Pet economy thrives as animal lovers’ needs surge

Fur babies: For many young couples, their pets take on a similar role to children in their DINK households. — Reuters

CHONGQING: Every day after work, Zhao Lingling rushes straight home and the first thing she does is to refill the food bowl and clear the litter box of Tangyuan – her beloved pet cat.

Tangyuan, a British shorthair, has accompanied her for over three years.

“Tangyuan wakes me up every morning and always greets me when I come home at around 8pm each day, ” she said.

For Zhao, the four-year-old cat is not only a pet, but also a companion that makes her feel at ease.

In recent years, the generations born in the 1980s and 1990s have seen a rise in pet ownership.

Some of them are single, and their pets therefore become their life companions.

Others choose a double income and no kids (or DINK, for short) lifestyle, so their pets play the role of their “children”.

A white paper on China’s pet business published by a Chinese pet industry website said that urban consumption in the pet market in China reached 202.4 billion yuan (RM122.1bil) in 2019.

As the consumption in the pet market increases and the pet economy thrives, animal lovers’ needs have boosted the rise and development of sub-industries such as pet foods, pet beauty centres, pet photography and pet funerals.

Zhao spent about 15,000 yuan (RM9,048) on Tangyuan in the past year, including over 5,000 yuan (RM3,016) in basic costs and 10,000 yuan (RM6,032) in veterinary bills.

“Although I didn’t have much savings last year, I had to save Tangyuan as he has already become part of my family, ” she said.

Higher demand from the younger generation has led to changes in the pet industry.

At the same time, more young people have become engaged in the supply side of the industry.

“I noticed many cat lovers couldn’t keep cats. So, I set up a cat cafe in 2012 to meet their needs, ” said Liu Aisi, who runs the cafe in Shapingba district here.

Liu said most customers visiting her store are students and white-collar workers who share a rented apartment with others.

Elderly people also play an important role in facilitating the growth of the industry.

Zhou Mingfang, 72, raises five cats in her apartment. Three of them are strays.

“My children work in other cities all year round. I have a jolly time with my cats at home and they can read my emotional expressions, ” said Zhou. — Xinhua