Toy Pets Are The Cat's Meow

From Web sites and electronics that let kids care for “virtual” pets to life-like pet plush and figurines, the toy world is raining cats and dogs. But what among such a wide range of product options is resonating most with children? Funosophy asked 300 girls ages 6 to 11 about their faux furry friends in an effort to gain insight into the ownership of various types of toy pets and, potentially, to uncover opportunities for manufacturers to address a market within this growing children's entertainment category.

Life-like plush was the most popular category of toy pets, with more than 70 percent of girls reporting owning a stuffed toy designed to look like a particular breed or kind of pet and another 63 percent owning pet figurines. These numbers are an interesting contrast to the 45 percent of girls who report owning “fantasy” pets. There's no shortage of imagination, though, as half of all girls surveyed have raised a “virtual” pet, like Neopets and Tamagotchi.

Ownership levels for most types of pet-themed plush included in this test were fairly high with both younger (ages 6-8) and older girls (ages 9-11). For the most part, though, more girls in the younger age group own pet-themed products. Electronic pets and pet Web sites are an exception, with more than half of older girls having raised “virtual” pets. Robotic pets and kits to make your own pets and accessories also have higher ownership levels among older girls.

We're in the midst of an arts and crafts boom and its influence is being felt in the plush category. Pet-themed toys with a “do-it-yourself” arts and crafts play pattern are topping girls' wish lists. Programmable, robotic pets are also desirable, with nearly half of all girls surveyed wanting to own one.

This month's survey showed that girls—especially younger ones ages 6 to 8—are panting for pets! And, from life-like plush to interactive kits, this category is only getting hotter. Manufacturers who can add interactive or do-it-yourself elements to their toy pets may move product faster than a cat on a hot tin roof!