Ever since the pandemic, more people are getting more pets. We are spending record amounts on them—treating them less like animals and more like mini-humans. We’re talking custom meals, luxury spa treatments and toys meant to cure boredom. But some experts are starting to worry: by treating pets like kids, are we actually making their lives worse? The fear is that all this pampering can lead to more stress, health issues and a life devoid of autonomy and agency.
Dogs and cats aren’t small people. Constant micromanagement may, despite the best of intentions, make pets too overprotected and unnecessarily dependent on human interventions.
That said, nobody wants their pet to be bored and lonely. Here are five trends to uplevel your pet care, whether to incorporate into your routine or as a rare splurge.
2025 Pet Trends
Mental enrichment
As pets become more central to our lives, we’re finally paying attention to something long overlooked: their minds. Sure, a walk around the block or a game of fetch is great. But for a pet’s well-being, physical exercise is only half the equation. Mental enrichment is the other half. Pets, especially dogs and cats, are highly intelligent and curious. Left unstimulated, their minds don’t just idle—they spiral. That’s when you see the chewing, obsessive licking, frantic barking, and pacing. These aren't "bad behaviors. They're signs of unmet mental needs. In the wild, animals spend most of their time hunting, solving problems or navigating complex environments. But inside the cocoon of modern domesticity the environment is much less mentally demanding.
Mental enrichment engages a pet’s brain through problem-solving, new experiences or play that mimics natural behaviors. It gives your pet something meaningful to do, as in sniffing, searching, chasing, figuring things out. Mental stimulation can also help prevent cognitive decline, reduce anxiety and even improve behavior. Ultimately, giving your pet a richer mental life is about respecting them as sentient beings. They need challenge. They need variety. And pet parents need to appreciate how a well-exercised brain is just as vital as a well-exercised body.
Try: Explore puzzle toys, scent work, and structured activities like agility classes to help prevent boredom and destructive behaviors.
Pet-friendly public spaces
Cities are getting smarter about pets, weaving them into urban planning like never before. Dog parks are popping up everywhere—up 40 percent since 2009 in the U.S.—with features like shaded rest areas, splash zones and size-specific play sections. Some cities are going even further, creating zoning in parks for off-leash areas, quiet zones and leashed walking paths to suit different pet temperaments and owner preferences. There’s a rise in pet-friendly certifications too, which boost tourism by signaling that a city welcomes pets with open arms. Think dog-welcoming hotels, cafes and green spaces.
Meanwhile, hybrid spaces like indoor dog parks fused with cafés and co-working hubs are giving people and pets shared places to relax or work. Global leaders like Australia are even designing sensory-rich dog parks with natural features like sandpits and paddling pools. All of it points to a bigger shift: urban design that sees pets not as an afterthought, but as part of the community fabric.
Try: It does the heart good to see a dog frolic unleashed. Check out dog parks that are suitable to your dog’s size and temperament, and make sure you know your off-leash etiquette.
Concierge & tech pet health
Convenience-driven pet care is on the rise, with telehealth and mobile veterinary services becoming more prevalent. Pet care is evolving into a high-tech, high-touch experience. Concierge veterinary services offer personalized, membership-based care through in-home visits, telemedicine platforms and extended wellness plans, appealing to owners who want more access, continuity and comfort.
Concurrently, smart pet tech has exploded into an ecosystem of AI-powered wearables, health-monitoring gadgets, and interactive tools that track everything from heart rate to mood. Automated feeders adjust portions based on activity, while training devices and remote cameras help with behavior and engagement. These services and tools are reshaping pet health around prevention, convenience and customization—though rising costs create a barrier to access, highlighting a growing divide in who gets to benefit from this next-gen pet care.
Try: If your dog likes to wander off, try a GPS smart collar, which can offer global tracking, customizable virtual fences, and even AI-driven behavior coaching.
Posh pets
The anthropomorphizing of pets has led to a rise in luxury pet services, including high-end grooming, boutique pet hotels and gourmet pet foods. Many pet owners are willing to invest in premium experiences to ensure their pets' comfort and happiness. Visualize pet hotels with private suites and room service, spa treatments like CBD massages and acupuncture, personal chefs serving human-grade meals and chauffeured rides to the vet in climate-controlled vans.
What used to be niche indulgence for the rich is now de rigeur for the aspirational middle-class. High-end travel now includes pet lounges, first-class carriers, and “human & hound” spa vacations. Welcome to the pet version of late-stage capitalism.
Try: CBD may help calm your pet’s nervous system (good for enduring thunderstorms or vet visits), though results vary wildly. Some pets mellow out, others just blink twice and move on.
Preventative aging care
Aging care for pets focuses on extending the quality of life, not just lifespan. Vets and pet owners are shifting from treating illness to anticipating it. Smart collars and home health tech now track early signs of disease—like joint stiffness, kidney strain or cognitive decline—well before they’re obvious. Routine diagnostic panels, once reserved for sick animals, are now standard by middle age.
Nutrition has gone from one-size-fits-all to personalized plans based on breed, age and even genetic testing. Supplements like glucosamine, omega-3s, probiotics and antioxidants are used preventatively to support joints, digestion and brain health. Mental stimulation is treated as essential, not optional—puzzle toys, new walking routes and light training help slow down cognitive loss.
Physical activity is still key, but it’s low-impact and intentional: swimming, short walks, and physical therapy keep older pets moving without strain. At home, owners are making simple changes—ramps, traction mats, orthopedic beds—to reduce injury risk.
Dental care has also become a priority, since gum disease quietly undermines heart, kidney, and liver health. And as pets age, regular checkups (at least twice a year) are used to monitor not just physical health but emotional well-being and behavior changes.
It’s not about spoiling pets—it’s about making smart, early choices that help them stay sharp, mobile, and comfortable well into their senior years.
Try: Experiment with using a dental water additive for your
dog or
cat, which can help you stay on top of the dental diseases your pet may be prone to. Way easier than brushing their teeth!
