How keeping pets is becoming easier in the city

There is a growing awareness that animals deserve care. Posts on social media, in particular, are generating a huge response and deeply touching people's feelings.

 

When Nahian first decided to adopt a cat named 'Jerry', no one in her family agreed. Animals belong outside the house, why keep them indoors? Feeding them, taking them to the doctor, spending money on them—these things were still considered Western luxuries or simply unrealistic for many families in Bangladesh. Except for a handful of wealthy families, no one kept cats.

‎Nahian's mother objected the most after bringing Jerry in. But surprisingly, she was the one who eventually started taking care of Jerry the most. But one day, Jerry went outside and never came back.

‎Nahian later adopted another cat named 'Tuku'. Now her family has become so accustomed to having cats that cat food, vaccinations, visits to the vet, and putting nets on the windows for the cat's safety—these have now become a part of their lives.

  "Sometimes I spend my own money, sometimes I borrow from my cousin, and sometimes my parents help. But when I come home at the end of the day and see how Tuku welcomes me and his affectionate behavior, I feel like I spent nothing or adapted to him."

‎A big change has quietly taken place in this sector in the last few years. The 'pet food' or pet food corner of various stores, the veterinary centers or clinics that have been established in neighborhoods, and the allocation for pets in the monthly budgets of young people are indicative of this change. They now love pets like family members.

‎A study by ACI Limited official Mohammad Abdul Salek has shown that the number of pet owners in Bangladesh has increased by 170 percent in the last three years, of which 90 percent are cats. A market that did not exist much a few years ago has now become one of the fastest growing consumer sectors in the country.

Veterinarian Sabrina Akhter Chowdhury has seen this change firsthand. She can tell by the people who come to her clinic and how they talk about their pets.

Sabrina says, "In recent years, veterinary clinics have increased a lot in our country, especially in cities. Earlier, there were mainly government hospitals and a handful of private clinics. Now, the number of private clinics has increased significantly."

A registered veterinarian and a place are required to open a private clinic, and no government clearance is required. It has now become a profitable sector due to increasing demand.

According to Salek's research, there are currently more than 225 vet clinics in the country, most of which are private and recently established. Especially in Dhaka, where previously one had to travel far to find a veterinarian, owners are now getting the convenience of a clinic near their homes.

Sabrina believes there are several reasons behind this sudden increase in pet ownership. She says, 'One of the reasons for this is the trend on social media. Recently, having a cat has become a "cool" thing. People post cute pictures or videos of their cats, which makes others interested in having a pet.'

But it's not just a trend or a fad. Sabrina says, 'Mental health issues and loneliness have also played a big role in this change.'

She adds, 'People try to fill their loneliness through pets. They establish a kind of emotional connection with animals.'

During the lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, people were confined to their homes. Social life was disrupted and many young people, especially those living alone or in small apartments, suffered from loneliness. At that time, having a cat was not a hobby for many, but rather a way to fill a mental void.

Sabrina mentions another important issue—the increase in people's awareness of animal rights.

"People are more aware now than ever before. They post about lost kittens, injured dogs, or feeding street animals. All of these have contributed to this change," she says.

The awareness that animals deserve care is now growing. Posts about this, especially on social media, are getting a huge response and are deeply touching people's feelings.

The issue of apartment limitations is also quite important here.

Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Apartments here are usually small and families live in close quarters. Keeping a dog requires space, opportunities to move outside, and physical exertion, which is not possible in a six-story flat.

 

 But cats don't need all of these. According to Salek's research, people are preferring cats because of their convenience in keeping them in small spaces.

However, the popularity of dogs has also increased, although not as fast as cats. Those who have enough space and can afford it are also raising dogs.

For example, in elite areas like Gulshan, where residents have large houses and high incomes, the Gulshan Society Lake Park authorities have created a designated area for pets. Registered members can walk their dogs in the park at specified times.

The cat food market in Bangladesh is currently worth about Tk 5 billion. Of this, Tk 4 billion is imported.

According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, about 32,156 tons of cat food were imported to Bangladesh in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Of this, the largest amount came from China (17,738 tons). Next are Thailand (7,418 tonnes) and Turkey (6,740 tonnes). Small quantities of food also came from France and India.

People's awareness about vaccination has also increased. Now conscious owners regularly administer vaccines like rabies and flu.

Sabrina said, "It is almost mandatory to give rabies and flu vaccines as core vaccines or emergency vaccines."

She said, "The flu vaccine is basically a combination of five vaccines, which have to be given once or twice a year."

A flu vaccine costs between 800 and 1,500 taka and a rabies vaccine costs between 200 and 500 taka. These are available at low prices in government hospitals.

 The trend of spaying or neutering cats has also increased. This is because cats become aggressive when they are in their reproductive cycle. Sabrina says, “This happens every month.” Not only does the behavior change, but a mother cat gives birth to 3-4 kittens at a time. Frequent pregnancies also deteriorate the health of the cat. “So, if you want to avoid this situation, the best solution is to get your pet cat spayed or neutered,” Sabrina says.

‎A private clinic costs 1,000 to 3,000 taka to neuter a male cat and 1,500 to 4,000 taka to spay a female cat. This service is not usually provided in government hospitals, so private clinics are the only hope.

‎Another major reason for taking a cat to the clinic is to administer deworming medication. Since worm infestation is very common in cats, this is an extremely important preventive treatment. It removes worms from the cat's body and ensures proper nutrition, keeps it healthy and reduces the risk of worms spreading from the cat to humans.

According to Sabrina, there has been a big change in people's thinking. Instead of treating it only in case of illness or danger, they now see the health of their cats as a regular responsibility. She says, 'It is very positive that people now have a sufficient understanding of the care and maintenance of pets. They are taking care of their cats as if they were their own children or family members.'

However, Sabrina warns about cat food, saying, 'The ready-made cat food in the market is not very healthy, especially if the cat becomes completely dependent on it.'

Dry foods like peas in the market are very high in calories but have very little water content. As a result, feeding them for a long time can cause obesity, constipation and various urinary tract problems in cats.

So Sabrina suggests, 'Cats should be fed regular household food, and packaged food from the market can be given occasionally.'