Pets in China are earning ‘snack money’ in cafes as their owners send them to work
Pets in China are earning ‘snack money’ in cafes as their owners send them to work. This trend, known as “Zhengmaotiaoqian” in Chinese, translates to “earn snack money.” The idea is that these pets are working part-time or full-time at cat and dog cafes, just like humans, and returning home at night.
Jane Xue sent her dog, a 2-year-old Samoyed named OK, to a dog cafe in Fuzhou, southeastern China. Xue wanted her dog to ‘experience a different life,’ as she and her partner are usually out on weekends. The dog cafe allows pets to play with other animals, reducing loneliness and saving the owners money on air-conditioning costs.
China is expected to have more pets than toddlers by the end of this year, according to Goldman Sachs. The number of cat cafes has grown significantly, with over 4,000 cat cafe-related companies in the country as of 2023.
