Pets in this country are 'working' in cafes, earning snacks as salaries

In a quirky and fast-growing trend in China, pets like cats and dogs are taking on part-time "jobs" in cafes, where they interact with customers and get compensated in snacks. This practice, referred to as "Zhengmaotiaoqian" or “earning snack money,” has caught the attention of both pet owners and cafe visitors across the country.

One example is 27-year-old PhD student Jane Xue, who decided to send her two-year-old Samoyed, OK, to work at a dog cafe in Fuzhou. For Xue, it’s a win-win situation. “It’s just like sending a child to school,” she told CNN. "OK gets to play with other dogs and won’t feel lonely, and we save on the cost of running the air conditioning all day." Xue and her partner, who are often out on weekends, found the cafe job a perfect way for OK to socialize.

How Pet Cafes Operate in China

This pet-working trend is popular in China’s booming pet cafe industry. These cafes charge visitors an entrance fee—typically between 30 to 60 yuan (approximately Rs 350 to Rs 700)—or sometimes, the price of a simple meal, for the chance to interact with these “pet employees.” It’s a business model that benefits both cafe owners and pet owners. Pet cafes in China have become increasingly common, and by 2023, over 4,000 such cafes were established across the country, according to state-linked CBNData.

The job postings for these pets are often lighthearted. In one instance, a cafe owner on Xiaohongshu, a social media platform similar to Instagram, advertised for "cat employees" and promised a snack a day and a 30% discount for the owners' friends. Another cafe owner humorously shared that one of their feline employees, Datou ("big head"), received five cans of cat food "after taxes."

However, not all pets land these part-time jobs easily. Xin Xin, a 33-year-old teacher from Beijing, has been trying to secure employment for her two-year-old tuxedo cat, Zhang Bu’er. Despite posting Zhang's resume, which highlighted his purring skills and clingy nature, Xin has had no luck yet. "I thought cafe owners would reach out to me, but now it looks like I need to take the initiative and send the resume out myself," Xin joked.

A Growing Trend in China’s Pet Culture

The trend might seem unusual to some, but it reflects a shift in China’s pet culture. With an increasing number of people choosing pets over children, Goldman Sachs predicts that the country will soon have more pets than toddlers. As a result, pet cafes are flourishing, and more owners are eager to find opportunities for their pets to socialize and contribute to household expenses—even if it’s just in the form of snack money.

For pet owners like Xue, the cafe gigs provide much-needed companionship for their animals. "My OK is the star of the cafe!" Xue proudly said after her Samoyed passed the cafe’s vetting process. OK was groomed and put through a trial to see how well she interacted with customers and other dogs—an interview she passed with flying colors.

China’s pet cafes are not only a playful way for animals to socialize but also a growing part of a business landscape that blends entertainment with pet ownership. Whether it's dogs like OK or hopeful cats like Zhang Bu’er, this trend is helping bridge the gap between busy owners and their furry friends while adding a lighthearted element to the café scene.