Pet-Friendly Home Appliances on the Rise: LG Electronics’ Aero Cat and More

September 17, 2024

The home appliance industry is shifting its focus towards pet care, targeting the growing ‘pet family’ demographic. According to industry sources, LG Electronics is set to launch its innovative air purifier, Aero Cat, in Japan next year.

Aero Cat is a unique air purifier featuring a dome-shaped seat that allows cats to rest comfortably. The seat is heated with a heater when a cat climbs on it, and the air volume decreases. Additionally, it includes a weight detection function, which notifies the guardian if the cat’s weight changes rapidly.

The concept of Aero Cat was born from the feedback of cat owners who faced difficulties with their pets climbing on top of air purifiers and misoperating buttons. LG Electronics will initially launch the product in Japan, where cats are extremely popular, and later introduce it in various countries, including Korea.

A survey in Japan revealed that one in two households with pets uses an air purifier, highlighting the high demand for air purifiers among pet owners. British tech media outlet Tech Advisor praised Aero Cat, saying, “This two-in-one device combines an air purifier and a cat bed in one—something no one would have expected.”

Cuckoo, a well-known brand for pressure cookers in Korea, showcased a ‘pet dryer room’ at the front of its IFA booth. This pet care appliance dries wet fur of pets in a box-shaped space and features an ‘air shower’ function that removes fine dust and contaminants from fur without bathing.

Cuckoo has already introduced its pet dryer room in overseas markets, including Japan and the United States, as well as in Korea. The company is considering developing a larger-sized product for the European market, where pets tend to be larger.

Astropet, a German pet care appliance company, introduced a range of innovative products at this year’s IFA, including automatic cat litter boxes, automatic feeders, water purifiers, and hair-sucking brushes. They also showcased an ultraviolet sterilization (UVC) air purifier that removes litter box odors in under three minutes.

Samsung Electronics operates the Pet Care Store, a one-stop shopping platform where customers can purchase pet-specific home appliances and various pet food and supplies needed for pet care.