Interzoo 2026 showcased the growing “pet as family” trend.
Around 39.000 trade visitors from over 130 countries visited the fair to find out about the industry’s innovations and trending topics.
The pet industry is no longer just pet care. It’s becoming a fusion of AI, mobility, wellness, sustainability, and lifestyle design.
The most interesting shifts shaping the future of the pet industry and seen Interzoo were:
1. AI is officially entering everyday pet care
Pet products are evolving into connected health-monitoring ecosystems.
• AI-powered cat flaps with facial recognition
• Smart feeding systems recognizing individual pets
• Automated litter boxes tracking health and behaviour
• Interactive toys adapting to pets’ activity patterns
Companies in the smart ecosystem like Sure Petcare, Petkit, Catlink and multiple emerging IoT-focused startups.
2. Pet travel is skyrocketing
One of the strongest visual trends at Interzoo 2026 was mobility. Pets are increasingly treated as travel companions, not cargo.
Products like these were present:
• Airplane-ready carriers
• Designer pet trolleys
• Luxury bike trailers
• Pet jogging systems
• Crash-tested travel crates
This creates opportunities for pet inclusive airlines and hospitality, airport infrastructure, onboarding pet services, hospitality partnerships, and premium travel memberships.
Brands across mobility and carrier innovation included Tavo Pets, Sleepypod, Ibiyaya, and many OEM manufacturers targeting airlines and premium travellers.
(An area I’m personally researching heavily)
3. Sustainability is no longer optional
The pet food industry is under growing pressure to reduce environmental impact while maintaining nutritional quality.
The “alternative protein” category exploded:
• Insect protein treats
• Mealworm formulations
• Cultivated meat products
• Low-carbon pet nutrition
Companies like Bene Meat, Yora Pet Foods, Petgood and Globe Buddy are helping push innovation in nutrition into mainstream pet retail.
4. Pet products are becoming interior design products
Pet ownership is increasingly integrated into lifestyle branding and home aesthetics. Aquariums, terrariums, litter systems, and feeding stations are being designed to blend into modern homes.
The industry is moving toward:
• Luxury pet living
• Smart-home integration
• Wellness-oriented design
• Hospitality-style pet environments
And perhaps most importantly, the emotional value of pets continues to rise globally. That emotional shift is creating entirely new business categories.
The coming years will likely bring:
→ AI-driven pet healthcare
→ Smarter pet travel infrastructure
→ Sustainability regulation in pet food
→ Subscription-based pet ecosystems
→ Deeper integration between veterinary care and technology
The future of the pet industry may look much closer to the future of human lifestyle services than traditional retail 🧡
Pictures: (IG) Growlandglory, Le-ca-nue & die_appenshepherd
LinkedIn original post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angels-bosch
