養貓的男人增加了！從「貓爸」崛起看貓經濟發展

幾年前，你可能還覺得，養貓多是文青或小資女的喜好興趣；但現在，越來越多的男性—尤其是 Z 世代和千禧世代會開始抱著貓咪攝影紀錄、帶著牠們去旅行，甚至在社群上曬各種貓咪慶祝日常。

當男人愛上養貓，市場也動了起來，而這一股潮流，也增加了一個新詞彙及稱呼：「貓爸」。

▌美國的「貓爸」正快速飆漲

2024 年，美國養貓家庭數飆到 4,900 萬戶，創下 2010 年以來新高，成長率達 23%。更有趣的是，這波成長的主力軍，不是女生，而是年輕男性。更驚人的是養貓的方式也在改變：

* 單貓家庭比例下降，多貓甚至「三貓以上」的比例明顯增加。

* 48% 的貓主人會訓練貓咪，比六年前增加了 41%。

* 牽繩、項圈銷售持續攀升，更多貓開始走出家門。

* 為貓辦生日派對的比例，自 2018 年以來成長 250%。

* 貓咪主題商品銷售近五年成長 90%。

不只是養貓變多，而是養法與消費型態全面升級，成為一種帶有儀式感的生活方式。從多貓家庭到訓練、外出需求、慶祝儀式感，整個品類正快速「人本化、戶外化、禮儀化」。

▌分析男性養貓增加主要驅動力

1.生活條件與租屋友善

通膨下的城市租屋與小宅化，使時間/空間成本較低的貓成為年輕族群（含男性）理性選擇；相較犬隻，外出頻率與管理門檻更能與都會節奏匹配。（經濟與居住壓力在近兩年多篇市場報導中被反覆點名）。

2.身分認同與社群文化

社群平台上男性飼主公開分享，加上名人效應、品牌內容帶動，打破「養貓=陰性」刻板印象，催生更外向的「帶貓出門」「一起運動」情境。行業觀察亦指出Gen Z/千禧男性增幅近 20–25%。

3.產品與服務創新

從貓用胸背帶、戶外車籠、可摺疊便攜砂盆到訓練點心與玩具，供給端的精進降低了出門與訓練門檻；派對用品、主題周邊則強化了情感儀式與內容分享動機。

4.貓咪有助增加好感度

除了陪伴與療癒，不少男性飼主坦言，養貓也意外成為社交與感情生活的加分題。在社群平台或日常場合，牽著貓出門、分享與貓互動的照片，往往能引起更多異性的注意與好感。

心理學家指出，這背後反映了「照顧力」與「溫柔形象」的加分效應：會細心照顧一隻貓的男人，往往被認為更有責任感、情感細膩，也更值得信賴。對一些單身男性而言，養貓不僅是愛動物，更成了一種生活魅力的展現。

▌台灣少子化下的「貓勢力」

台灣的養貓熱度同樣驚人。2023 年養貓數量比兩年前多了 50%，達到 131 萬隻，超過新生兒數。在都市化與少子化的雙重背景下，貓咪成了情感陪伴的新主角。更多台灣飼主開始給貓咪吃鮮食、買專屬家具、用品，甚至帶牠們到寵物友善咖啡館體驗生活，讓養貓的日常變得越來越講究。

▌日本「Nekonomics」的溫柔力量

早在幾年前日本就有「Nekonomics（貓經濟）」一詞，用來形容貓咪帶動的消費力。2025 年，這個市場預估將達 2.9 兆日圓（約台幣 5,900 億元）。

除了貓咪食品、玩具，更多人投入在「視覺與體驗」上。各種以貓為主題的文創商品，到滿是貓的旅館與展覽，甚至連地方觀光、交通列車、農特產區，也靠「招財貓」吸引遊客。同時因應許多宅男宅女養寵習慣，電商網購成長也非常快速，占零售通路比重提升中，2023已達23%習慣線上採購。

▌南韓人雖然愛貓但壓力也增加

南韓家中寵物普及率快速提升，2022年已有 602萬寵物家庭，較2012年的364萬顯著增加。南韓的養貓比例近年快速增加，27% 的寵物飼主家裡有貓。但隨著飼養數增加，照護壓力也浮上檯面，許多男性飼主在照顧與經濟負擔間感到緊繃。這讓南韓的品牌開始思考，如何在商品之外，提供更多情感支持與知識資源。

