A growing number of Chinese universities are allowing student pets both on campus and in university dormitories, drawing online support and sparking sharp debate over the safety, equity, and cost of campus pet ownership.

This past weekend, both Shanghai Lida University and Kunming City University in the southwestern Yunnan province announced on their official WeChat accounts that they would now allow student pets on campus. At least five other universities across China — mostly private institutions with pet-related programs — have also rolled out similar policies since Monday.

Previously, Chinese universities did not allow pets in dorms or on campus — not even to visit. With the recent policy shifts, that is now changing.

The new policies come amid China’s booming pet industry and the advancement of related professional training and services. According to the 2026 China Pet Industry White Paper, the consumer market for dogs and cats in urban areas reached 312.6 billion yuan ($43.2 billion) in 2025, up roughly 4% from the previous year. The market is expected to surpass 400 billion yuan by 2028.

On Saturday, Kunming City University announced that students can now bring dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and legally permitted exotic pets to campus. Banned dog breeds — such as pit bulls and Rottweilers — and “pets that pose health risks” are not allowed, however.

The university plans to roll out pet-friendly dormitories, a pet daycare center, and partner with professional institutions to establish an on-campus pet health station. Faculty and students from the university’s School of Pet Technology will also regularly offer free pet health checkups and consultation services, the university said.

Campus-wide amenities will include waste bags, water stations, and fenced play areas, with most outdoor spaces except cafeterias open to pets. Per-semester pet registration and vaccine checks will also be implemented.

A dedicated fund will support stray animal rescue and student volunteer work, while “pet companionship therapy” will be available to help students relieve stress.

Online, users hotly contested the new policies, with supporters arguing that pets provide important emotional comfort for students far away from home, helping to alleviate loneliness and stress in academic and daily life. Many voiced approval of the universities’ detailed regulations, such as providing centralized pet care facilities and pet-friendly dormitories separate from other student housing.

Others questioned whether the new policies would infringe on other students’ rights, pointing to issues such as allergies, noise, and safety.

A university student in Shanghai who had previously secretly kept a cat in her dormitory told Sixth Tone that the new rules — which require pets to be housed in dedicated pet-boarding facilities and ban them from dorms — are “no different from not being allowed to keep a cat at all.”

Her roommate, surnamed Chen, instead called the new policy a “very loving move” that shows the school is “warm and humane.”

“While it doesn’t meet most people’s needs, I think it’s a good first step that will spark discussion and encourage other schools to follow suit and make better policies in the future,” she told Sixth Tone.

Wu Qi, founder of Shanghai-based animal therapy nonprofit Paw for Heal, said the core challenge of keeping pets on campus is balancing companionship needs with public safety and collective rights.

“(Universities need to) respect (pet owners’) companionship needs while protecting students with allergies or a fear of animals,” he told Sixth Tone.

Wu advised restricting pets on campus to certain zones and recommended implementing a registration system so that students bear responsibility in the event of pet-related disputes. He also recommended that universities have clear protocols for removing animals when necessary.

He noted, however, that owning a pet as a university student has its own educational value, teaching responsibility and pet knowledge, while also cultivating empathy.

Additional reporting: Yang Yang; editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: VCG)