TOP 10 Promising Cat Business Ideas for Pet Lovers in 2025

The cat business is booming, as pet owners are increasingly willing to invest to bring the best to their "royalty". If you want to join this potential playground, let's explore with NextSky 10 breakthrough business ideas, helping you build a valuable brand and conquer the cat-loving community.

Is the cat business model profitable?

The answer is: Yes. According to the APPA survey (2023–2024), there are 46.5 million US households with cats, showing that this is not a small market. In the $145 billion pet industry, cats account for about 30%, equivalent to $43 billion, and this number continues to grow. These telling numbers confirm the great potential for businesses revolving around cats. The important thing is that you need the right idea, a clear approach, strategy, and direction.

Summary of 10 potential cat business ideas

1. Regular food and snack service

A regular cat food delivery service gives pet owners peace of mind about their diet without having to worry about frequent purchases. This model creates a steady stream of revenue and increases customer loyalty, especially when offering organic or personalized products for each cat. Here's how to get started effectively.

• Sourcing high-quality ingredients and working with nutritionists to create safe formulas.
• Use Shopify to set up a recurring ordering platform with a user-friendly interface.
• Offer flexible plans (weekly or monthly) and incentives like free shipping.
• Promote on social media with videos of transparent manufacturing processes.

A typical example is Smalls, a fresh cat food brand founded by Matt Michaelson and Calvin Bohn, which quickly conquered the US market thanks to its regular delivery model and commitment to providing fresh meals like home cooking, attracting thousands of loyal customers in just a few years.

Pro Tip: Personalize the customer experience by offering food packages that are appropriate for your cat's age or health condition.

Learn more: How to Test Business Ideas for Success: A Comprehensive Guide

2. Design and manufacture cat toys

Toys help cats exercise and develop intelligence, and are always an investment that owners are willing to pay for if the product is unique and durable enough. Creative designs, such as interactive or environmentally friendly toys, are advantages that help you stand out in the market. Check out some effective ways to get started:

• Design safe toys like feather rods or puzzle boxes, using environmentally friendly materials.
• Test products with cat owner groups to ensure appeal.
• Sell through your Shopify store or platforms like Etsy, incorporating immersive promotional videos.
• Take advantage of Instagram to share pictures of your cat playing with the product.

Jim Boelke, CEO of Cat Dancer, has turned a simple college idea into a multi-million-dollar business. With his wire and cardboard toy, he has won over millions of cat owners with his product's simplicity and effectiveness.

Pro Tip: Add personalization options, like engraving your cat's name on the toy, to increase the value of the product.

3. Cat accessories and furniture store

Accessories such as scratching posts, beds, or fashionable collars are both convenient and show the owner's love for cats. When aesthetics blend with functionality, these products easily become sought-after items on the market.

How to get started :

• Source or design your own products, like unique cat beds or scratchers.
• Use the dropshipping model to reduce inventory costs.
• Build your Shopify store with high-quality images and videos.
• Optimize SEO for keywords like "cat brand names" or "cat business".

Happy & Polly, a cat accessories brand known for its innovative designs like the lotus-shaped scratcher, has gone international thanks to Amy's passion for cats and a clever social media marketing strategy.

Pro Tip: Create product bundles, like a "new cat starter kit," to increase order value.

Read more: TOP 15 Creative Pet Business Ideas Make You Profit

4. Blog about cat care

A blog that provides in-depth knowledge about cat care, from health to behavior, attracts a large readership and generates multiple streams of income through advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored content. With millions of cat owners looking for reliable information, this is your opportunity to become an expert in the field.

How to get started :

• Choose a specific topic, like caring for an elderly cat or training a kitten.
• Write SEO optimized articles and work with veterinarians to ensure credibility.
• Make money through Google AdSense, affiliate links, or sponsored posts.
• Promote on Instagram and Pinterest to reach the cat-loving community.

Cats.com, founded by Mallory Crusta, started as a small blog and has now become a respected platform with vet-curated content that attracts millions of visitors each month.

