--- title: Tiny pets are having a big moment - The Hustle description: Lizards, hamsters, and guinea pigs, oh my! Americans are spoiling their tiny pets rotten. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1659500848-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Smallpets_20230927223539.webp --- # Tiny pets are having a big moment ![Sara Friedman](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Sara Friedman](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/sara-friedman) [Sara Friedman Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/sarafriedmannn) Published: September 28, 2023 Updated: October 11, 2023 Move over, cats and dogs — there are some new, tiny attention hogs in town. ![Two brown-and-white guinea pigs wearing blue party hats on a pink background.](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1659500848-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Smallpets_20230927223539.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1659500848-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Smallpets_20230927223539.webp) Lizards, hamsters, guinea pigs, and other mini pets are reaping the benefits of owners willing to spoil them rotten, per [*The Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/style/design/pets-guinea-pig-lizard-rodents-reptiles-3424de17?mod=hp_featst_pos5). Those perks include some pretty adorable products designed specifically for them: - [Rock and Scott](https://rockyandscotty.com/) sells everything from habitats to tiny party hats for small pets. - [GuineaDad](https://guineadad.com/) makes customizable wooden castles for guinea pigs. - [Pocket’s Pet](https://www.etsy.com/shop/PocketsPet?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1295665450) lists snacks, chew toys, and accessories on Etsy. - [Norm’s Piggy Pen](https://www.normspiggypen.com/) offers spa services like nail trims and blow-drys for guinea pigs, rabbits, and ferrets. And, after customers complained that pet habitats were eyesores in their homes, PetSmart partnered with HGTV designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent to create small-pet decor, including [faux leather](https://www.petsmart.com/featured-brands/nate-and-jeremiah/small-pet-collection/decor/nate-and-jeremiah-faux-leather-small-pet-couch-72352.html?cgid=60024832&fmethod=Browse&irclickid=Rnvy0n1ehxyPWHh1ogVwLTfUUkFRosVerymk2A0&irgwc=1&utm_source=Impact&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=10078-Skimbit%20Ltd.&utm_term=34276X922231X94a171966f32b8cd6fe86b1c6adeb62f&utm_content=764629_Online%20Tracking%20Link) and [sherpa](https://www.petsmart.com/featured-brands/nate-and-jeremiah/small-pet-collection/decor/nate-and-jeremiah-faux-sherpa-small-pet-couch-72999.html?cgid=60024832&fmethod=Browse&irclickid=Rnvy0n1ehxyPWHh1ogVwLTfUUkFRopwWrymk2A0&irgwc=1&utm_source=Impact&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=10078-Skimbit%20Ltd.&utm_term=34276X922231Xcabe50052ab734e002f02d77e582c52c&utm_content=764629_Online%20Tracking%20Link) couches. The pets may be small, but the potential profit is big:** **Businesses are vying for a piece of the [~$136.8B](https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp#:~:text=Total%20U.S.%20Pet%20Industry%20Expenditures&text=In%202022%2C%20%24136.8%20billion%20was%20spent%20on%20our%20pets%20in%20the%20U.S.&text=In%202023%2C%20a%20total%20of,is%20projected%20in%20the%20U.S.) pet market. #### **While little pets are getting more popular…** … dog ownership is dwindling. The number of American households with dogs [fell](https://www.statista.com/statistics/198095/pets-in-the-united-states-by-type-in-2008/) 5.6% YoY to 65.1m. Despite an adoption [boom](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/07/covid-dogs-return-to-work/) during the pandemic, shelters have been filling [back up](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/8/16/23833307/pets-animal-shelters-cats-dogs-affordable-housing-inflation) and owners are [skimping](https://www.wsj.com/articles/pet-owners-resort-to-cheaper-food-as-inflation-weighs-on-wallets-a164333c?mod=article_inline) on dog and cat food. But people are still bringing home pint-sized friends: The number of American households with small pets has risen 7% this year. **We leave you with this important note as we approach Halloween: **Tiny pet costumes are a [thing](https://people.com/pets/halloween-costumes-for-small-pets-guinea-pigs-hamsters-lizards/). Topics: [Pets](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/pets) ## Follow us on social media prev next - ![Pet tech is the cat’s meow](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1174655192-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-Pet20tech_20230726215142.webp) ### Pet tech is the cat’s meow - ![Your dog eats bugs for free, but now you can spend money on it](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1419080296-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-doginsect_20230705041350.webp) ### Your dog eats bugs for free, but now you can spend money on it - ![Pampered pets make for great startup customers](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1566917846-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay2026202023barkbus.webp) ### Pampered pets make for great startup customers - ![Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/826433325-httpsthe-hustle.hubspot.comhubfsDaily20Newsletter20ImagesMay202202023dog_companion.webp) ### Man’s best friend may be getting a new best friend — and it’s AI? - ![Can machine learning help us talk to pets?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1733883667-HS-News-Brief_2022-09-13T214158.929Z-scaled.webp) ### Can machine learning help us talk to pets? - ![Looking for your next gig? Have you considered pet-sitting?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1783936752-News-Brief_2021-10-20T010201.087Z.webp) ### Looking for your next gig? Have you considered pet-sitting? - ![Meowijuana wants to get your cat high](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1292948729-News-Brief_2021-10-15T012353.109Z.webp) ### Meowijuana wants to get your cat high Pop up for Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. Always free. 100% fresh. No bullsh*t. JOIN FREE ### 100% Free CRM Nurture and grow your business with customer relationship management software. 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