As those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s gradually become the main force in pet ownership, pets are increasingly becoming like members of the family. Especially among young people living alone in cities, pets are used as companions in daily life, regarded as their own children, and they compete to be "parents" to cats and dogs, making the "pet economy" a driving force for online traffic.
Phenomenon | Furry friends become the darlings of young people
On October 25th, with "Double Eleven" approaching, Zhengzhou resident Wang Yu began a shopping spree for his pet dog, stocking up on dog food, shampoo, poop bags, and leashes. Similarly, college student Zhang Jing bought a pet treat dryer and a meat grinder for her cat. She said that although these items haven't arrived yet, she's already fantasizing about becoming a pet treat chef and striving to give her "furry friend" treat freedom.
"My furry friends are an indispensable part of my life now; they have become my most sincere and loyal friends," Wang Yu said. He added that more and more people around him are starting to keep pets, and many of them frequently film videos of their adorable pets.
Zhang Jing told reporters that in the older generation's mindset, pets like cats and dogs are considered livestock. They guard the house and kill rats for their owners, while the owners provide them with a stable food source and a warm and safe home. Their relationship is more about mutual benefit. "Now, for us young people, they not only have a mutually beneficial role, but also provide spiritual comfort and emotional support."
Liu Sha is a pet lover with two years of experience raising cats. She said that she has always treated her kittens as family members and "children". "When you come home after a busy day and see them waiting for you at the door, all the anger of the day disappears."
With the development of the pet economy, people's needs for pets have become more diversified. Pet owners not only pay attention to their pets' basic living needs, but also pursue more scientific and refined ways of raising pets. Pet supplies such as "cat scratching posts," "pet fish oil," "pet toys," and "pet snacks" are emerging in large numbers, increasing the fun and social needs of pets.
Business Model | Market Size Expected to Exceed One Trillion
Not only is the number of pet owners continuing to grow, but pet-related services and products are also increasing. Pet owners are willing to spend money on their furry friends, which has driven the rapid development of the pet industry. Data shows that in 2023, the size of my country's urban pet consumption market was 279.3 billion yuan, and it is expected to reach 361.3 billion yuan in 2026.
According to the latest report, "2024-2025 China Pet Industry Operation Status and Consumer Market Monitoring Report," released by iiMedia Research, the scale of China's pet economy reached 592.8 billion yuan in 2023, maintaining a positive growth trend. It is estimated that the market size will reach 1.15 trillion yuan by 2028.
With the continuous expansion of the pet consumer market, pet food, medical care, grooming, and boarding services are all developing rapidly. More and more pet-related consumption scenarios are springing up like mushrooms after rain. Petting cats and dogs has become a way for many young people to relieve stress, which has led to a continuous rise in the popularity of pet-themed stores such as cat cafes and dog cafes.
Stepping into the CatCatMeTheme Cat Cafe located in Zhengzhou Taigemao Shopping Mall, the small space is filled with adorable cats, some curled up sleeping soundly on the table, others playfully running and frolicking at the customers' feet. For the safety of the cats, almost every cat cafe requires customers to wash and disinfect their hands and wear shoe covers before entering. In just one hour, about ten customers visited the cat cafe, all of whom were young women.
According to the owner, he opened the cat cafe mainly because he loves cats, and that one must genuinely love animals to work in this industry, otherwise the hard work and mess would prevent him from continuing.
The owner told reporters that the cat café's income mainly comes from entrance fees. Although there are some paid feeding and drink services inside, these are included in part of the entrance fee. "The rent is over 10,000 yuan a month, so it's not very profitable, but it's very enjoyable!"
