"I Earned 34 Million Won During the Holidays While Others Traveled" Service Receives 50 Requests a Day

Cat-Sitting Service Gains Attention in China

2,000 Appointments Completed Over 20 Days Around Lunar New Year

Fees Range from 12,000 to 40,000 Won Per Visit; 320 Households Served

A Chinese man in his 30s has become a sensation in the country after it was revealed that he earned approximately 34 million won during the Lunar New Year holiday by providing at-home cat-sitting services.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on March 4, Huan Chong, a 35-year-old pet caretaker living in Shanghai, generated sales of 160,000 yuan (about 34 million won) over a period of about 20 days around this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, as he received a surge of cat-sitting requests. The demand was concentrated as more pet owners left their homes during the holiday period.

Huan Chong and his four employees stayed in Shanghai during the holiday, handling approximately 2,000 cat-sitting visits. Of these, Huan Chong personally managed about 1,000 cases. On peak days, he handled more than 50 appointments in a single day, working from as early as 3 a.m. and finishing as late as 10 or 11 p.m., enduring an intense schedule.

Cat

More than 80 percent of his customers were people visiting their hometowns for the holidays, while about 10 percent were those who had gone on trips. Given the large-scale travel across China before and after the Lunar New Year, those leaving their cats at home opted for in-home care services.

The services provided by Huan Chong include cleaning the litter box, refilling water and food, checking the cats’ health, as well as inspecting windows and appliances and taking out the trash. Additional services such as administering medicine or trimming claws are available if needed. Each visit lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.

The fee in Jiading District, Shanghai, is 60 to 80 yuan (about 12,000 to 17,000 won) per visit. In other areas of Shanghai, it increases to 100 yuan (about 21,000 won), and for multi-cat households or long-distance visits, the price can go up to 200 yuan (about 42,000 won). He is said to have operated his service for nine years without any significant price hikes.

Huan Chong stated that demand has increased noticeably compared to when he first entered the industry. “During last year’s Lunar New Year holiday, I cared for 270 households, but this year it increased to 320,” he said. “By the end of the holiday, revenue is expected to rise even further.”

Local internet users have responded with interest in this niche service that capitalized on the holiday demand, saying, “It’s reassuring to have someone look after your pets when you’re away for the holidays,” and, “Taking care of sensitive cats in someone else’s home is not easy.”

Meanwhile, according to PetData, a big data platform for the Chinese pet industry, the size of the pet-related market in China as of 2024 is estimated at 300 billion yuan (about 62 trillion won). The market is expected to continue expanding steadily due to factors such as the increase in single-person households in China, aging population, rising income levels, and the growing perception of pets as family members.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.