In recent years, with the vigorous development of the pet economy and the improvement of consumers' environmental awareness, tofu cat litter, as a representative of environmentally friendly pet cleaning products, has gradually become the focus of market attention. The following is an analysis of the latest developments and trends in the industry:

First, the market is growing steadily, and the demand for environmental protection is driving the expansion of the industry

According to the latest market research report, the global market size of tofu cat litter (including mixed type) has reached 2.232 billion US dollars in 2024, and is expected to grow to 3.146 billion US dollars by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. In the Chinese market, the overall scale of the cat litter industry has continued to expand since 2019, and it is expected to exceed XX billion yuan in 2025, among which the market share of environmentally friendly tofu cat litter is rising year by year due to its degradable, low dust and other characteristics.

At the policy level, the Chinese government has increased its support for environmentally friendly materials, restricted the mining of traditional bentonite, and encouraged the research and development and promotion of degradable cat litter, further promoting the transformation of the industry to green.

Second, technological innovation to enhance product competitiveness

In response to market demand, enterprises accelerate technological innovation:

1. Material and process optimization: For example, the "activated carbon beading tofu cat litter process" developed by Shandong Ruida Silica Gel Company can absorb odor and reduce dust through porous structure, significantly improving user experience.

2. Functional diversification: Some brands have introduced tofu cat litter with plant fiber to enhance water absorption and degradation efficiency; Other products incorporate deodorant factors or natural fragrances to meet consumers' needs for "tasteless homes."

3. The rise of mixed products: Tofu and bentonite mixed cat litter has become the new darling of the market with the characteristics of "fast agglomeration and easy cleaning", occupying a major share in the world.

Third, competition intensifies, brand and channel strategy equal importance

At present, the tofu cat litter market presents a highly competitive situation:

- Leading brands: International brands such as Church and Dwight and Fresh Step, as well as local companies such as Yantai Lanbao and Xiaoyi Technology Group, occupy a leading position through technology accumulation and brand marketing.

- Emerging brand breakthrough: Some enterprises seize market segments through differentiation strategies (such as low prices and special packaging), but they also face problems such as false publicity. For example, recently, there have been consumer complaints about the phenomenon of "mixed cat litter posing as pure tofu cat litter" on e-commerce platforms, which has triggered market regulatory attention.

- Channel transformation: Online sales have become mainstream, and the proportion of e-commerce platforms continues to increase, while offline channels have strengthened penetration through pet stores and supermarkets.

Fourth, challenges and regulation go hand in hand

Despite the positive outlook, the industry still faces multiple challenges:

1. Product pain points: Some users feedback that tofu cat litter is easy to breed bacteria in a humid environment, and the beany smell may make cats reject it.

2. Cost pressure: The upgrading of environmentally friendly materials and production processes has pushed up costs, and small and medium-sized enterprises are facing survival pressure.

3. Policies and norms: The state strengthens quality and safety supervision, requires enterprises to clearly identify product ingredients, combat false propaganda, and protect the rights and interests of consumers.

Future outlook: Intelligence and globalization go hand in hand

Industry analysts pointed out that the future development of tofu cat litter will focus on the following directions:

- Intelligent upgrade: Combined with the Internet of Things technology to develop smart cat litter box supporting products to improve user convenience.

- Global layout: The Asia-Pacific region (especially China, India) and Europe have huge market potential, and enterprises need to expand their influence through local cooperation.

- Sustainable development: Promote the greening of the entire industrial chain, from raw material procurement to waste disposal, to meet environmental standards.

Conclusion

The rapid development of the tofu cat litter industry is not only the epitome of the prosperity of the pet economy, but also the embodiment of the deepening of the concept of environmental protection. In the future, the synergy of technological innovation, policy guidance and consumer education will promote the industry to a higher quality development stage. Enterprises need to adhere to quality in competition, win the market with differentiation strategy, and jointly build a sustainable industrial ecology.

Reference materials: QYResearch market report, Yantai Lanbao pet products company dynamics, industry policy documents, etc.