Exotic and Micro Pets

Exotic and micro pets have overtaken traditional cats and dogs in popularity among Gen Z owners, fueled by their suitability for smaller living spaces and viral TikTok content—the #exotic pets hashtag alone generates over 5 billion views annually. Animal welfare advocates, however, flag sourcing concerns for species like hedgehogs and axolotls, noting that 70% of captive-bred reptiles lack proper UVB lighting, a detail often ignored in influencer posts.