Pet cafes and bars have become a new trend in China where it is possible to “work” your cat or dog to provide food.
These atypical businesses promise customers the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful presence of pets while enjoying coffee or lunch, but customers who visit these cafes must pay an entrance fee ranging from $6 to $12, according to CNN.
“I feel like parents are sending their children to school,” Jane Xue, a 27-year-old doctoral student, told US media, who dropped off her dog OK, a Samoyed two years ago, at a cafe in Fuzhou.
Canines that play at the café get money for food, but dog owners also earn from electricity consumption, as they can turn off the air conditioner if the dog doesn't stay home during the scorching summer.
Faced with this phenomenon called “Zhengmaotiaoqian,” café owners began recruiting pets to their establishments in exchange for food, CNN continued.
“We're looking for cute, healthy cats,” one business owner said, before adding: “We offer one snack a day and a 30% discount to friends of pet owners!”
