Pet owner Mi Jiayi walks her dog Mary in a cooling vest on a summer day in Shanghai, China July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Nicoco Chan
SHANGHAI: As temperatures in China soar, pet owners are looking for novel ways to protect their four-legged friends from the heat, buying up cooling mats, clothes and miniature sun hats for dogs and cats.
Mi Jiayi, a public relations professional in Shanghai, spent more than 500 yuan (RM317) on a cooling vest for Mary, a small mixed-breed dog that she adopted. To use it, she first dips it in water before wringing it out.
“When we go out, if the temperature is over 30°C, I will put on such cooling attire on my dog,” the 31-year-old woman said.
“The water will evaporate and take away the heat, then it will not be so hot for my dog.”
“There are cheaper options but ... I want to get her the best product that I can afford.”
Searches on online marketplaces JD.com and Alibaba’s Taobao show hundreds of similar products for dogs and cats costing as much as US$100 (RM455).
The market for pet products in China – from health care and toys to litter and clothing – was worth US$5.16bil (RM23.5bil) in 2022, according to data from Euromonitor International.
It is expected to grow to nearly US$6bil this year, the market research provider has projected.
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 their daily walking schedule to avoid peak daily temperatures. — Reuters
