家裡養貓養狗的鏟屎官們通常都有一個煩惱：自己出差後留在家裡的寵物該如何照顧？今天我們來看看科技如何改變寵物和主人的生活。
圖源：東方IC
自動餵食器、智慧飲水機、自動清潔的貓砂盆和空調智慧寵物屋......當下的寵物品牌正在積極探索如何為寵物主人和寵物提供更多安全和便利。
Nowadays, pet products companies offer a wide range of smart pet devices including automatic feeders, smart waterers, self-cleaning litter boxes and air-conditioning smart pet houses. They aim to bring convenience and safety to pet owners caring for their furry friends such as cats and dogs.
圖源：東方IC
“小佩寵物”聯合創始人兼執行長郭維學表示，公司產品的大多數消費者都是90後的年輕人。在快節奏的工作環境中，他們因工作繁忙或出差，無法隨時照顧自己的寵物。而智慧寵物用品的目標就是為了讓養寵物變得更容易、更有效。
"We aim to make pet ownership easier and more efficient," said Guo Weixue, co-founder and CEO of PETKIT. "While pet owners are away from home, pets will be taken better care of with the help of PETKIT products and services."
圖源：搜狐網
比如，寵物主人外出時，他們可以透過應用程式在智慧手機上控制智慧餵食器。空調智慧寵物屋還能讓寵物主人透過應用程式遠端調節寵物屋的溫度。內建的感測器還可以檢測寵物的存在，並記錄休息時間等資料。
For instance, pet owners can schedule feeding and control the smart pet feeders on their smartphone with the app while they are away from home. And the company's air-conditioning smart pet house will allow consumers to remotely customize the temperature inside the pet house by using the app. The built-in sensor will detect the presence of the pet and record data such as resting time.
儘管智慧寵物行業前景樂觀，但郭維學表示，在智慧寵物產品上的支出只佔主人為寵物總支出的一小部分。“寵物主人在寵物食品、醫療服務和寵物美容等產品和服務上花費更多，因此，我們想為寵物主人提供一站式服務，透過我們的全渠道來獲得從寵物科技解決方案、寵物食品、寵物護理到醫療服務等一切服務。”
"Pet owners will spend more on products and services such as pet food, healthcare services and pet grooming," Guo said. "So we aim to offer pet owners a one-stop destination to access everything from pet tech solutions, pet food, pet care and medical services through our omnichannel approach."
據郭介紹，小佩寵物去年的收入近5億元（約7700萬美元），他預計今年的收入將達到10億元左右。這樣的成績還要歸功於中國寵物市場的快速發展和經濟的強勁復甦。
According to Guo, PETKIT earned nearly 500 million yuan ($77 million) in revenue last year, and he expected to see the figure reach around 1 billion yuan this year thanks to the rapid development of China's pet market and the strong recovery of the economy.
湖北省中南財經政法大學數字經濟研究院執行院長潘和林表示，新興的寵物經濟將為寵物美容、寵物醫院、智慧寵物產品和寵物酒店等各個行業提供更多的商機。
“人們生活水平的提高以及思考和生活方式的改變，尤其推動了中國寵物經濟的蓬勃發展。” 潘教授還表示，由於人口老齡化、人際關係格局複雜、個人生活壓力巨大，出現了更多的單身和丁克群體。很多人選擇養寵物是為了陪伴自己。
"China's booming pet economy is particularly driven by people's improved living standards as well as changes in the way people think and live," Pan said.
Also, Pan added: "Due to the aging of the population, the complicated landscape for interpersonal relationships and huge pressure on personal lives, there are more singles and DINK groups. Many of them are choosing to keep pets for their companionship."
編輯：商楨
記者：歐陽詩嘉
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