Research on User Experience Optimization and Functional Design of Cat Snacks Based on the Kano Model

China's pet economy is strategically transitioning toward emotionally driven consumption, with cat snacks emerging as critical mediators of human-pet bonding, yet their user experience (UX) design requires urgent refinement. To address the research gap in extant studies that disproportionately emphasize staple pet food over snack-specific demands, this study employs the Kano model to systematically analyze user demand hierarchies and design strategies for cat snacks, integrating multi-source data including curated e-commerce reviews (1,000 validated comments), in-depth interviews (15 users), and surveys (67 valid responses). Findings reveal three key dimensions: (1) Demand stratification identifies natural, additive-free formulations as must-be requirements (M), whose absence triggers severe satisfaction declines; six performance expectations (O)—such as ingredient freshness and functional benefits (e.g., hairball control)—directly correlate with satisfaction; two delighters (A), including spill-resistant designs and dental care textures, generate disproportionate satisfaction despite low anticipation; and six indifferent factors (I), such as free gifts, show negligible decision-making impact. (2) Consumption logic has shifted from basic satiety to a "health-emotion duality," where buyers prioritize physiological benefits (e.g., gastrointestinal health) and interaction-centric features (e.g., spill-proof functionality), with emotional value driving premiumization. (3) Strategic optimization, guided by Better-Worse coefficients, prioritizes fulfilling performance expectations (e.g., ingredient safety), cultivating delighters (e.g., dental hygiene features) for differentiation, and transitioning from price competition to kinship-centric narratives that reinforce pets as "family members." The study empirically validates the pet snack market's entry into an experience economy era, urging enterprises to synergize health functionalities with emotionally resonant UX designs to align with stratified consumer needs, thereby offering actionable insights for shifting industry strategies from functional utility to experiential value creation.