Today, the younger generation is often described by their elders as someone who "can't even support themselves properly, yet still has to take care of cats (or dogs) every day." They themselves stay up late and have irregular eating habits, but they create healthy feeding plans for their pets. When their wallets are tight, they'll cut back on personal expenses, but they'll always make sure to buy the best food for their pets within their means. They'd rather have a minor falling out with friends than miss out on spending time with their furry friends after get off work.
Walking outside, one can see more and more dogs dressed in beautiful clothes and cats cautiously exploring the world in strollers. Their love fuels the continued growth of the pet economy. According to the "2023-2024 China Pet Industry White Paper," the urban pet (dog and cat) consumer market in China reached 279.3 billion yuan in 2023.
However, a growing number of pet owners are lamenting that pet supplies are simply too expensive. Dust-free tofu cat litter typically costs 30-40 yuan a bag, pet shampoo averages 50-60 yuan, deworming medication and cardboard cat trees cost over 100 yuan, and if you want something more high-tech like an automatic litter box, you'll have to spend over 1,000 yuan. Not to mention the numerous "sky-high" priced products, such as a 400-yuan comb and a 100-yuan tube of toothpaste, constantly emphasizing that "there's a reason for the high price."
Young people who adhere to the philosophy of "saving where you can and spending where you can" are unwilling to passively have their wallets emptied. Therefore, they have researched many "affordable pet ownership rules" and spread them online, hoping to enable more people to achieve pet happiness and owner prosperity.
Pet owners are "struck for gold" in the animal husbandry industry.
01 A chicken coop, even a cat likes it.
For cat owners, scratching posts are essential; otherwise, sofas and curtains will suffer. While the price of regular scratching posts has come down, there are always more affordable options available. A chicken coop, costing only a few dollars, offers advantages over scratching posts, such as less shedding and a longer lifespan. Capitalizing on this trend, many pet supply stores have launched "straw-woven cat beds" that look exactly like chicken coops.
02. Go to the vet pharmacy and buy deworming medication! Dogs and cats are, after all, "wild beasts."
Previously, when buying pet deworming medication, people only trusted well-known brands like Advantage and Halewang. Deworming a single cat or dog could cost around 50 yuan per month, which was a significant expense for families with multiple pets each year. Now, more and more pet owners are going to veterinary pharmacies to have veterinarians adjust the dosage based on their pet's weight, costing only a few yuan per deworming session.
03 Use chicken/duck waterers instead of pet water fountains
Pet water fountains come in handy during short holidays when traveling. Using open bowls for pets inevitably leads to pet hair getting in or spilling water, while a fountain ensures a clean water source. On the market, even a slightly larger pet water fountain costs at least ten yuan, while electric fountains generally cost over a hundred yuan. Spending a dollar or two on a chicken or duck waterer and placing a large bottle of mineral water on it is both practical and economical.
04 Use a petting box instead of a litter box
Cat litter boxes are a product with a wide price range. If you're not too concerned about aesthetics, you can buy one for a few dollars, while if you're willing to pay for looks, spending several hundred dollars is easily manageable. However, if aesthetics aren't your priority, there are cheaper options available. A couple of years ago, using spare parts boxes as litter boxes was all the rage among pet owners. Spare parts boxes are large, sturdy, and durable, and you could buy one for three or four dollars—seemingly a good choice. But as spare parts boxes went from being an obscure item to a staple for cat owners, their price skyrocketed. Now, a properly sized spare parts box costs thirty or forty dollars. So, people turned their attention to cat boxes, which can hold two or three cats and cost only ten dollars. Others opted for stainless steel serving bowls from cafeterias; they're more expensive, but easier to clean.
05. Use a fish tank as a "cat TV"
Some kittens are very energetic and need their owners to play with them for a long time to burn off their energy. Many people also worry that their cats will feel lonely at home while they are at work. As a result, some cat owners have brought enclosed fish tanks into their homes, which serve two purposes: to keep the kittens entertained and to act as "cat traps." Some kittens can stare at these tanks for up to two hours without moving, which helps them pass the time.
When people are poor, their creativity is limitless.
