Doing some research for a story yesterday, I came across some fun facts on the American Pet Products Association Web site. They came through the association’s 2007-08 National Pet Owners Survey, which helps manufacturers gauge trends and develop new products – a big business, with consumers projected to spend $10.3 billion on pet supplies and medicine this year. Thought I would share some trends on APPA’s radar.

For example: Maybe our candidates should be promising a post in every house, rather than a chicken in every pot. Post ownership is on the rise, with 52 percent of cat owners now having posts, as compared to 41 percent since the last survey. Carpeted posts are the top choice of multiple cat owners, accounting for 82 percent of purchases, as well as for single cat owners, of whom 76 percent pick carpet. Who knew?

And while we all know that cats edged out dogs a while ago in terms of total numbers owned by American households, guess what’s number one in terms of sheer population? Freshwater fish; there are apparently 142 million of them out there. Maybe those cute glass bowls with the plastic castle on the bottom deserve an upgrade.

What are some other product projections?

* Stuff for pets on the go: As more people travel with their pets, there is an increasing market for portable feeding dishes and waste disposable systems. And there is a growing awareness of the need to keep pets safe while in the car, creating a demand for animal seat belts and portable carriers.

* Cross marketing: More companies that traditionally catered to two-legged customers are looking to sell to their four-legged companions. Omaha Steaks, grooming product company Paul Mitchell and clothier Old Navy all have lines for pets now.

* Luxury products: High-end items are taking pet pampering to an extreme, with French doggy day beds, faux mink coats and designer bird cages.
Here is one of my favorites: the DogTread, by PetZen. It folds up for on-the-road workouts and the control console is shaped like a bone. The company says it not only gives your dog a workout in any weather, but can prevent boredom and behavior issues, maybe saving you a torn sofa. From $499 on up.

Click here if you want to see more from the APPA 2008 trend report.