Mi Jiayi, a public relations professional in Shanghai, spent more than 500 yuan ($70.04) on a cooling vest for Mary, a small mixed-breed dog she adopted. To use it, she first soaks it in water before wringing it out.
“When we go out, if the temperature is over 30 degrees (86 Fahrenheit), I will put such a cooling outfit on my dog,” the 31-year-old said. “The water will evaporate and take the heat away, so it won’t be that hot for my dog.”
“There are cheaper options but…I want to give him the best product I can afford.”
Searches of online marketplaces JD.com and Alibaba’s Taobao show hundreds of similar sun and heat protection products for dogs and cats costing up to $100.
China’s pet products market – from healthcare and toys to waste and clothing – was worth $5.16 billion in 2022, according to data from Euromonitor International.
It is expected to hit nearly $6 billion this year, the market research provider predicted.
Jacqueline Cha, another Shanghai resident who has three small dogs and owns a pet care business, said this was the first summer she felt the need to use sun protection shirts on her pooches. She also had to adjust her daily walking schedule to avoid daily high temperatures.
China recorded several sets of record-breaking hot days in June and July, with temperatures in humid Shanghai exceeding 37 degrees Celsius (99F) and the capital Beijing hitting over 41C (106F).
“This summer is unusually hot and I change my dogs’ sun protection shirts every couple of days,” Cha said.
Dr. Grace Lin, founder and veterinary director of Shanghai Advanced Vet Care Veterinary Hospital, said such concerns were justified due to the 50-56% mortality rate in dogs diagnosed with severe heatstroke.
However, she added that the best treatment was not just any product but simple prevention: keeping pets indoors on hot days.
Such concern for the welfare of pets has become common in many Chinese households, where many people have chosen to adopt pets over having children and consider their furry friends as members. family accordingly.
Last year, a report by Euromonitor and the Asia Pet Alliance Institute predicted that China’s dog and cat population would reach 190 million in 2023, up from around 170 million in 2018.