▌貓經濟，正在重新定義「生活方式」

從美國的「貓爸」、台灣的少子化背景、日本的貓文化，到南韓的照護議題，貓咪不只是毛茸茸的陪伴，更成為品牌、設計師、服務業的新靈感來源。

而對我們來說，這也是一個信號，該如何理解飼主與貓之間的情感鏈結，找到市場與文化的交集點。

從行銷上及產品開發角度，這些行為趨勢的變化，代表著許多未被滿足的痛點和需求。例如：

A. 多貓家庭上升：單品升級＋「組合式」解決方案

痛點：多貓共處的空間/資源分配（廁所數量、喂食秩序、互動消耗）。

產品解：模組化貓家具、分艙喂食器、多貓抑衝突玩具與費洛蒙輔助。

內容解：多貓導入指南（序列引入、氣味交換、資源分散）。

B. 訓練成為日常：從「能不能」到「怎麼做」

趨勢：48% 已在訓練，六年 +41%。

機會：將「正增強」訓練與機能零食/逗貓器/點按器綁在一起；推出短影音課＋工具包。

C. 戶外化與安全化：牽繩經濟穩步成長

數據：牽繩、胸背帶、項圈全面上升。

應用：「輕戶外」路線（陽台/屋頂/庭院/短程移動）＋安全清單（防脫、UV、防蚤、定位）。

D. 儀式感驅動內容：派對 × 周邊 × 社群擴散

指標：貓生日/節慶派對 +250%；主題周邊 +89%。

策略：推出派對套裝（帽子、背景、零食盤）與可印名週邊；提供拍攝腳本與模板以利分享。

從美國「貓爸」引領的經濟浪潮，到台日韓各具特色的貓咪文化與市場轉型，我們看見貓咪已成為全球都市家庭情感添力器。作為品牌主與內容媒體，在這波貓經濟浪潮中，關於生活方式如何延伸、心理支持如何輸出、電商與內容如何融合等議題，都是你我值得繼續關注的發展。

撰文｜陳蓁 Jessie Chen（ p’adore 寵愛&毛孩居服員等創辦人、《 p’adore Today 寵愛今天》雜誌主筆）

📚資料來源

1. American Pet Products Association (APPA). (2025).

2. Petfood Industry. (2024).(2025).

3. Pet Food Processing. (2025, June 27).

4. Taipei Times. (2024, June 3).

5. NextShark. (2024, Feb 7).

6. Global Pet Industry. (2025).

7. Grand View Research. (2024).

8. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2024).

9. TGM Statbox. (2023).

10. BMC Veterinary Research. (2025).

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More men are keeping cats! The rise of "cat dads" reveals the development of the cat economy

A few years ago, you might have thought that keeping cats was a hobby for young hipsters or middle-class women; but now, more and more men - especially Generation Z and millennials - are starting to take photos of cats, take them on travels, and even post pictures of various cats on social media to celebrate their daily lives.

When men fall in love with raising cats, the market also starts to move, and this trend also adds a new word and title: "cat dad".

The number of "cat dads" in the United States is rapidly increasing.

By 2024, the number of cat-owning households in the United States will soar to 49 million, a record high since 2010, with a 23% growth rate. Interestingly, this growth is driven not by women but by young men. Even more striking is that the way cats are owned is also changing:

* The proportion of single-cat households has decreased, while the proportion of multi-cat households or even "three or more cats" has increased significantly.

* 48% of cat owners train their cats, a 41% increase from six years ago.

* Sales of leashes and collars continue to rise, allowing more cats to venture out of the home.

* The proportion of birthday parties for cats has grown by 250% since 2018.

* Sales of cat-themed merchandise have grown by 90% in the past five years.

It's not just that cat ownership is increasing; it's also that cat-keeping methods and consumption patterns are evolving across the board, becoming a ritualized lifestyle. From multi-cat households to training, the need for outdoor activities, and the sense of celebration, the entire cat category is rapidly becoming more human-centric, outdoor-oriented, and ritualistic.

▌Analysis of the main driving forces behind the increase in male cat ownership

1. Living conditions and rental-friendly housing

Inflationary urban rentals and the trend toward smaller homes have made cats, with their lower time and space costs, a rational choice for young people (including men). Compared to dogs, their frequent outings and manageability are more compatible with the urban rhythm. (Economic and housing pressures have been repeatedly mentioned in numerous market reports over the past two years.)

2. Identity and Community Culture

Public sharing by male owners on social media, coupled with the influence of celebrities and brand content, is breaking the stereotype that cat ownership is feminine, fostering more extroverted behaviors like taking cats out and exercising together. Industry observers also indicate a 20–25% increase in the number of Gen Z/Millennial men.

3. Product and service innovation

From cat harnesses, outdoor cages, foldable portable litter boxes to training snacks and toys, improvements on the supply side have lowered the threshold for going out and training; party supplies and themed peripherals have strengthened emotional rituals and content sharing motivations.

