Pets Earning Their Keep with Part-Time Jobs in China

Unconventional Employment Opportunities Abound

“Seeking dog/cat on a part-time basis”: such is the nature of recruitment ads that have been doing the rounds on the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu for the past few months.

Several cat and dog café managers in China have posted on the popular app that they are looking to hire domestic canines and felines to keep their customers company. Remuneration varies from one establishment to another, although it often amounts to a few cans of food.

A Cat and Dog Café Job Market Boom

This tempting proposition reflects the extent to which the pet café market is booming in China. The concept, which originated in Taiwan in the late 1990s, is particularly popular in the country, which is perhaps not surprising considering that 21.6% of Chinese households own a pet, according to a study published this year in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine.

Chinese people who don’t have pets find solace in cafés where they can enjoy the company of dogs, cats, alpacas, raccoons – and even snakes. Such is the popularity of these establishments that the number of pet cafés in the country is growing by 200% a year, according to the financial media outlet CBNData.

Pet Cafés Looking for the Perfect Candidates

Demand is so great that café owners are constantly on the lookout for new pets to entertain their clientele. But they won’t hire just any dog or cat: they’re looking for good-natured animals who enjoy the company of humans and each other. That’s why they conduct “job interviews” with the canines and felines they’re considering hiring.

A Samoyed’s Success Story

A two-year-old Samoyed named OK succeeded in one such interview to land a job at Yezonghu, a dog café in Fuzhou, southeast China. “The café owner watched OK for about an hour to see if she interacted well with customers and got along with the other four dogs in the establishment,” Jane Xue, the dog’s owner, told CNN.

Pet Parents Seeking Part-Time Work for Their Furry Friends

Xue came up with the idea of finding a part-time job for OK to keep her occupied when she and her partner are out at work, as well as to save money. As summers are particularly hot in Fuzhou, the couple have to leave the air conditioning on all day for OK, which puts a strain on their finances.

Many pet parents are following Xue’s example and going in search of a job in a pet café for their furry companion.

A Changing Status for Pets in Chinese Society

The idea of dogs and cats working in pet cafés may seem eccentric, but it bears witness to the changing status of pets in Chinese society. Dogs, cats and other animal companions now occupy a special place in the hearts of its people.

Indeed, the country’s pet parents often stop at nothing for the wellbeing of their pets, with some even going so far as to hold pet weddings to ensure their furry friends have lifelong companions.

This privileged position for pets is rooted in profound societal changes. The under-35s – who are now the country’s leading pet owners – are said to be experiencing parenthood through their dogs or cats instead of procreating, much to the dismay of the government, which is worried about the slowing birth rate.

And with good reason: analysts at Goldman Sachs estimate that the number of pets in Chinese cities will surpass the number of young children by 2030.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pet café industry is booming in China, with a growing demand for canines and felines to keep customers company. Pet owners are seeking part-time jobs for their pets, and the concept is changing the status of pets in Chinese society.

FAQs

* What is the pet café industry like in China?
The pet café industry is booming in China, with the number of pet cafés growing by 200% a year.
* Why are pet owners seeking part-time jobs for their pets?
Pet owners are seeking part-time jobs for their pets to keep them occupied and to save money.
* How many households in China own a pet?
21.6% of Chinese households own a pet.
* What is the estimated growth rate of pets in Chinese cities by 2030?
Analysts at Goldman Sachs estimate that the number of pets in Chinese cities will surpass the number of young children by 2030.