Global Pet Expo showcases the latest for Fido of Fluffy

Every spring, a quirky celebration of pets and their people happily commandeers the Orange County Convention Center.

Welcome to Global Pet Expo, replete with dog influencers, feline media stars and delightfully eccentric folks such as Sterling “Trapking” Davis, who checked out the show floor and accepted a Purina award for his efforts with community cats while wearing his signature “Cat Lady” robe.

Of course, the ultimate goal of GPE is to showcase the latest products and trends in an industry that, according to show organizer American Pet Products Association, this past year experienced sales of $136.8 billion across 85 million pet-owning households. More than 1,000 exhibitors attracted more than 16,000 attendees with products that encompassed the traditional, as well as the eccentric.

Considerable space was given to innovation that addressed the abundance of hair and other “gifts” pets are prone to leave around the house, as well as human-grade, responsible-sourced foods and toys that entertain and inspire the little besties.

Neakasa in your casa

Neakasa (neakasa.com), maker of smart home cleaning devices, introduced the Neakas P2 Pro Pet Grooming Kit, an all-in-one approach to groom, clip and vacuum pet hair. Five specific tools groom pets and remove 99 percent of hair and dander after grooming.

The kit includes a grooming brush, a de-shade brush to prevent damaging the topcoat while promoting soft and healthier skin. There are also trim and collection tools and even a tool to vacuum and brush your pet’s feet. The electric clipper provides excellent cutting performance, while the nozzle head and cleaning brush an be used for collecting pet hair falling on the carpet. Low noise design makes it easier on kitty and doggy’s sensitive ears.

Class act crates

Forget the ugly beds and crates; pet furniture has gone stylish with Hiddin (Shophiddin.com) leading the pack with its collection of clear acrylic pet furniture. Handcrafted in the United States from quality Lucite, Hiddin pet gates, crates, playpens, bed and feeders with unobstructed views for both pet and human. Hiddin’s Clear Zig Zag Pet Gate, while sturdy, is nearly invisible and folds away neatly.

Hiddin founder Tracey Butler, an interior designer, grew so frustrated with the dearth of design-forward pet products she launched the company.

“Rather than worrying about where we can hide unappealing pet furniture, I decided to design a collection of practical pet products that still prioritize design,” she said.

The cat’s meow

Among the suite of new products Catit (catit.com) debuted at Global was the PIXI Smart Vacuum Food Container, which, at the push of a button hermetically seals the kibble reservoir to protect cat food from damages from air, light moisture, pests, and, of course, sneaky cats and dogs .

The collection also features the PIXI Smart Drinking Fountain, hydration at its kitty-shaped cutest with UV-C tech to remove pathogens and remote capabilities that notify humans via smartphone if water is getting low and filter need replacement.

Also app-enabled, PIXI Vision Smart Feeder allows pet parents to watch their adorable fur babies as they dine on kibble that is programmed for perfect portions and to record meals for later viewing. The built-in two-way audio enables two-way conversations between cat and human.

Let the Funnl begin

Bozeman, Montana, pet toy/treat company West Paw (westpaw.com) just launched Funnl, which when paired with Earth Animal’s No-Hide Dog Chew, offers an enrichment toy that offers a savory snack and long-lasting, brain-boosting benefits. The gluten and grain-free chews with nary rawhide fit inside one of three Funnl sizes, all made from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic. An interior groove ups the ante with the option to add West Paw Creamy Treats. It should keep pups in Chew Heaven.

For little dogs, Huxley & Kent (huxleyandkent.com) announced Tiny Tuff, a collection of 10 curated dog toy bundles, each including two toys. “Boys’ Night Out,” for example, cheers with Pups Blue Ribbon squeaky “bear” stuffed toy. “Let’s Taco” features a Texas Pup Hot Sauce toy, while “No Regrets” includes a 4.5” pizza toy with a five-inch Pupto Dismal toy. You get the idea. The machine wash/dryer-friendly toys are made with Huxley & Kent’s signature “Diamond Mesh Tech,” a chain-lock mesh interlining for durability even from inveterate chewers.

Tall Tails (talltailsdog.com) introduced the Dream Chase Anywhere Cuddler, which lets pets relax with the family on the couch, chair, bed, floor or car. The Real Feel Fabric provides the cuddly, secure feeling they experienced as puppies huddled with Mom, while the Waterproof Furniture Shield makes it easy on upholstery. Also new from Tall Tails are four Natural Rubber Reward toys that keep dogs occupied by spinning, wobbling, rocking and randomly distributing treats. Apply spreadable or wedged treats to the treat targets in Tall Tails’ new Wiggle Waffle Chew. The dishwasher safe toy’s rounded shape rocks and wiggles to mystify your canine.

