- - Speed-eating cats and skateboarding dogs replace children in overworked Asia

Sarah NeweyDecember 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM

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An owner and her cat in matching love-heart themed costumes at the expo in Thailand - Mailee Osten-Tan

The countdown is on: within 90 seconds, the cats must race through as much of the agility course as they can, clearing perspex holes and scaling scratching posts to claim their spots on the podium.

Only a few of the felines seem fazed. As their owners desperately try every encouraging tactic in the book – feathers, treats, clapping – most of the cats remain blissfully uncooperative.

One fluffy white ragdoll decides the course is a prime nap zone. A tabby starts well, but is soon more interested in finding the exit.

Contests like this one in central Bangkok are booming in Thailand, where increasing numbers of people are choosing to raise animals instead of children, as birth rates fall.

The fertility rate, a measure of births per woman, now stands at 1.2, compared to 1.7 in 2000 – anything less than two means the population is shrinking.

While there were plenty of competitions to enter at the Bangkok expo, one cat preferred to nap - Mailee Osten-Tan

Over the last year, there have been events for skateboarding dogs, a monitor lizard race called “Hey Baby” and a “cat slap” competition to test feline reflexes, with the country’s pet industry set to be worth £1.4bn by 2026.

This event in early December – held shortly after the Thai government declared five cat breeds as national symbols – was Bangkok’s first cat-specific expo.

Over three days, organisers said, roughly 36,000 people attended to compete, hear experts talk and buy their pets the latest gadgets.

The crowds also brought their pampered felines. Pushchairs containing cats in their finest outfits – bows, tutus, festive neck ties – were ubiquitous. Most animals were surprisingly well-behaved, even when made to participate in a yoga session alongside their owners.

Cats and owners take part in a yoga session at the expo in Bangkok - Mailee Osten-Tan

“We’re seeing the trend in Thailand of ‘pet parenting’,” said Perapan Angkhasuko, the executive vice-president of NCC Management and Development, which organised the event.

“The people who walk through the expo are treating their cats like their kids, so they spoil them. But they’re not just here for the commercial side, they want to dress their pets to go out, to take photos, and so we want this area to feel like a community for them,” she said.

Economic pressures and shifting mindsets have turned the South East Asian nation into one of the world’s most rapidly aging developing countries, experts say. Even the UK has a higher fertility rate, at 1.5, according to Our World in Data.

The cats are all-too happy to accept their next mission – speed-eating. Just 40 seconds later, it’s all over. Babe, a chunky five-year-old feline, has ruthlessly devoured her salmon and chicken treat to emerge victorious.

Nan Junttatip holds Babe, the speed-eating champion - Mailee Osten-Tan

“I’m very proud, I’m surprised that she won,” said Nan Junttatip, Babe’s “mother”, as she lowered the winner into her pram. “We didn’t do any training, this was her first contest. I think she [is a] natural.”

Tung Watchara, managing director of Bernd Thailand, which was exhibiting pet gear including strollers with a starting price of 3,999 baht (£90), said: “We used to do the baby and maternity market, but we joined the pet industry three years ago.

“The pet market has doubled, but the baby and maternity market is very, very hard now. This birth rate issue, it’s happened to Japan before, it’s happened to South Korea before, and now it’s happened to us,” he said.

The pet market is booming while retail baby and maternity sales fall - Mailee Osten-Tan

“There are so many reasons – economic problems, environmental problems, political problems. It all just came to Thailand at the same time. I think people don’t feel rich or stable [enough] to have a lot of children any more.”

Mr Tung said that cats, which already hold a “special place in Thai people’s heart”, were becoming ever-more popular – many clients have two or three within a year of adopting their first feline. “Your heart just melts when you see their eyes,” he said.

One couple who have chosen a cat over a child is Junior and Xray, who work in marketing and engineering. The pair, who did not give their real names, adopted their golden British shorthair, Nampang, seven months ago.

Junior just wants to give Nampang ‘a good and happy life’ - Mailee Osten-Tan

“She’s like our baby,” said Junior, cradling her close to his chest. “A cat is easy to play with and look after, having a baby is too full-time and too expensive.”

They decided to go to the cat expo because they did not want Nampang to grow up without socialising with other cats and thought the games might be a fun experience.

While Nampang did not seem interested in the agility test, she narrowly missed out on the podium in the speed-eating competition.

“Our condo is small, I want her to be around everything and be friends with lots of cats,” said Junior. “We plan to go to the park later and let her walk around outside. We just want to give her a good and happy life.”

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