According to reports from CNR, China will usher in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan in 2026. Against the backdrop of continuously unleashed domestic demand potential and constantly innovative consumption scenarios, a warm and vibrant market segment has been quietly growing—a market for pet consumption. Putting up New Year’s couplets, taking family portraits, posting blessings on WeChat Moments—these rituals full of ceremony are no longer “exclusive to humans.” A Spring Festival plan customized for 'fur babies' is fast becoming a new driver of consumer spending.
The latest "2026 China Pet Industry White Paper (Consumption Report)" reveals that in 2025, the urban dog and cat consumption market in China has surpassed 312.6 billion RMB (approximately 182.063 billion MYR), marking a 4.1% year-on-year growth. Among these, the dog consumption market stands at 160.6 billion RMB (93.536 billion MYR), and the cat consumption market at 152 billion RMB (88.527 billion MYR). Behind these numbers is the rapid expansion of the “pet economy” and the continuous deepening of consumer demand.
"The biggest change in pet consumption is ever-increasing diversification, with people making purchases more for emotional reasons," says pet photographer Liu Chang. In front of her lens, her “customers” are often little dogs. During the Spring Festival, having a “New Year family photo” taken for pets has become a regular activity for many families. From customized outfits and pet couplets to New Year’s Eve meal kits and toys for staying up late, a complete “pet New Year’s goods” checklist reflects the vivid transformation of consumption scenarios.
Today, the “pet economy” has already gone beyond the traditional categories of food, healthcare, and supplies, moving towards IP collaborations, cross-sector services, and experiences centered on emotions. Pet cafés, pet travel groups, and pet birthday parties are among new business forms continually emerging, making the integration between the industry and sectors such as tourism, retail, and social activities ever closer.
Within this trend, practitioners see not just business opportunities but also deep emotional bonds. Pet cultural and creative product founder Wu Beibei shares: “Some people ask if there’s big money to be made in this industry. But for me, when a mother says, ‘This is the first time my son has ever tucked the dog into bed,’ or when an elderly person living alone sends a message saying, ‘It accompanied me through the warmest Spring Festival ever’—these moments are more precious than profit.”
From functional needs to emotional attachment, the upgrading trajectory of pet consumption has become a vivid annotation to the shifts in Chinese family structure and the evolving consumer mindset towards deeper emotional and experiential values.