Chart of the classification of pet owners in China in 2021. Screenshot of CCTV News

On Monday, news that the number of one-person households in China sparked heated debate on Chinese social media platforms. According to CCTV news, statistics show that there are more than 125 million one-person households in China, and the increasing number of people living alone makes seeking the companionship of pets more prominent.

Young people choose to keep pets to feel more relaxed and happy, and some elderly people also keep pets for companionship and warmth. Data showed that by the end of 2021, the people's ownership of fish accounted for 8.3 percent, reptile pets for 5.8 percent, rodents for 4.5 percent and birds for 3.6 percent, while cats and dogs still account for the largest proportion of pets. 

Cute pets also attract a large number of fans and a huge commercial market has been developed around them. Pet bloggers say that if a video of a pet is played hundreds of millions of times, it can earn hundreds of thousands of yuan. 

Additionally, some people think pets have a higher calling: "Keeping pets has healing power, and now many people need these pets to solve their psychological problems."