Pro Tip: Use a tool like Ahrefs to find low-competition keywords like "pet content creation jobs" to increase your traffic.

5. Cat health and care services

Cat health care services, ranging from routine check-ups to nutritional advice, are in high demand as owners look to keep their pets living long, healthy lives. Professionals such as veterinarians can easily build trust and a loyal client base.

How to get started :

• Obtain the necessary certification according to local regulations.
• Provide online consultation or home service.
• Build a Shopify website to showcase your expertise and book appointments.
• Partner with pet stores to promote services.

Dr. Lauren Demos, a renowned veterinarian, has built her personal brand through online consultations and educational content on social media, helping thousands of cat owners take better care of their pets.

Pro Tip: Create webinars on cat nutrition to build credibility and attract customers.

See more: 25 Profitable Business Ideas for Kids to Spark Creativity

6. Organize cat events

Events like adoption fairs or cat birthday parties provide unique, emotionally engaging experiences that connect the cat-loving community while also creating natural touchpoints to showcase and sell products.

How to get started :

• Organize events like "yoga with cats" or kitten play days, in partnership with animal welfare organizations.
• Use Shopify to create an event registration and ticketing platform.
• Promote through social media and cat-loving community groups.
• Sell snacks or accessories at the event to increase revenue.

CatCon, founded by Susan Michals, has become the largest annual event for cat lovers in the US, attracting thousands of visitors and providing opportunities for brands to promote their products.

Pro Tip: Partner with influencers like Nala Cat to increase your event's visibility.

7. Cat sitting and care services

Cat sitting services provide absolute peace of mind for owners when they are away from home, especially for sensitive cats who are not used to strange environments. Personalizing the care experience will help you create your own mark, completely different from traditional cages.

How to get started :

• Prepare safe facilities or provide services at home.
• Make sure you have liability insurance and necessary licenses.
• Build a Shopify website with an online booking system.
• Provide amenities such as daily photo updates to customers.

Cat Utopia Resort & Spa, founded by Amanda Fraser in New South Wales, Australia, is one of the most prominent cat resorts in the country. With luxurious spaces, spa services and personalized care, Cat Utopia has attracted thousands of customers from all over. Their success comes from combining a high-end pet experience with professional care services like those at a 5-star hotel.

Pro Tip: Offer additional services, like live cat videos, to increase customer satisfaction.

8. Cat cafe

Cat cafes offer a unique experience combining a relaxing space with coffee and interactive activities with cute cats, attracting both cat lovers and regular visitors. This is an ideal model to create a unique mark and build a close-knit community.

How to get started :

• Find a suitable location and obtain a sanitary permit.
• Partner with rescue organizations to bring cats into the bar.
• Build a Shopify website to promote events and take bookings.
• Create unique spaces, like a "cozy cat library."

Denver Cat Company, founded by Kendra Kuhl, has become a popular destination for its cozy space and cat adoption program, helping hundreds of cats find homes.

Pro Tip: Host events like cat trivia nights to keep guests coming back.

9. Cat grooming service

Professional grooming services provide a complete beauty solution for cats, from nail trimming and bathing to a relaxing spa, helping pets stay clean, healthy, and more comfortable.

How to get started :

• Get a grooming certification and invest in quality tools.
• Provide mobile services or open a permanent salon.
• Build a Shopify store to showcase your services and book appointments.
• Promote with before and after photos on social media.

Smoochie Pooch, founded by Lisa Smith, has grown from a small salon in Indiana into a popular pet grooming chain known for its superior quality and dedication.

Pro Tip: Use eco-friendly grooming products to appeal to customers who care about sustainability.

Learn more: 1000+ Pet Business Name Ideas to Inspire Your Brand Today

10. Cat Photography and Social Media Content Creation

With the explosion of popular cat accounts on social media, the demand for professional photos and creative content is on the rise. This is your chance to turn your passion for photography or content creation into a lucrative career.

How to get started :

• Invest in a quality camera and editing software.
• Offers themed photo shoots, such as festival photos.
• Build a portfolio on Shopify and promote on Instagram.
• Create social media accounts for your cat to seek sponsorship opportunities.

