Pricey pets

Americans like to pamper their pets. We take them on trips, buy them presents for special occasions, and prepare macrobiotic meals for them. Manufacturers of high-end human products are starting to take note and get in on the action with designer pet product lines—dog shampoo made by Paul Mitchell, for instance. And Americans are buying. It’s no secret: We spare no expense in keeping our best friends happy.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63 percent of America’s households have pets; that’s 71.1 million homes. That number has grown from 56 percent in 1988. As a matter of fact, the United States currently has more than 88 million pet cats, 74 million pet dogs, and more than 150 million pet fish.

Final numbers aren’t yet available, but pet-related spending for 2007 was projected to be $40.8 billion. Here’s the probable breakdown:

$16.1 billion on food
$9.9 billion on supplies/over-the-counter medicines
$9.8 billion on veterinary care
$2.9 billion on grooming and boarding
$2.1 billion on purchasing the pets