker Research survey of 2,000 pet-owning drivers, released October 13th, 2026, says 68% expect their pet to affect travel plans this year and 73% would drive instead of fly to bring the pet. New in this release, 10% may host, 10% may shorten a trip and 8% may skip gatherings. In our view, the trip-length and planning numbers are the ones sitters and kennels can use.
Fera Pets launches a $49.95 weight and muscle chew for dogs
Fera Pets launched Healthy Weight & Muscles, a $49.95 soft chew for dogs sold in 90-count tubs, on October 13th, 2026. Each chew pairs myHMB, Betafin betaine and L-carnitine with ADM's PRIOME Metabolic Health postbiotic, and Fera's product page cites a study for each ingredient.
Purina marks 25 years of its 48-Labrador Life Span Study
The Purina Institute marked the 25th anniversary of its Life Span Study on October 12th, 2026, repeating the 1.8-year median life span gain lean-fed Labradors showed in 2002. The trial used one breed, 24 littermate pairs and one sponsor, and the largest outside check we found also came from Mars researchers.