Chinese pet owners shift to premium care, TGM study finds

TGM Research’s Pet Care Insights 2026 in China shows that Chinese pet owners are spending more on pets, favoring quality over price and showing strong interest in preventive care and pet tech. The findings suggest premium pet care is moving into the mainstream as brands look for growth in food, wellness, accessories and smart products.

Why it matters: - Chinese pet ownership is becoming a higher-value market, with spending, wellness and convenience reshaping what consumers expect from pet care. - Brands that compete on quality, preventive health and useful technology may be better positioned than those relying on low-price offers. - The data points to broader demand across food, veterinary care, insurance, accessories and smart pet devices.

What happened: - TGM Research launched Pet Care Insights 2026 in China, a study on how Chinese pet owners live with, care for and spend on their pets. - The report finds that premium pet care is no longer limited to a niche segment in China. - Chinese consumers are increasingly treating higher standards of care as part of everyday pet ownership.

The details: - Half of Chinese pet owners spend more than $100 per month on their pets. - Across APAC, $11–$40 remains the most common monthly spending range, underscoring China’s heavier concentration in higher spending tiers. - In pet food decisions, quality ranks 19 percentage points ahead of price among Chinese pet owners. - Price falls to fourth place in pet food selection, showing a stronger focus on product benefits. - Regular veterinary care is used by 51% of Chinese pet owners, making it the most-used pet health service in the past 12 months. - Pet insurance follows at 38%, signaling interest in prevention and financial protection. - Toys, leashes/collars/harnesses and grooming supplies were the three most-purchased pet supply categories over the past 12 months. - 72% of respondents would consider a virtual or robotic pet to keep their pet company while they are away. - Companionship is the leading use case for pet technology. - The report includes several related series topics: pet health and veterinary care, pet nutrition and product purchases, pet ownership and lifestyle, pet services and grooming, and pet care technology and future trends.

Between the lines: - The report suggests value in China is shifting from cheap to effective, with consumers linking premium spending to better quality, better care and more convenience. - The strong showing for routine products like toys and grooming items suggests brands can build repeat purchasing relationships beyond food and medical care. - Interest in virtual or robotic pets shows an opening for technology products that address companionship and owner absence, not just novelty. - Veterinary care and insurance together point to a more complete wellness market, where prevention and protection can be sold as part of the same consumer mindset.

What's next: - Brands are likely to lean harder into quality claims, wellness positioning and premium features as Chinese pet spending continues to rise. - Pet technology companies may focus on products that entertain, connect or support pets when owners are not home. - The report positions everyday accessories, grooming and health services as areas where companies can compete for recurring demand. - TGM Research says the China findings are part of a broader APAC pet care study covering seven markets. - China data was collected through computer-assisted web interviews from 16-23 July 2026 among adults ages 18-55+. - The China sample included 1,135 respondents, including 817 pet owners, and was weighted to reflect the national adult population by age and gender. - The broader APAC study also covered Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. - Fieldwork in the other six markets was conducted from 23 September-6 October 2025.

The bottom line: - Premium pet care is moving into the mainstream in China, and the biggest opportunities now sit at the intersection of quality, wellness and practical technology.