Pet ecommerce represents businesses selling animal products and services through online platforms. In 2024, Americans spent $151.9 billion on their pets, with spending expected to reach $157 billion by 2025. Thanks to doorstep delivery, more than a quarter of global pet care sales come from online.

Pet ecommerce includes major retailers, brick-and-mortar stores with online operations, and niche brands that meet specific pet needs. Their cutting-edge products and subscription food deliveries compete for a growing market of pet owners.

Let's explore the top pet brands making waves online and why they're worth watching.

Who Are the Key Players Dominating Pet Ecommerce?

Many established pet retailers dominate the online pet market through strategic innovation and customer service. Major companies lead the way with great selections, convenient delivery options, and loyalty programs.

How Did Chewy Become the Online Pet Supply Giant?

Chewy stands tall as a powerhouse in the pet ecommerce world, with impressive revenue growth reaching $11.86 billion in 2025, up from $11.16 billion in 2023. 

The company offers products for almost every pet category, from dogs and cats to reptiles, birds, and even farm animals. Founded in 2011, Chewy captured millions of loyal customers through its Autoship subscription service, allowing pet owners to schedule regular deliveries of essentials like food and litter. 

Customer service remains central to their strategy, with personal touches including handwritten holiday cards and sympathy flowers when pets pass away.

How Are Traditional Retailers Like PetSmart and Petco Adapting to Digital?

PetSmart generates nearly $10 billion in annual revenue. The retail giant leverages its physical locations to offer "buy online, pick up in-store" services, providing flexibility that pure online retailers cannot match.

Petco similarly embraces online transformation with its repeat delivery subscription model, scheduled auto-ship services, and expanded online product line. Both companies provide grooming, training, and veterinary services alongside product sales.

Customers are happy with their loyalty programs, which smoothly connect online and offline purchases.

Why Is Amazon Expanding Its Pet Market Presence?

Pet owners increasingly turn to Amazon for their pets' needs, driving the category toward $27.2 billion in sales by 2025, an 11% yearly increase. Because of Amazon's massive logistics network, online retailers struggle to match Amazon's same-day or two-day delivery options. Prime members enjoy additional perks like Subscribe & Save discounts on recurring pet supply orders.

Amazon's Wag brand provides affordable alternatives to premium pet products while maintaining quality standards. The company's vast selection spans thousands of brands across all pet categories, from food to accessories and medications.

Your previous purchases and browsing history help Amazon's data analytics create personalized pet product recommendations that make shopping quicker and more intuitive.

Which Innovative Direct-to-Consumer Brands Are Disrupting the Industry?

Today's pet care companies are designing products to tackle specific issues rather than offering generic solutions. Online marketplaces help them deliver these specialized products straight to the pet owners who need them most.

Alpha Paw

Since opening its doors in 2018, Alpha Paw has made a name for itself by creating specialty pet products that tackle specific health issues. Ramon van Meer created the company to offer tailored solutions like dog ramps that prevent joint injuries for pets struggling to climb onto furniture. 

Pet owners appreciate specialized orthopedic options and breed-specific wellness items that serve particular health needs rather than generic pet supplies.

Their online platform leverages email marketing and social media to build customer relationships outside traditional retail channels. Pet wellness company raised $8 million in Series A funding to support product expansion and international growth.

DIGGS

DIGGS is a direct-to-consumer (DTC) luxury pet lifestyle brand, focusing on premium products like dog crates and beds. From the inception of DIGGS, Zel began positioning the company as a premium pet lifestyle brand, debuting the Revol Dog Crate with everything he had promised in its design: a functional dog crate that solved major pain points for customers. The direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce was born: bringing premium products to devoted pet parents looking to level up pet care.

“In 2016, I had an aha! moment,” he explains. “When I adopted my dog Louise, I was looking for premium pet products for her including toys, and I was utterly disappointed by the lack of safe and high-quality pet products on the market. There was nothing in the pets category similar to the standards that companies like UPPAbaby, YETI, and SimpleHuman make in their respective categories.” Upon discovering the absence of established pet safety standards in the U.S., he was inspired to take action, launching DIGGS in 2018 to give pet parents better options. “While my friends were buying homes and having kids, and I was being exposed to luxury home or baby products, I thought, ‘we need this in the pet space.’”

Only Natural Pet

Founded in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, Only Natural Pet stands out with its commitment to natural pet care products. Pet owners appreciate the extensive selection of natural dog and cat foods, treats, supplements, and grooming supplies developed with veterinarians. 

