The feline solution to loneliness

Sniffing around the web

Many cats have also become more than just their owners' objects of affection. Many tech-savvy cat owners have taken to social media to showcase the lives of their furry companions who have garnered large followings.

This has in turn given rise to the phenomenon dubbed as "cloud-based cat petting", which refers to how those without pets can live vicariously through such social media accounts.

Within the circle of cat lovers, the act of checking out a cat owner's social media account is known as "sniffing", while becoming a follower is known as "petting".

Qian Kan is one such person who derives joy from following these social media accounts. Though the software engineer has loved cats since his childhood, he only managed to get his own last year after moving out of his parents' home.

"When I was a child, my parents kept a cat but only for several months because they decided they didn't quite like it," said Qian. "Looking at the photos and videos of cat owners helps me to relive those happy childhood moments."

All those years spent trawling through the social media accounts of other cat lovers, Qian said, has also taught him much about how to care for the animal.

"It definitely feels better when you have your own cat, because all the interactions between the both of you are real. It is an experience you can't get just by watching cats online," said Qian.

"But just like having a baby, owning a cat cannot be an impulsive decision, because you are responsible for this little life."

Cui Lijuan, a psychology professor at East China Normal University, said that young adults taking to pets today is similar to how those born in the 1960s took to activities like rope skipping, bowling and kicking shuttlecocks.

"These are all just means of relieving pressure and loneliness," said Cui, before noting that today's young adults are usually the only child in the family and hence turn to cats because they have no siblings to communicate with.

"Besides, human relationships can at times be complex and hard to manage, while some people may have difficulties expressing their feelings to others. Having a cat is a much easier solution to loneliness," he added.

Social critic Shi Yiqi shares the same sentiment. In his column in People's Daily, Shi said that today's young adults, most of whom are the only child in the family and are working alone in big cities, have only a few channels to express their true selves.

"They are attracted to cats because these animals are a reflection of themselves - creatures that value independence, comfort and individuality," Shi said.

"In their interaction with their own cats or cat owners who they follow online, they are actually communicating with their inner self."

Many young cat owners agree. To Zhang, her cats have become the reason she is determined to improve her quality of life. She admits that she is motivated to work harder in order to give her companions a more comfortable living environment.

"I love spending time with my cats and treating them to delicious food like pumpkin noodles, rice dumplings, salmon and tuna," she said.

"My cats are more than just pets. They are my family members."