For the first time, China’s total pet population has surpassed the number of children under four, and by 2030 the number of pets is expected to double that of infants and toddlers. This dramatic demographic shift is fueling the rapid evolution of an emerging industry whose annual consumer spending now exceeds 300 billion yuan.
Data from the PaiDu pet industry big data platform, as detailed in the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, show that the urban market for dogs and cats reached 300.2 billion yuan in 2024—a 7.5% increase year-on-year. This figure has already eclipsed the entire health supplements market in China in 2023. Meanwhile, the ARIR Intelligent 2023 China Pet Health Consumption White Paper reports an average annual expenditure of 5,200 yuan per pet, while the 2025 Pet Industry Consumption Trends Insight indicates that this figure is nearing 6,000 yuan. At the 2025 Beijing International Pet Supplies Exhibition (Jingchong Expo), premium offerings like baked pigeon cat food from Wild Lab and freeze-dried layered dog food from Crazy Dog City flew off the shelves, underscoring the rising appeal of “child-rearing style” pet ownership.
This surge in pet spending mirrors broader social transformations. The 2024 Pet Industry Insight Report by Xiaohongshu notes that 56% of pet owners are willing to modify their living environments or lifestyles for their pets, and the TGM Global Pet Care Survey found that over half of Chinese consumers regularly purchase pet toys. Pet sitter Abby observes that the explosion in pet-owning households in Beijing has spawned niche markets—from smart companionship devices to pet cremation memorials. Her “Youta Pet Boarding & Resort” uses a time-divided, zoned management system that screens pet social groups via contagion tests and trial runs, signaling an industry-wide push toward standardized services.
According to the Qichacha Pet Service Industry Development Report, the number of pet service companies in China skyrocketed from 8,200 in 2015 to 259,100 in 2025, with 74.47% established within the past three years. This growth is particularly pronounced in specialized sectors. Former automotive industry professional turned pet sitter Abby has implemented a health alert system that monitors pets for gum inflammation through monthly grooming sessions. Meanwhile, pet cremation entrepreneur Niu, known as “Niu the Boss,” has incorporated Japanese funeral etiquette to expand services from basic cremation to grief counseling. Additionally, Wang Bo—founder of Gou Pengyou Lianmeng and a nationally recognized senior pet trainer—has introduced German positive reinforcement training concepts, integrating behavior correction with disease treatment, which has led to nearly 90% of pet behavioral issues resolving naturally.
Yet, a supply–demand imbalance still hampers the industry. The 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper reveals that among China’s 52.58 million pet dogs, there are fewer than 1,000 professional trainers—a shortfall exceeding 60,000 when compared to Germany’s ratio of 8,000 dogs per trainer. This gap is even more acute in elderly pet care; Wang Bo’s team now schedules weekly visits by trainers to pet hospitals to acquire new diagnostic skills in response to rising customer demands for pain management and nutritional planning.
The trend of pets outnumbering infants reflects China’s dual social transformation. With over 100 million pet-owning households nationwide, the industry has seen a rapid buildup of infrastructure—from the sprawling 120,000-square-meter Jingchong Expo to the establishment of 25 national pet industry standards. In Beijing’s core commercial districts, pet-friendly malls now cover 98% of the area—up from zero nine years ago—compelling service providers to upgrade their standards. For instance, the pet grooming salon founded by Xue Peng and his wife has eschewed damaging perm and dye practices in favor of medicated bathing solutions based on keratin analysis, while boarding facilities have implemented contagion tests and temperament matching protocols that cut conflict rates by 76%.
Capital markets have taken notice of this strategic trend. In the pet food sector, cat-related consumption is projected to grow by 10.7% in 2024; emerging fields such as pet funeral services are experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 28%; and the education and training segment—able to cut future medical costs by 30%—is widely regarded by industry experts like Wang Bo as a key growth driver. As disclosed by Jingchong Expo organizers, this sunrise industry—propelled by the post-90s and post-00s (who account for 68% of the expo’s audience)—is both a vehicle for the emotional economy and a testing ground for reimagining life care.
As traditional family structures gradually disintegrate, the role of pets has evolved far beyond that of mere companions. From interventions for separation anxiety to custom-designed hospice care, every solution addressing a specific need is redefining consumption boundaries. This silent demographic shift is a testament to the unique emotional productivity at the heart of China’s economic transformation.