Revealing | China's Pet Population Surpasses the Number of Children Under Four; Pet Economy Consumption Scale Reaches 300 Billion Yuan (AI Translation)

显影｜中国宠物数量超4岁以下婴幼儿人数 “它经济”消费规模已达3000亿

The pet industry is witnessing significant growth, driven by the emotional appeal that pets offer, even as it navigates challenges associated with segmentation, refinement, and the integration of smart technology [para. 1]. This is exemplified by Abby, a pet owner and operator of a pet boarding resort, who recently attended the 2025 Beijing International Pet Products Expo to find new products for her pets, Zhang Chuwu, a Malinois dog, and Zhang Fulai, a village cat. The Expo, which took place over four days and drew nearly 230,000 attendees, highlighted the evolving attitudes toward pets, shifting from "feeding objects" to "family members" [para. 2]. The event also saw the introduction of national standards aimed at regulating the industry [para. 3].

According to the "2025 China Pet Industry White Paper," the urban consumer market for dogs and cats is expected to grow by 7.5% in 2024, reaching 300.2 billion yuan, surpassing the health product market size of the same year [para. 4]. The shift toward more sophisticated pet care is evident, with pet owners spending an average of approximately RMB 5,200 annually per pet, primarily on pet food [para. 6]. Abby has observed a growing trend toward refined pet care methods, capturing the sentiment that "love is giving your all and still feeling it's not enough" [para. 7].

Abby's transition to running a pet boarding resort illustrates the evolving lifestyle decisions influenced by pet ownership [para. 9]. Her business offers free-range boarding, ensuring the well-being and happiness of pets under her care [para. 10]. The transformation reflects a broader trend in the Chinese pet economy, which is characterized by a substantial and growing consumer base; by 2024, the number of pets is projected to exceed the number of children under four years old [para. 12].

The "2025 Pet Industry Consumption Trend Insights" report indicates a 4.6% growth in the dog market and 10.7% in the cat market for 2024, with annual expenditure per pet nearing 6,000 yuan [para. 15]. This trend is further fueled by the influx of capital into the pet services sector, which has expanded dramatically from 8,200 enterprises in 2015 to 259,100 by early 2025 [para. 17]. Similar to Abby, other individuals such as Xue Peng and Cao Li have entered the industry, focusing on responsible pet grooming and health monitoring [para. 19].

The industry is expanding beyond traditional services to include areas like pet mental health and behavior correction, which are rising in prominence [para. 21]. At the "China Pet Expo," national senior pet trainer Wang Bo emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of behavioral issues, often linked to owners rather than their pets [para. 22]. This shift is leading to a more education-oriented approach to pet behavior correction [para. 23].

Pet funerals have also become a burgeoning segment within the pet industry. These services focus on supporting pet owners emotionally during their loss, demonstrating the increasing depth of the pet-human bond [para. 25]. As the pet landscape evolves, there's a growing emphasis on pet wellness, leading to an expansion of pet trainers' skills and roles [para. 27]. Encouraging trends in pet-friendly environments, highlighted by improvements such as more pet-friendly malls, reflect the industry's positive trajectory driven by the post-pandemic rise in pet companionship [para. 30].

In summary, the pet-related industry sees robust growth amidst challenges of specialization, sophistication, and advanced technology. Abby's experience underscores how this ongoing transformation is intertwined with emotional investment, as the "pet economy" increasingly becomes part of the broader emotional economy [para. 31][para. 33].