Pet Pampering Booms in China Ahead of Spring Festival as Pet Economy Flourishes

Pet Grooming and Sitting Services Boom in China Ahead of Spring Festival

With the Spring Festival just days away, pet grooming and sitting services are experiencing a surge in demand across China. This aligns with the tradition of cleaning and organizing homes to welcome good fortune in the new year.

Yan Jie, owner of a pet grooming business in Beijing's Chaoyang district, shared that her shop has been bustling with activity. "Since January 18th, we've been washing 10 to 15 dogs and cats each day, double our usual workload," she said. "We also offer services like styling, nail trimming, and ear cleaning."

To meet the increased demand, Yan Jie and her staff have been working tirelessly, even skipping meals at times. Despite the price increase for bathing and grooming services, customers remain eager to have their pets looking their best for the festival.

The Spring Festival, which falls on Wednesday this year, marks an eight-day holiday period. With many people traveling to their hometowns for family reunions, pet sitting services are also in high demand.

Chen Yunhan, a 24-year-old resident, opted for a pet sitting service for her cat before returning to Yunnan province. "Pet sitting is a more economical and comfortable option for my cat compared to boarding houses," she explained.

cleaning up the cat's mess and feeding it. This service costs her 50 yuan per visit. For added peace of mind, she prefers female cat sitters and utilizes household monitors. The cat sitters send her videos of their services as requested.

Zhang Mengqi, a 31-year-old social worker and part-time cat sitter in Beijing, has witnessed a significant increase in bookings since mid-January. "Most customers are concerned about their cats feeling lonely or if I can take good care of them during the weeklong vacation," she said.

To address these concerns, Zhang Mengqi has signed online contracts with cautious customers and emphasizes her love for cats. She charges around 50 yuan per cat. One unique booking she accepted involves caring for a household with multiple pets, including cats, a rabbit, a parrot, and a tortoise.

The booming pet grooming and sitting services are a testament to the growing pet economy in China. A recent report by the China Pet Industry Association, the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association, and Petdata.cn revealed that the domestic pet economy was valued at over 300 billion yuan last year. Urban residents alone spent over 300.2 billion yuan on pet-related expenses.

Third-party data analysis agency iiMedia Research predicts that the market scale of China's pet industry will reach 1.15 trillion yuan by 2028. This growth reflects the increasing importance of pets in the lives of Chinese consumers.