A new report released Tuesday by Pethadoop, a platform specializing in China’s pet industry, said cats accounted for 59.5% of all the pets among the 30,000 respondents surveyed for the research. As of last year, there were some 58 million pet cats in China’s urban households, compared with some 54 million pet dogs.
It also shows that China has seen an increase in pet ownership over the years, with people increasingly choosing cats. Globally, though dogs were still more common pets, including the United States and the United Kingdom, cats have emerged as the most popular pet in the European Union lately.
Cats have also turned into a social phenomenon in China and elsewhere, becoming the subject of viral memes (模因;迷因) and videos. Many cat lovers online also identify themselves as “cat slaves” and “cat sniffers,” publicly professing their pet preference.
Researchers attributed (归因) the fast growth of cat pets to the lifestyle in Chinese cities, with some experts also suggesting the feline’s popularity with the young generation’s pursuit of individuality:
Liu Yi, the report’s chief editor, said that many citizens have busy lives and relatively smaller accommodations, thus making cats their ideal companions-it’s easy to raise cats, unlike dogs that require more attention and outdoor activities.
“Our research shows that the majority of the pet owners are people born after 1990 and 1995,” he said. “Young people are looking for freedom and spontaneity (自然;随意) in their lives. and the habits of cats are more suited to their needs.”
Cai, a 27-year-old who works in Beijing, said she recently adopted a cat named Nanako. She added that cats were the perfect pet for “da gong ren”, which means “laborer” or “hard working people.” “I wanted a dog at first, but since I’m quite busy, I wouldn’t have given them enough time,” she said. “Cats are more independent compared with dogs. Nanako has kept me company through my loneliness, which someone like me who works in a big city faces.”
8. What is the current situation of pet industry in China?
A.Cats account for 59.5% of the whole pet population. |
B.The dog population in China is 4 million short of that of cats. |
C.An increasing number of people turn to keeping cats as their pets. |
D.There’re about 58 million pet cats in China’s suburban households. |
9. What characteristic turns cats into the favored pets for young people?
A.Loyalty. | B.Independence. | C.Diligence. | D.Playfulness. |
10. Which factor contributes to the fast growth of cat pets in China?
A.The addiction of the cat slaves. |
B.The present situation of urban lifestyle. |
C.The individualism of the Chinese people. |
D.The independence of the young generation. |
11. What is the author’s attitude to cats as pets?
A.Positive. | B.Disapproving. | C.Indifferent. | D.Neutral. |