Andrew Marttila, aka The Cat Photographer, has turned his passion for cat photography into a full-time career, working with major brands and publishing cat photography books.

Pro Tip: Use hashtags like #businesscats to reach the cat-loving community and attract sponsors.

Read more: TOP 500 Photography Business Name Ideas for Every Niche

How to start an online cat business

Looking to start a business around your love of cats? Here's a step-by-step guide to help you turn your idea into reality, whether you want to blog, sell accessories, or open a cat food store.

Turn ideas into real business models

Every entrepreneurial journey starts with an idea, but to turn an idea into a sustainable reality, you need to seriously hone it. You can start with a simple but important question: What value do you want to bring to the cat-loving community? Is it knowledge, products, or services?

• If you love writing, start an in-depth blog, sharing everything from care tips to training tips.
• If you have an entrepreneurial streak, the cat accessories, toys, and food market is full of opportunities.
• If you are a crafty person, unique handmade cat accessories can be a "hot" product that helps you start a successful business."

To assess feasibility, you can do a SWOT analysis to clearly identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges to help you choose a reasonable and sustainable direction.

Budgeting and outlining development strategies

A good idea will hardly succeed without a solid financial foundation. Therefore, you need to have a clear budget, including website design costs, marketing, and products (if any). 

• With the dropshipping model, you don't need to worry about warehousing or shipping. 
• If you produce by yourself, you need to carefully estimate the materials, equipment, and labor. 

In terms of marketing, take advantage of free channels like Instagram, TikTok, SEO blogs, or email marketing before investing in paid advertising when your budget allows.

Ensure the legality of your business

Whether you sell pet accessories, food, or pet care services, don't overlook the legal aspect. Some industries require you to have certain licenses or certifications. For example, if you sell cat food in the United States, you need to make sure you're in compliance with FDA regulations. Compliance also shows respect for your customers and their pets . If you're unsure about the process, consult a local legal professional.

Choose the right eCommerce platform

Want to sell online? You need a professional place to showcase your cat kingdom. Shopify is a top choice thanks to its flexibility, ease of use, and impressive scalability.

• You can build a full-fledged dropshipping store or expand into a subscription model (subscription boxes for cats).
• If you just need a blog to share, WordPress is the more economical choice.

Hint: The cat toy brand Kittio has been built on Shopify, demonstrating the true potential of this model.

Store design

Design is considered the first experience that makes customers remember you. An online store needs to make a strong first impression: pleasant, professional, and inspiring.

• Use Shopify with the NextSky Theme for easy design with intuitive drag and drop. You can choose from a ready-made template or build everything yourself according to your own ideas.
• Invest in beautiful images, realistic videos, warm colors, and clear layouts – all of which should speak to your love for cats.
• Branding from name, logo to language style, every element must connect with the customer base you want to serve.

Set important operating settings.

To keep your store running smoothly, you need to configure all the basic settings:

• Payment method
• Shipping & Delivery
• Return & Privacy Policy
• Order notification email

Tip: Setting up free shipping offers or promotions on special occasions can significantly increase your purchase conversion rate.

Create engaging product and collection pages

Product pages are the heart of your store, helping customers decide whether to buy or not.

• Write thoughtful, inspiring product descriptions, rather than just listing dry features.
• Use real-life photos, hands-on videos, or lifestyle photos that show the product in use in real life.
• If you have a variety of products, you can organize them into logical collections to make them easier for customers to find.

Smart Marketing to Attract Cat-Loving Customers

Now it's time to take your store to the world. Don't just "sell" it, tell a story, share value, and build community.

• Start with low-cost channels like social media, blogging, video, and SEO.
• Create a series of how-to, question-and-answer content – for example, "5 Must-Have Items for Raising a Kitten."
• When your budget allows, you can run targeted ads on Facebook, Google, or TikTok to expand your customer base.

Starting a cat business in 2025 is a great opportunity to turn your passion into reality. With the above strategy of NextSky, your business will bring joy to cat lovers around the world. Start your journey today with a free trial of Shopify!