China’s Growing Pet Industry

18.12.2023

The burgeoning expansion of China’s pet market has led to double-digit growth rates. What trends are shaping the Chinese pet industry today? What pet products are popular among Chinese consumers?

China’s Pet Industry: 5 Intriguing Trends of 2023

The Chinese pet industry has been rapidly growing over the past few years and forecasts for the future suggest that the wave is only going to get higher. At MFC, we are staying up to date and sharing five new, intriguing trends that shape the industry.

  1. Niche Products for Pets: With many Chinese considering their pets integral parts of the family, there’s a heightened focus on ensuring the well-being and comfort of their four-legged friends. While automatic litterboxes and pet drinking fountains are no longer uncommon in China, a recent trend has emerged. This year, customers were presented with essential oils for their pets’ paws, promising to moisturize and ensure a good mood for their fluffy companions. As can be seen, China’s pet product industry is creative and offers a diverse range of products.
  2. Pet-oriented Services: Pet-friendly cafes are now a standard worldwide. However, right now in China you can find cafes specifically for dogs that serve pet food exclusively for them, not their owners. These cafes offer gourmet, healthy meals for pets and are the perfect place for owners to celebrate their pets’ birthdays or simply capture adorable pictures for social media.
  3. Targeting Pet Owners: Recognizing the importance of the current pet craze in China, big companies are capitalizing on it. Recently, McDonald’s introduced a special cat bed bag that doubles as a transporter. The bag quickly went viral online. Between November 15th and 19th this year, consumers could get the free bag by making an order through the McDonald’s app for a special two-person meal.
  4. Innovative Services: Pet beauty salons or wedding ceremonies for animals are not a novelty anymore. China is entering a whole new realm of pet-related services. Pet owners who want to prolong the precious time they have with their beloved pets can now resort to cloning technology. Sinogene, a Chinese company, can take DNA samples of your pet and clone it once their time on this earth has ended.
  5. Pet Strollers: While walking around the streets of Beijing or Shanghai, you may notice many strollers. However, it’s not an indicator of a growing Chinese population. In fact, there are fewer and fewer children born in China, but there are more and more dogs and cats being registered. According to Statista, in 2022, the number of registered dogs was nearly twice as high as the birthrate. Chinese pet parents are fond of using special pet strollers that help them transport their fur babies to their favorite park for an actual walk.
China's Pet Industry: Niche products - Chinese consumers look for new ways to elevate their pet's well-being. Now they can purchase essential oils that will not only moisturize their pets' paws but also ensure their good mood.
China's pet industry: Pet-oriented services: Chinese pet parents can now treat their furry friends to exclusive gourmet meals at special dog cafes, perfect for celebrations and social media moments.
China's pet industry: Targeting pet owners: McDonald's in China offered a viral cat bed bag with a special two-person meal through its app, catering to the pet craze.
China's pet industry: innovative services - pet owners can now preserve the bond with their pet using cloning technology from Sinogene, ensuring lasting companionship beyond their lifetime.
China's pet industry: With China's declining birthrate, more and more young people can be spotted strolling with their pets. The number of registered dogs nearly doubled the birthrate last year, signaling a shift in family priorities towards cherished animal companions.

China’s Growing Pet Industry: Trends of 2022

  • The continuous popularity of e-commerce and social commerce in China, more and more younger and better educated pet owners, and the willingness to invest more money in pets are important drivers of China’s pet industry today.
  • The distribution channels for pet food in China are very similar to those in Western markets, including online and offline retail and veterinary clinics. However, online channels are preferred by Chinese pet owners.
  • The majority of Chinese cat and dog owners are Gen Y born between 1985 and 1994. Most of them have a bachelor’s degree.
  • The new social status of pets has led to a dynamic in which owners are willing to spend more money on high-quality pet food and services.
  • On top of that, a focus on online channels and the targeting of young adults should be considered by international pet companies while developing an efficient market entry strategy.
China's pet industry: E-Commerce is the preferred channel of buying products.
China's pet industry: majority of Chinese pet owners are younger adults born between 1985 and 1994. Many of them hold a bachelor's degree.
China's pet industry: expenditures on pets have increased in the last years.
China's pet industry is flourishing and offers amazing opportunities for international pet companies.

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