A market research publisher called Packaged Facts, has published a new report on the state of the pet supplies market. It showed that overall sales of pet supplies in 2004 reached $8.5 billion, representing a 20% increase from 2000. The report goes on to predict sales reaching $11 billion by 2009.

The report says that the booming business in pet supplies is attracting companies that have not historically catered to pet owners.

"Everybody wants to get in the pet supplies act," said Don Montuori, acquisitions editor of Packaged Facts. "One of the biggest market-altering forces is the entry of more global players into the field, most notably Rayovac/Spectrum Brands (which purchased United Pet Group and Tetra) and Sumitomo (which acquired Hartz). Add to that the availability of pet products in "alternative channel" retailers, such as T.J. Maxx, Home Depot, Ikea, and catalogs, such as Front Gate, Ballard Design, L.L. Bean, Land's End, and, of course, the Internet."

Many of the upscale hotels are now getting in on the pet business. Just yesterday I reported that the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel is offering a pet care package to lure in high-paying dog owners. Everyone's jumping in on the pet market.