China’s Pet Passion is Leaving its Mark on the Luxury Sector

While talking to Jing Daily, Peng says that “the statistics on the number of dogs in China varies widely based on different sources.” According to Peng, dog registration data is a good starting point, but she notes that “based on proprietary ICVS research and thousands of interviews with dog owners, only about 30-50% of Beijing residents have registered their dogs.” In other words, the real number of pet dogs is much higher than the official one. And, Peng adds, dog registration in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities falls below the 30% mark.

Dog ownership in the mainland has skyrocketed, and experts have presented various theories to explain China’s newly found love of pets. Some point to the rise of social media platforms, which have transformed cute puppies and cats into overnight celebrities and/or furry influencers, while many blame the rise of China’s “Me Culture,” which encourages younger Chinese citizens to embrace self-expression and individualism. On top of that, there’s also the fact that the country’s one-child policy has created China’s “loneliest generation.” Many kids who grew up as an only child felt isolated and alone and turned to pets as their trusted friends. Furthermore, as these kids grew up, they felt empowered to prioritize their professional goals instead of settling down, yet without spouses or children, they opted for canine companions.

Aside from demographics, there’s also the fact that China has become wealthier. As the number of affluent individuals surges and the country’s per capita disposable income increases (up by 6.5 percent according to China Daily), a pet has become an additional symbol of social class and status.

The pet food sector has seen incredible growth in China of late, and Forbes mentions how the pet food industry lured conglomerates that deal in pet products — including Marc, Nestle, Procter&Gamble, and Colgate-Palmolive — to the country. “Data from a Mintel review shows that China has now become the largest pet food market in the Asia Pacific and one of the largest in the world, estimated to be worth over $50 billion and having grown by 30 percent annually on average,” says Forbes. But apart from regular pet food, there’s also the niche market of organic and premium pet foods, which are free of additives and chemicals. And this “premiumization” of the pet industry isn’t only exclusive to diet.