During the Lunar New Year holiday, demand for in-home pet care services surged sharply. In Shanghai, China, a man and his team completed more than 2,000 orders in just over 20 days — earning a total of 160,000 yuan (approximately $22,000 USD ) simply by feeding and caring for clients’ cats.
According to media reports cited from ETtoday, Huan Tong (born in 1991) has worked in the pet industry for nine years, specializing in at-home cat care services.
A Booming Holiday Business
Including the days before and after Lunar New Year, Huan Tong and his four staff members handled around 2,000 service orders over a 20-day period. Of those, he personally completed about 1,000 visits.
Most of his customers are people who moved to Shanghai for work. During the holiday season:
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Over 80% returned to their hometowns to celebrate Lunar New Year
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Around 10% traveled elsewhere for vacation
With many residents leaving the city, the need for reliable in-home pet care rises significantly each year.
Long Days, Little Sleep
During peak holiday days, Huan Tong left home at 3 a.m. and worked until 10 or even 11 p.m. He averaged only 3 to 4 hours of sleep per night.
On his busiest day, he completed as many as 55 home visits.
Each appointment lasted about 10 to 15 minutes and included:
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Cleaning litter boxes
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Refilling food and fresh water
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Monitoring the cat’s health
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Checking windows and electrical appliances
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Taking out the trash
Additional requests, such as administering medication or trimming nails, were handled free of charge if they were not too complicated.
Service Pricing
Huan Tong has maintained the same pricing structure for nine years, focusing on a mid-to-high-end market segment:
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Jiading District: $8–$11 per visit
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Other areas: $14 per visit
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Remote areas or homes with multiple cats: up to $28 per visit
Although some competitors lowered prices to as little as $3–$4 per visit, many loyal customers continued choosing his services.
Steady Growth Year After Year
Compared to 270 customers last year, Huan Tong handled more than 320 orders this Lunar New Year season, marking an 18% increase. By the end of the holiday period, he expects total growth to reach around 25%.
Revenue from holiday cat care alone is projected to reach 160,000 yuan.
A Growing Trend in Urban Pet Care
The story reflects a broader trend in major cities like Shanghai, where pet ownership is rising and professional services are becoming more specialized. As more young professionals travel during long holidays, trusted home-visit pet care has evolved from a niche offering into a thriving seasonal business.
What once was a small service with only a handful of clients nine years ago has now become a high-demand holiday industry — proving that even feeding cats can turn into a remarkably profitable venture with the right timing, reputation, and consistency.
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