Pet owners have come to trust the brand because it uses high-quality, human-grade organic ingredients without toxins or chemicals.

As a Certified B Corporation, Only Natural Pet demonstrates dedication to ethical business practices beyond profit margins. Environmentally conscious consumers value their sustainable approach to pet care and product development. Many customers return for premium pet food options and natural alternatives to conventional flea and tick control.

Ruffwear

Ruffwear, headquartered in Bend, Oregon, has created performance dog gear for outdoor adventures since 1994. Active pet owners choose their products for hiking, camping, and water activities with four-legged companions. 

Loyal customers value their durable harnesses, leashes, boots, apparel, and life jackets designed specifically for outside activities.

Every material undergoes extensive testing to ensure it can handle tough adventures on trails and in water. Take the Front Range Harness, for example. It's designed with foam padding to keep your dog comfortable and prevent chafing, even during long hikes in rough terrain.

Their collaborations with groups like The Conservation Alliance show they're serious about preserving natural environments, even as they cater to increasing numbers of dog owners who love exploring nature.

Petlibro

Based in California, Petlibro arrived on the scene in 2019 with a clear focus on developing smart technology for pet care. Pet owners love their products, which combine stylish aesthetics and practical features. Products like smart feeders with health monitoring make daily pet care routines easier.

Their Polar Wet Food Feeder earned recognition as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024 thanks to cooling technology that keeps food fresh for days. Many cat owners choose battery-operated water fountains, which offer placement flexibility without requiring nearby power outlets. 

PETLIBRO continues expanding its product line with new products, such as RFID smart fountains that provide personalized water access for multi-pet households.

Building a fast-growing pet tech brand like these innovators? Get the capital you need without giving up equity—Clearco offers up to $10 million in inventory, marketing, and product development funding. Apply today to fuel your pet brand's 2025 growth strategy.

What Trends Are Shaping Pet Ecommerce Success?

Pet brands gaining loyal customers use fresh approaches to digital services that bring genuine convenience. Leading companies focus on creating reliable solutions to everyday pet care problems.

Subscription Services 

Leading pet brands making waves in the industry now offer subscription services that bring necessities to customers' homes without requiring frequent reordering. Pet owners find real value in having food, treats, and other supplies arrive on schedule, sparing them those extra trips to the store.

Regular deliveries create predictable income streams for companies while building stronger customer relationships.

Many services cater to specific pet needs based on size, breed, or health requirements. Customers who use programs like Chewy Autoship enjoy discounts on subscription orders and the reliability of getting supplies on time.

Health and Wellness Focus

People now extend their wellness values to their pets, looking for premium, natural products that complement their lifestyle. Many customers seek foods with functional ingredients like probiotics, hypoallergenic formulas, and superfoods targeting specific animal health concerns. 

Pet owners increasingly trust vet-recommended products and services that provide professional guidance for their furry family members.

Preventative care has become popular as owners shift from reactive treatments to proactive health management approaches. Subscription plans for vitamins and wellness products allow them to stick to their health regimens without having to track inventory.

Ecommerce Funding and Capital Solutions

Pet brands are now tapping into funding options built for fast-growing, tech-focused companies. New financial partners understand ecommerce metrics better than traditional banks, offering more flexible terms for inventory purchases and marketing campaigns.

Companies like DIGGS, founded by Zel Crampton in 2018, partner with Clearco to maintain growth momentum during critical expansion phases. DIGGS needed to refinance their existing loan while preparing inventory for major sales events. They found support from partners familiar with direct-to-consumer business models.

Pet brand entrepreneurs increasingly turn to funding partners who evaluate online sales performance rather than traditional assets when making lending decisions.

What Does the Future Hold for Pet Ecommerce?

There's no question that pet ecommerce is taking off as pet owners search for personalized solutions for their pets. It's all about brands that excel at premium products, convenient subscription models, and health-related solutions. Find an underserved niche that aligns with your passion to make your mark in this growing industry. Build a simple landing page to test your idea with potential clients before investing heavily. Consider partnering with micro-(pet!)-influencers who share engaging content with pet lovers. Explore drop-shipping options to minimize upfront costs while you validate your product-market fit.

The report found Americans spent $152 billion on the pet industry last year — including veterinary care, boarding, grooming, training, food and supplies — with $157 billion in sales projected for 2025.