The small pet space is a lot like the dog and cat pet space, as it turns out: Pet owners of all stripes love their animals and want what’s best for them. Nutrition, health and wellness, and enrichment are all significant factors in what owners of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish are looking for on pet store shelves.
“The top trends [for birds] typically lean towards natural and nutritious feeding,” said David Block, director of sales and marketing for Volkman Pet Products, which offers products for birds and small mammals. “Companion birds are as much a part of the family as dogs. They have daily interaction with feeding and frolic time that provides both the bird and the pet parent joy. The small [mammal] category is popular based on the interactive nature of these pets. Rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs are all fun as family pets. Outside of nutritious feeding these pets, not unlike companion birds, need to be kept busy all day long.”
