During the New Year holidays in China, there is an increase in demand for pet boarding and walking services, leading to a price increase for such services of about 30%.
In particular, the price for dog boarding reaches 1,299 yuan per day, which is comparable to the rates for accommodation in a five-star hotel. This is reported by the specialized pet portal "Yangchunwan" (养宠网).
During the New Year holidays, it is customary in China to return home and visit parents, who often live in other cities. At the same time, pet owners try not to take their pets with them, as long trips and crowded transportation can cause significant stress for animals. Therefore, there is an increase in demand for pet walking, feeding, and boarding services during the New Year holidays.
This year, interest in such services is particularly high, leading to "prices skyrocketing," the publication notes. The range of services offered has also significantly expanded. In addition to basic care, pet hotels offer owners a whole range of additional options, such as massages, bathing, musical accompaniment, outdoor walks, private rooms, and video calls with owners.
Additionally, as a separate service, the organization of social interactions with "similar pets of the same size and character" is offered. For cats, rooms equipped with aquariums are provided so that pets can "enjoy watching the fish." Owners are also given 24/7 access to cameras to monitor their pets, as well as regular sending of photos and videos from the hotel staff.
On average, "VIP accommodation," which includes "daily satisfaction of pets' needs for entertainment and play," costs owners 400 yuan per day. However, there are establishments where the cost of boarding reaches 1,299 yuan per day for dogs and 899 yuan per day for cats. In particular, this is a pet hotel in Beijing, where an owner can leave their dog for the entire New Year holidays for 10,300 yuan. For comparison, the cost of a double room in a five-star hotel in the Chaoyang district (the business center of Beijing) during the New Year holidays averaged 1,030 yuan, the publication notes.
Prices for in-home pet feeding services range from 20 to 50 yuan per day. For an additional fee, staff will play with the pet, clean the litter box, and send photos to the owner.
According to the "White Paper on the Pet Industry in China for 2023/2024," there are currently 51.75 million registered pet dogs and 69.8 million cats in China, which is an increase of 1.1% compared to last year.
