During the recent Lunar New Year holiday, Huan Cong and his four employees remained in Shanghai. Their work involved visiting the homes of people who were traveling or returning to their hometowns to clean litter boxes, feed cats, and check the pets' health.

Over 20 days, Huan's team completed approximately 2,000 orders, generating 160,000 yuan. Huan personally handled half of the workload, completing 1,000 orders himself.

"To achieve this income, I pushed myself to the limit, working continuously from 3 AM until 11 PM", said Huan, who has nine years of experience in the pet industry. On his busiest day, he traveled across Shanghai to complete 55 cat care visits.

Huan Cong with two of the many cats he cared for during the holiday. Photo: Baidu

Each customer visit was brief, typically lasting 10-15 minutes. Huan quickly cleaned litter boxes, refilled food and water, and observed the cats' health. Beyond pet care, he also checked window security, unplugged unnecessary electrical appliances, and disposed of trash for the homeowners. He provided specialized services, such as administering medication or nail trimming, free of charge.

With prices ranging from 60 to 200 yuan (9-28 USD) per visit, depending on the distance, Huan proudly stated that he has not increased his service fees in nearly a decade.

Huan's dedication has helped him build a loyal customer base amidst a booming pet economy. This year, his holiday customer count increased by 18% compared to last year, serving 320 households. Of these, 80% were people returning to their hometowns for the festivities.

To ensure clients felt secure entrusting him with their keys and property, Huan often made live video calls or recorded the entire care process. "Seeing him on camera carefully caring for my cats and checking the doors and windows truly allowed me to enjoy my holiday", a client shared on social media.

While the work yields substantial income, Huan admits it is not easy. Besides the pressure of constant travel in the cold winter, pet sitters face risks of being scratched or bitten by cats. They also bear legal responsibility if a pet falls ill or if property inside the client's home is damaged. However, for Huan, the deserving compensation motivates him to continue this demanding work.

By Thanh Thanh (The Star, SCMP)