Majority of Chinese pet owners eye AI companionship

Nearly 99% of Chinese pet owners are willing to adopt AI solutions to keep their pets company when they are busy, according to a recent report by Kantar.

The study, titled “The Furry Entertainment Revolution”, surveyed 1,800 pet owners across Mainland China (44%), Hong Kong (28%) and Taiwan (28%) to explore pets’ emotional needs and to examine how interactive content and AI-powered companionship services are reshaping the future of pet care.

The findings indicate that pet care is entering a new era defined by “emotional x content x interaction”. As “fur kids” assume increasingly central roles within the family, owners are paying closer attention not only to their pets’ physical needs, but also to their emotional wellbeing and quality of daily life. Beyond basic feeding and healthcare, pet owners are seeking new care models that integrate streaming content and interactive gaming to provide meaningful companionship, mental stimulation and stable emotional experiences for their pets.

Over 70% of respondents believe that pets do not need management, but “to spend thoughtfully planned days”. In line with this view, around 99% of owners say they are willing to buy products with interaction features specifically for fur children. Among the types of content they are most likely to choose, relaxing or soothing content ranks highest at 58%, followed by chase-based games at 45%.

Interest in AI is high: about 98% of surveyed owners express interest in AI-driven solutions, primarily because they want their pets to remain happy when they are busy. Approximately 96% are willing to pay extra for “fur kid AI experience / interactive services”, while 65% believe AI equals having an extra family helper.

Owners also have clear expectations regarding the role of AI in addressing specific behavioural and emotional challenges. They hope AI can provide companionship when they are away from home (60%), help alleviate pet anxiety and excessive barking (49%), address boredom and destructive behaviour (47%), compensate for insufficient exercise (37%) and offer soothing support at night (32%).

Correspondingly, the most valued outcome metrics include reducing pets’ anxiety (54%), increasing daily activity levels (48%), reducing boredom and destructive behaviour (41%), lowering nighttime noise (38%), increasing calmness during the day (37%) and improving overall sleep quality (31%).

In terms of business models, the research also sheds light on payment preferences. Among respondents, 42% of pet owners prefer a subscription-based model, 31% favour a one-time purchase, 16% opt for pay-per-use or content packs, while 12% remain undecided and indicate that their choice would depend on specific features and offerings.

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