Staffordshire family business ProtectaPet celebrates double national award win

ProtectaPet, the family-run business helping cats enjoy the outdoors safely, is celebrating two national award wins following a year of business growth and international expansion.

The company was crowned Brand of the Year at the 2026 Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards, having been shortlisted in four categories. It also received the Family Business Growth Award at the Business Awards UK Family Business Awards 2026.

Founded in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Simon and Dr Eve Davies, ProtectaPet began following the loss of their cat Lola in a road traffic accident.

Determined to give their other cats a way to enjoy the garden safely, Simon developed an innovative cat fencing system. What started as a solution for their own family has since grown into a business whose products have helped protect more than 40,000 cats.

Today, ProtectaPet employs 17 people at its 14,000 sq ft Staffordshire headquarters and works with specialist installation engineers across the UK. Its range includes cat fencing systems, outdoor enclosures, modular Catios and enrichment products, available through professional installation and DIY.

Dr Eve Davies, Co-Founder of ProtectaPet, said:

“To be finalists in four categories at the PIF Awards was already a fantastic achievement, but to win Brand of the Year was incredibly special. To also receive the Family Business Growth Award makes this an extraordinary time for us.

“Simon and I started ProtectaPet because we wanted our own cats to enjoy the outdoors without the risks of unrestricted roaming. We never imagined how many other families would be looking for the same solution.

“These awards mean a great deal to us, but they also belong to the people who make ProtectaPet what it is today. Our team, our installation engineers, our customers and everyone who’s supported us over the years.”

From Staffordshire to international markets

The double award success follows more than a decade of product development and commercial growth, including ProtectaPet’s King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation in 2023.

Between 2023 and 2025, the company’s overseas sales increased by 63%, supported by growing demand across European markets, multilingual e-commerce and a dedicated European fulfilment operation.

Innovation has remained central to the business, with five patent families covering its specialist cat containment technology. Recent developments include a modular Catio system and a growing range of Catification products, giving customers more ways to create secure and enriching outdoor spaces for their cats.

Despite its expanding international reach, ProtectaPet remains firmly rooted in Staffordshire, with more than 80% of its supply-chain expenditure going to UK businesses, predominantly in the West Midlands.

Dr Davies added:

“We’re proud to be growing internationally, but being a family business is still a huge part of who we are. We work with some fantastic people here in Staffordshire, and we want to keep building on that while making safe outdoor access available to more cats and their owners.

“There’s still plenty we’d like to achieve, and winning these awards has given the whole team another reason to be excited about what’s ahead.”