Better than children: why Hong Kong residents pamper their cats

Hong Kong’s cat owners are happy to spend big on their furry companions and businesses are cashing in

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It's ‘cats first’ for these animal-loving Hongkongers

Sammy Heung

Published: 8:31am, 17 Aug 2024Updated: 3:19pm, 17 Aug 2024

Ostrich gravy with lucid ganoderma and black goji berry, crocodile soup with chuan bei, home freeze-dried Mongolian lamb loin – they all sound like mouthwatering delicacies one might find on the menu of a Chinese fine dining restaurant.

But the gourmet creations are made for Hong Kong’s pampered felines by city businesses as the pet economy flourishes, with owners increasingly willing to spend big on their little companions.

Joe Sun, marketing director of city pet food brand Favour, said the firm specialised in around 70 types of ready-made meals, gravy, soups and essence designed by Chinese veterinary medicine experts.

“We used to make pet foods using chicken, fish, or beef, but now we have expanded to lamb, venison and other unique ingredients such as ostrich, Chinese edible frog, and even Chinese francolin,” he said.

Sun said the shift towards a more niche market, targeted at developing products for older pets or those with health problems, was linked to Hongkongers’ tradition of maintaining their health with Chinese medicine.

Ho Choi is a top cat in Hong Kong competitions. Photo: Dickson Lee

He said their bestselling product was crocodile soup with chuan bei, believed to improve windpipe problems common among dogs and cats in Hong Kong.

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