4. Cats help increase your favorability

Besides providing companionship and healing, many male cat owners admit that owning a cat has unexpectedly enriched their social and romantic lives. Taking their cats out and sharing photos of them interacting with them on social media platforms or in everyday situations often attracts more attention and interest from the opposite sex.

Psychologists point out that this reflects the combined effect of caring skills and a gentle image: men who carefully care for a cat are often seen as more responsible, sensitive, and trustworthy. For some single men, keeping a cat is not just a love for animals, but also a way to show the charm of life.

▌Cat Power in Taiwan's Declining Birthrate

Cat ownership is also booming in Taiwan. In 2023, the number of cats in Taiwan increased by 50% compared to two years ago, reaching 1.31 million, exceeding the number of newborns. Amidst the dual challenges of urbanization and declining birthrates, cats have become the new go-to companions. More Taiwanese owners are feeding their cats fresh food, buying them exclusive furniture and supplies, and even taking them to pet-friendly cafes, making the daily grind of cat ownership increasingly sophisticated.

The Gentle Power of Japan's Nekonomics

The term "Nekonomics" has been coined in Japan for several years to describe the consumer spending driven by cats. By 2025, this market is projected to reach 2.9 trillion yen (approximately NT$590 billion).

Beyond cat food and toys, more people are investing in "visual and experiential" experiences. From various cat-themed cultural and creative products to cat-filled hotels and exhibitions, even local tourist attractions, transportation trains, and agricultural product areas are relying on "maneki-neko" to attract visitors. Furthermore, to cater to the pet-keeping habits of many homebodies, e-commerce shopping is also growing rapidly, accounting for an increasing share of retail channels, reaching 23% by 2023.

South Koreans love cats, but they're also under increasing pressure

The prevalence of pets in South Korean households is rapidly increasing, reaching 6.02 million pet households in 2022, a significant increase from 3.64 million in 2012. Cat ownership in South Korea has also rapidly increased in recent years, with 27% of pet owners having a cat at home. However, with this increase in pets comes the burden of care, with many male owners struggling with the financial burden of care. This has prompted South Korean brands to consider how to provide emotional support and knowledge resources beyond just products.

▌Cat Economy is Redefining "Lifestyle"

From America's "cat dads," Taiwan's declining birthrate, Japan's cat culture, to South Korea's cat care issues, cats are more than just furry companions; they've become a new source of inspiration for brands, designers, and the service industry.

For us, this is also a signal about how to understand the emotional connection between cat owners and cats and find the intersection between market and culture.

From a marketing and product development perspective, these behavioral trends represent many unmet pain points and needs. For example:

A. The rise of multi-cat households: Single product upgrades + modular solutions

Pain point: Space/resource allocation for multiple cats (number of toilets, feeding order, interaction consumption).

Product explanation: Modular cat furniture, compartmented feeders, multi-cat conflict-reduction toys and pheromone aids.

Content explanation: Multi-cat introduction guide (sequential introduction, scent exchange, resource dispersion).

B. Training Becomes a Daily Routine: From “Can You” to “How to”

Trend: 48% already in training, +41% in six years.

Opportunities: Combine positive reinforcement training with functional snacks/cat teasers/clickers; launch short video lessons + tool kits.

C. Outdoor and Safety: The Leash Economy Grows Steadily

Data: The number of leashes, harnesses, and collars has increased across the board.

Application: "Light outdoor" route (balcony/roof/courtyard/short-distance movement) + safety checklist (anti-shedding, UV, anti-flea, positioning).

D. Ritual-driven content: party × surrounding × community diffusion

Indicators: Cat birthday/festival parties +250%; themed peripherals +89%.

Strategy: Launch party kits (hats, backdrops, snack trays) and printable merchandise; provide filming scripts and templates for easy sharing.

From the economic boom driven by "cat dads" in the United States to the unique cat culture and market transformations in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, we've seen cats become a powerful emotional force in urban families around the world. As brand owners and content publishers, in this wave of the cat economy, questions like how lifestyles can be extended, how psychological support can be provided, and how e-commerce and content can be integrated are all developments worth keeping an eye on.

Written by Jessie Chen (Founder of p’adore & Furry Home Care, Editor-in-Chief of p’adore Today Magazine)

📚 Source

1. American Pet Products Association (APPA). (2025).

2. Petfood Industry. (2024).(2025).

3. Pet Food Processing. (2025, June 27).

4. Taipei Times. (2024, June 3).

5. NextShark. (2024, Feb 7).

6. Global Pet Industry. (2025).

7. Grand View Research. (2024).

8. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2024).

9. TGM Statbox. (2023).

10. BMC Veterinary Research. (2025).

<<English translation provided by Google>>