Highlights and nail polish – whatever next for the world's pampered pets?

Highlighted hair, painted nails and the delicate aroma of a sweet scent – you could be forgiven for thinking we were describing the latest girl about town. But no, this is in fact the 21st century pet. Recent research from MINTEL’s Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows an explosion of new pet pampering products ranging from toiletries and cosmetics to weight loss supplements and even stress relief sprays.The research finds 2005 set to be a bumper year for new pet product launches around the world. Indeed, while there were only 291 launches in 2004, up just 2% on the previous year’s figures, so far this year there have already been an impressive 465 new pet product introductions world wide – one and half times the number recorded last year and all that with 3 months still to go.