根据英国一家市场调查机构近日公布的统计显示，世界各厂商今年到目前专为猫猫狗狗们设计的产品数量已达465种，而2004年全年推出的新产品数仅为291种，世界范围内的宠物消费正呈大幅上涨趋势。

    据法新社10月17日援引市场调查机构Mintel的调查报告说，北美洲地区的居民相比较更喜欢为家中的宠物添置新用品，因此该地区出产的宠物用品占全球2003年以来所有相关新产品的58％；欧洲和亚太地区分别占16％和12％；中东和拉美地区各占7％。Mintel的发言人戴维·杰戈说，“对于许多宠物的主人而言，他们喜爱自己的猫猫狗狗就像对待自己的孩子一样”，“我们甚至了解到，有的主人甚至对宠物使用跟自己一样的美容产品”。

    调查报告还显示，这些种类繁多的宠物产品（主要面向猫狗）包括减肥用的食品添加剂、缓解紧张的喷雾剂以及亮甲油和彩色亮发素化妆品等。一家名为Beaphar的荷兰公司甚至为“不安分”的猫猫们生产了一种能够去除母猫身上吸引公猫气味的喷剂。

    This year has seen an explosion of new pampering products for man's furry friends, among the more unusual of which is a fragrance designed to neutralise the sexual scent of female dogs, a study said.

    The products -- mostly aimed at cats and dogs -- also include weight loss supplements and stress relief sprays, alongside cosmetics like nail polish and hair colour highlights, said the report by research group Mintel.

    "For many pet owners, their animals are as loved and pampered as their own children, and deserve to be groomed and cared for with the best products," said Mintel spokesman David Jago.

    "On an extreme level, we have even seen products that allow pets to mimic their owners' beauty regimes."

    This year has already seen 465 new products worldwide, compared with 291 launches during the whole of 2004, Mintel said.

    People in North America were the most likely to pamper their pooches and cherish their cats, with the region accounting for a whopping 58 percent of all new product lines since 2003.

    Europe and the Asia Pacific region followed with 16 and 12 percent respectively, while the Middle East and Latin America accounted for seven percent each.

    Amongst the more unusual products, Dutch group Beaphar has introduced No Love Spray, a fragrance aimed at neutralising the sexual scent of female dogs.