Hongkongers spend record HK$2,000 per month on cats as ‘silver’ feline market grows
Hong Kong Cat Expo organiser says growing proportion of ageing felines will drive future market growth as owners seek better care for pets
Hongkongers are spending a record HK$2,062 (US$263) a month on pet cats, driven by a rapidly emerging “cat silver economy”, according to a survey.
The Exhibition Group, organiser of the coming Hong Kong Cat Expo 2026, said on Monday that the average monthly spending marked a 2.8 per cent year-on-year increase, with the growing proportion of ageing cats in the city expected to be a key driver of market growth in the coming years.
The findings were based on an online survey of about 2,500 cat owners last month to track their spending trends, with 85 per cent of respondents indicating that their overall cat care expenses had increased over the past year.
According to the survey, ageing felines were the second-ranked factor behind higher spending, after broader economic factors and followed by illness or accident-related medical costs.
The proportion of cats aged four to seven had risen significantly from 20.8 per cent of the feline population in 2024 to 28.2 per cent this year. Cats have an average lifespan of 15 years.
“Within the next three to five years, this group of middle-aged cats – which makes up nearly 30 per cent of the feline population – will become seniors,” said Shirley Chu Shuet-ling, general manager of the Exhibition Group.
“Hong Kong is therefore going to experience a massive boom in consumption of medical care, prescription food, and precision healthcare products for cats,” Chu added, noting that owners’ motivation for spending had transitioned from merely feeding their pets to ensuring longevity and a better quality of life.