More pets, fewer kids: Thailand's pet economy purrs as birth rates slide

Malay Mail

06-05-2025

Thai millennials are turning to pets instead of having children.
Cats are the top pet choice, with rising interest in rabbits and squirrels.
Baby product sales, like diapers, are down; pet spending is up, valued at 75 billion baht.
Spending is growing outside Bangkok, boosted by tourism.
BANGKOK, May 6 — More and more young Thais are opting for pets over parenthood – and cats have become a clear favourite.
Milin Veraratanaroj, chairman of Tang Ngee Soon Superstore in Udon Thani, has seen it first-hand and said there's been a clear drop in interest in having children since the pandemic began, highlighting a shift in sales of baby products, especially formula and diapers, The Bangkok Post reported today.
'Diaper sales dropped by roughly 20-30 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 year-on-year,' he was quoted as saying.
Young people are increasingly seeing kids as expensive, and instead are choosing dogs, cats, rabbits and even squirrels, he said.
To Milin, Thailand's shrinking birth rate could hurt its economy in the long run.
Thailand's population has been falling steadily since 2020, according to the Bureau of Registration Administration.
Official government data noted the Thai population stood at about 66 million at the end of 2024, with some 462,000 births but more than 571,000 deaths.
In just the first quarter of 2025, fewer than 100,000 babies were born — while over 147,000 people died.
It's a a bleak trend for baby goods, but a boost for the pet economy.
Pets and their owners sit inside a Thai movie theatre at Samut Prakan on June 10, 2023. — AFP pic
Pet boom
Poolperm Thongcharoenpoolporn, chief financial officer of Thonglor Pet Hospital Co Ltd, told The Bangkok Post that the pet sector is booming – and will keep growing.
'Many Thais treat their pets as family members, fuelling a demand for personalised pet products, such as breed-specific food options,' he was quoted as saying.
He expects the pet industry to grow at a single-digit pace this year.
According to ttb analytics, a company linked to Thai financial institution TMBThanachart, country's pet industry was worth 75 billion baht in 2024.
While some may cut back on non-essentials like fancy accessories, overall business sentiment hasn't dragged the market down.
Thonglor Pet Hospital serves mid- to high-income customers, and demand remains steady.
Poolperm also noted pet spending is picking up outside Bangkok, attributing it to burgeoning regional tourism.
'We're seeing more foreign customers, as well as locals involved in tourism-related businesses. The tourism revival appears to be lifting spending in these areas,' he was quoted as saying.
He believes the trend of raising pets instead of children will continue.
Spending habits may vary, but the emotional bond people form with their pets is strong.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, pet demand spiked in Thailand, but adoption rates have since stabilised.
Cats remain the favourite for new pet owners as they are thought to be suited to small spaces like condominiums, according to The Bangkok Post, which also noted emerging concern about pet food supply potentially outpacing demand.
'Unlike dogs, cats don't require outdoor walks or regular exercise,' said Poolperm.
He's also seeing more Thais taking a liking to rabbits and squirrels.