Cat supplies retail is a substantial and growing category driven by the rise of premium pet nutrition, indoor cat enrichment, and the strong emotional connection between cat owners and their pets. Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements — particularly taurine and arachidonic acid — which distinguish cat food regulation from dog food. The market has a strong subscription component for wet food (pouches, tins) and treats, and an active interest in raw feeding (BARF). Shopify suits the category well, particularly for premium DTC pet food brands.

Product categories

Dry food: Kibble. High-protein, grain-free increasingly dominant. Complete food.
Wet food: Pouches, tins, trays. Complementary and complete. Daily feeding staple for many cats.
Raw food: BARF minces, whole prey, freeze-dried raw. Frozen and shelf-stable options.
Treats: Freeze-dried, soft chews, dental treats. Single-ingredient treats popular.
Litter and litter trays: Clumping, non-clumping, silica, wood, paper. Scented and unscented.
Scratching posts and cat trees: Height, material, base stability. Critical for indoor cats.
Interactive toys: Puzzle feeders, wand toys, electronic toys. Enrichment focused.
Collars and identification: Safety breakaway collars, microchipping accessories.
Health and supplements: Joint, digestive, urinary health supplements.

Feline nutritional labelling

Cats are obligate carnivores — their nutritional requirements are more specific than dogs:

Taurine: essential amino acid for cats — deficiency causes blindness and heart disease; must be present in complete cat food; note taurine content if supplemented
Arachidonic acid: omega-6 fatty acid cats cannot synthesise — must come from animal fat; note on product if grain-free and high animal protein
Protein percentage: cats require high protein (minimum 26% dry matter for adults); note crude protein percentage
Moisture content: wet food typically 78–82% moisture — important for urinary health; note on product
Complete vs complementary: same regulation as dog food — note clearly; many wet foods are complementary
Life stage: kitten (growth), adult, senior — nutritional profiles differ; note clearly

product.metafields.cat_food.food_type = "Complete / Complementary"
product.metafields.cat_food.life_stage = "Kitten / Adult / Senior / All life stages"
product.metafields.cat_food.protein_pct = "40"
product.metafields.cat_food.fat_pct = "18"
product.metafields.cat_food.moisture_pct = "78"               // for wet food
product.metafields.cat_food.taurine_added = "true"
product.metafields.cat_food.grain_free = "true"
product.metafields.cat_food.primary_protein = "Chicken / Salmon / Turkey / Duck"

Raw feeding (BARF) and food safety

Raw cat food is a growing category with specific food safety considerations:

Handling instructions: raw meat carries bacterial contamination risk — note handling and hygiene guidance on all raw food products
Frozen storage: raw food must be kept frozen (-18°C or below) until thawed for use — note storage requirements clearly
Freeze-dried raw: shelf-stable but not shelf-safe once rehydrated — note handling instructions
Bone content: note bone percentage in BARF minces — relevant for owner safety and nutritional balance
Defrost guidance: thaw in refrigerator, not at room temperature — note on product and in packing slip
Cold chain shipping: frozen raw requires insulated packaging + ice packs; next-day delivery recommended

Litter product specifications

product.metafields.litter.litter_type = "Clumping / Non-clumping / Silica / Wood / Paper"
product.metafields.litter.scented = "false"
product.metafields.litter.flushable = "false"
product.metafields.litter.dust_free = "true"
product.metafields.litter.weight_kg = "10"
product.metafields.litter.bag_or_box = "Bag"

Cat enrichment and behaviour

Indoor cat enrichment is a growing category — behaviour-focused product descriptions convert well:

Scratching posts: height is critical — posts must be tall enough for full stretch (minimum 60cm); note height clearly on all posts
Cat trees: stability test information — cats reject unstable trees; note base dimensions and weight capacity
Puzzle feeders: difficulty level (beginner/intermediate/advanced) — helps owners match to their cat's problem-solving ability
Wand toys: note whether wand toy is for supervised play only — cats should not be left unsupervised with string and feather toys

Subscription wet food

Wet food has excellent subscription economics — cats are habitual and owners buy consistently:

Bundle sizes: 12-pack, 24-pack, 48-pack at increasing discount — bulk purchase incentive
Subscription frequency: most cat owners feed wet food daily — 2 and 4 week delivery cycles suit variety rotation
Flavour rotation: allow subscribers to mix flavours in subscription — reduces palatability fatigue and boredom
First order discount: common in cat food DTC — "50% off your first box" — configure via discount code or Shopify automatic discount

Post-migration checklist for cat supplies stores

Food labelling: complete/complementary; analytical constituents; taurine noted on complete dry food
Life stage: kitten/adult/senior on all food products
Raw food: cold chain shipping configured; handling and storage instructions on all raw products
Litter: type, scented/unscented, dust-free status, weight on all litter products
Scratching posts: height in cm prominently noted; stability information on cat trees
Subscription: configured for wet food and treats; flavour mix option for variety

Migrating a cat supplies store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)