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Mid-Autumn Festival traditions in China are getting a furry makeover, and humans are entirely secondary to the trend
From major retailers like Sam's Club to boutique bakeries, mooncakes made for dog and cat are selling out.
Instead of traditional lotus paste, these miniature pastries feature pet-centric fillings such as salmon with egg yolk and duck meat with blueberry. They typically retail between 10 yuan (RM6) and 50 yuan (RM30) for a four-pack.
This surge in pet-friendly snacking highlights a broader companion animal boom across China
According to South China Morning Post, by 2025, China's urban areas houses 126 million pet cats and dogs, with pet expenditure hitting 312.6 billion yuan (RM183 billion).
However, this pet pampering contrasts sharply with how humans are treating themselves.
Retail data indicates a severe slump in traditional human mooncake sales, plummeting by over 45% compared to last year. People are ditching lavish luxury boxes for healthier alternatives or unusual flavours like spicy rice noodles.
The shift reflects a wider consumption downgrade, as businesses and consumers are reeling in their discretionary spending. Yet, as social media platforms flood with festive pet treats, owners remain eager to spoil their animals.
Guangzhou-based English teacher He Yuqi noticed the explosion of pet bakeries popping up online
"So I decided to order some custom-made vegetarian mooncakes from a nearby bakery to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with my two dogs," He said.
The modern Mid-Autumn celebration is clearly pivoting towards personal lifestyle choices rather than corporate grandstanding.
In the past, pricey gift sets signalled a company's financial success. Today, the ultimate status symbol might just be a freeze-dried duck meat mooncake for your golden retriever.