Playology (playologypets.com) capitalizes on the power of a dog’s nose for its collection of toys embedded with all-natural scents. Your pup can smell it, but you can’t, since dogs' noses are 10,000 times more powerful than humans'. A fan fave is the Dual Layer Bone, with multiple sizes and scents to happily drive your dog crazy.

PetSafe (petsafe.net) Treat & Train is remote-controlled reward system that, through positive reinforcement and linking treats to desired good behavior, enables owners to teach dogs to perform almost any behavior, from potty training to specialized skills such as agility, obedience, service and military work at a distance.

Celebration SuperFetti is the newest product from organic dog wellness company Lord Jameson (lordjameson.com). The first sprinkles for dogs, are made of all organic, natural ingredients and work equally well in baking treats for dogs, as a food topper for picky pups or just for fun.

Au naturale pet products

Natural products lines such as Wee Away (WeeAway.com) attack both messes and pests efficiently and safely. Wee Away’s Flea and Tick Sprays and wipes use a blend of natural oils and don’t contain pesticides or harsh chemicals. The All in One Pro destroys stains and odors with billions of natural enzymes.

The founders of Earthbath (earthbath.com) take pride in the fact their company went green back when green was just a color. Most wipes in the pet market are petroleum-based. The California company this year introduced plant-based ear and eye wipes with aloe vera for moisture, witch hazel for natural astringency, sunflower seed for skin conditioning and Vitamin E for its anti-inflammatory properties. The textured wipes are made with Certified-Plant-Based fibers that promote responsible management of the world’s forests. “We like to refer to these as “purposeful products,” said president Paul Armstrong.

Good for pets, for you and the environment

Millennials, the largest sector of pet owners, are interested in feeding their pets food that is healthy and kind to the environment, and the industry has responded with a barrage of human-grade, naturally-sourced options.

Natoo (NatooPetFoods.com), for example, introduced Meal Toppers/Treats and Crunchy Biscuits produced in the brand’s eco-friendly facility in sunny Brazil. Meal Toppers for dogs feature Chicken with Sweet Potato in Broth and Salmon and Brown Rice in Broth. Kitties can opt from Chicken and Brown Rice in Broth and Tuna and Brown Rice in Broth. 

Charlee Bear’s (CharleeBear.com) new “beary” tasty P.B. & Banana and Beef and Cheese Crunch are crafted with protein and antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, and nary a grain.

Hound & Gatos (HoundGatos.com) wet food reflects consumer interest in USA-made recipes crafted without artificial flavors, preservations or colors. So, too, does Montana Dog Food Company (MontanaDogFoodCo.com), which launched a line of freeze-dried raw food and treats. Each recipe contains antioxidant-rich fruits and garden veggies.

Frankly Pet’s (FranklyPet.com) Peanut Butter Beefy Puffs are wheat, sugar, preservative and GMO-free, but loaded with crunch glucosamine and chondroitin to promote healthy skin and joints.

The heart-shaped Love Bone by Barkworthies (barkworthies.com), as well as the company’s Chicken Snapsticks and Cheeky Chews, are packed with beef, chicken and other natural ingredients and free from artificial preservatives.

Newest product from canine wellness brand Boss Dog (bossnationbrands.com) is Probites with Tripe and Lamb, freeze-dried, raw, bite-sized dog treat infused with probiotics at the rate of at least one billion per ounce.

In the healing department, Silver Honey (silverhoneypet.com) combines natural Manuka Honey and Microsilver BG for natural, medical-grade hot spot and wound care. Available in spray and ointment, the product stimulates the body’s immune response to shed dead tissue and promotes growth of new tissue. Silver Honey’s new Vet Strength Ear Treatment is antibiotic-free yet treats even persistent ear infections by killing 99.5% of bacteria.

Interest in CBDs healing powers continues with pet owners, who can now try the new all-natural, human-grade Barkless Bites from Pawse (pawse.pet), a company specializing in USD Certified Organic Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. Also new is Pawse’s Hip & Joint Gravy, designed to help the cycle of inflammation and to lubricate healthy connective tissue. The metered pump bottle — and the bacon flavor — make feeding easy.

Home tests for pets can help humans figure out what may not be working properly. DoggyBiome and KittyBiome (animalbiome.com) Gut Health Tests give pet parents the tools to understand their animal’s digestive health. Using DNA sequencing, the company’s lab analyzes the bacteria in a pet’s stool sample and compares it to a healthy dog or cat reference set. Once that’s complete, pet owners get a complete report.

Let the shopping begin.

Sonnenberg is a Melbourne-based freelance lifestyles and travel writer.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Toys, treats and things to stay neat showcased at pet expo