Animal welfare groups have criticised a Hong Kong pet shop for offering a cat rental service, calling the move unethical and harmful to the felines’ well-being.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on Wednesday that it had sent staff to inspect the shop in North Point and reminded its operator to comply with the law.
In a social media post – which appears to have been since removed – the Petbook pet shop advertised a “cat friend rental” service. It offered people the chance to rent a cat for a week for HK$800 with a refundable deposit of HK$6,500.
After the one-week trial period ended, clients could either buy the cat at no extra cost – meaning the price was the initial HK$7,300 handed over – or return it for a refund of their deposit.
The post said the service included items for the cat, as well as one week’s worth of pet food. The store would also provide a one-on-one coaching session on how to help the cat adapt to new environments.
The shop also said in its promotional materials that it underwent regular inspections by the department and that its business was “legal and transparent”.
