Dogs and Cats Working Massively in China as a Trend

fuzhou - In China, arranging a job for your pet is becoming a big business due to factors like aging population and declining workforce.

Goldman Sachs points out that this trend is a result of China's significant aging population and decreasing workforce. The one-child policy, which was in place until 2016, has also contributed to this situation. China is considered one of the most expensive countries to raise a child, as reported by the YuWa Population Research Institute based in Beijing earlier this year.

Due to these circumstances, a large group of Chinese people see pets as a new type of children. These 'fur kids' are now expected to earn their keep to survive. While these animals do not actually work for money, they work for food. Termed as 'Zhengmaotiaogian', which translates to 'earning snack money', the idea is that pets work part-time or full-time in dog and cat cafes and go back home to their families in the evenings, just like adults.

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For visitors of these dog or cat cafes, it's all fun. They can interact with the animals roaming around while enjoying a drink or snack. Cafe owners can charge a little extra due to the added experience. If you enter just to see the animals without ordering anything, you pay an entrance fee ranging from 30 to 60 yuan (approximately 3.87 euros to 7.74 euros). Those who order coffee can enter for free.

These animal cafes, specifically designed for dogs or cats, have become a massive trend in China. Since the first one opened its doors thirteen years ago in Guangzhou, more than 4,000 have been established across the country, according to the financial publication CBNData. On Xiaohongshu, the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, cafe owners and pet owners eagerly share job postings and resumes for dogs and cats, receiving hundreds of likes and comments.

There was a viral post where a cat cafe owner described the 'salary' for the employees, showcasing an image of a grey and white cat that had earned five cans of cat food 'after tax deductions'. Another cafe owner posted a call seeking pets, garnering over 100 likes and a whopping 600 responses from owners eager to help their pets secure a job.

When a pet is called for an 'interview', cafe owners observe how well the animal interacts with customers and other pets, as well as evaluating their appearance. In the case of OK, Jane's dog, the white Samoyed passed the 'screening process' with flying colors and was offered the job. 'My OK is the star of the cafe,' says the excited owner.

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Not all pets offered online receive immediate job offers from cafes. For example, there was little response to the cat of 33-year-old teacher Xin Xin. 'He is affectionate and great at purring! A cat chosen by the heavens to work in a cat cafe!' she wrote on Xiaohongshu. She now says, 'I thought the owners would contact me, but now it seems I need to take the initiative and send in the resume.'

For now, there seems to be no end in sight for this trend. The number of pets in China continues to rise. Although the Chinese government has mandated couples to have three children since 2021, many still prefer to become pet parents instead.