A man in China says he earned $23,000 in one month caring for cats, feeding as many as 55 in a single day.
Finding someone to look after pets during holidays can be difficult and expensive. While some rely on family, others hire pet sitters or use kennels and catteries, which can quickly add up in cost. For those offering the service, however, peak travel seasons can be highly profitable.
Huan Cong, based in Shanghai, made $23,000 over the Lunar New Year period by caring for 1,000 cats. According to the South China Morning Post, he has run his cat-sitting business for nearly a decade and kept his prices unchanged this year. Cong and four employees remained in Shanghai during the holiday rush to meet rising demand.
The earnings came with little rest. Cong said he averaged around three hours of sleep per night and handled up to 55 cats on his busiest day.
He told the publication that his team served 320 households this Spring Festival, up from 270 last year — an 18% increase — with expected revenue from cat-feeding services reaching about 160,000 yuan by the end of the holiday period.