Pets in China have become deeply woven into people’s lives and romantic relationships, especially those of younger couples.
When romance sours, deciding “who gets custody” is becoming a painful legal grey area for many couples.
According to pet industry data, China’s urban dog and cat population reached 126 million in 2025, driven largely by Gen Z and millennial.
Many young couples treat their pets like children, calling each other the “Mum” and “Dad” of their fur babies. “While love may fade, human-animal bonds rarely do,” one online user aptly wrote.