2023 世界貓咪博覽會 (一) / Chanchao Meow Expo 2023 (Part 1)

寵物與人類的關係可以追溯到史前時代。最早的人類可能馴化了野生動物，使它們成為伴侶或工作夥伴，如狗、貓、馬和牛。這些動物在農業、狩獵和保護等方面都發揮了重要作用，寵物對人類生活有著深遠的影響。他們提供了情感支持，幫助減輕孤獨感，減壓，增進生活質量，並有助於心理健康， 近年來，寵物在家庭中的地位持續提升。越來越多的人將寵物視為家庭成員，這導致了寵物市場的不斷擴大，包括寵物食品、保健、服飾和配飾等領域，此外，人們對動物權益的關注也在不斷地增加，促使法律和法規的制定，以確保寵物的福祉。


對於寵物的選擇，人各有所好，有人愛狗的嬌膩，自然也會有人愛貓的清冷，總之，貓、狗是台灣人養寵物的兩大派別，台灣財政部統計，寵物相關產業2022年銷售額達到387.3億元，近四年增加四成六，有趣的是，從寵物登記可觀察出「貓派」的崛起，登記的貓數已連兩年超越當年犬數，按縣市別觀察，2022年多數縣市當年登記寵物數皆轉以貓為主流，顯示由「狗派轉貓派」現象廣見於各縣市。

我對於貓、狗沒有偏見，小時候有曾經想過要養貓或狗，我個人是偏愛養狗，感覺狗會到處亂跑，應該可以陪著我到處跑，但父母不允許，所以，之後就一直沒機會養貓或狗之類的寵物，但是身邊不乏有養寵物的朋友們，也有機會近距離接近貓或狗，有次，我到朋友家坐坐，她家是貓及狗都有養的愛寵人士，她養的貓不怕生，就直接跳到我身上，到處亂爬，於是我打算把它拎走，突然，它就對我伸出貓爪，抓了我一把，我立刻見血，真是嚇了我一跳！我朋友也嚇了一跳！還好傷口沒很深，留下傷痕，但給我留下很深的回憶，貓很高傲。

這次的貓咪博覽會，也是幾個愛貓的朋友的邀約，所以我們才會去的，他有好幾張廠商寄給他的門票，於是就呼朋引伴地找了一些朋友，一起去看展，其實，已經有些朋友在平常日過去看過了，那些朋友的回報是，這個展覽還算蠻好逛的，他們買了很多東西，也拿了很多試吃包及贈品，事實上，寵物愛好者都知道，寵物的周邊用品，買下來，加起來也是一筆開銷，能多省一點，就多省一點，所以，那些朋友才會在平常日，就先衝去看，因為平日看展的人可能較少，可以拿到的贈品可能會較多。

The relationship between pets and humans can be traced back to prehistoric times. Early humans likely domesticated wild animals, making them companions or working partners, such as dogs, cats, horses, and cows. These animals have played significant roles in agriculture, hunting, and protection, and pets have had a profound impact on human life. They provide emotional support, help reduce loneliness, relieve stress, improve quality of life, and contribute to mental well-being. In recent years, the status of pets in households has continued to rise. More and more people view their pets as family members, leading to the continuous expansion of the pet market, including areas like pet food, healthcare, clothing, and accessories. Furthermore, there is a growing concern for animal rights, prompting the development of laws and regulations to ensure the welfare of pets.


When it comes to choosing pets, people have their own preferences. Some love the affectionate nature of dogs, while others appreciate the independence of cats. In any case, cats and dogs are the two major factions in Taiwan's pet ownership. According to statistics from the Taiwan Ministry of Finance, the sales of the pet-related industry reached 38.73 billion New Taiwan Dollars in 2022, with a 46% increase over the past four years. Interestingly, cat ownership has been on the rise, surpassing the number of registered dogs for two consecutive years. When looking at different regions, most counties and cities in 2022 had more cat registrations than dog registrations, showing a trend of shifting from being "dog people" to "cat people."


I don't have a bias towards cats or dogs. I used to think about having a cat or a dog when I was a child, and personally, I lean more towards wanting a dog. I felt that dogs could run around with me and be my companions. However, my parents didn't allow it, so I never had the chance to own a cat or a dog as a pet. But I have friends who have pets, and I've had the opportunity to get up close to cats and dogs through them. One time, I visited a friend's house, and she is an animal lover who has both cats and dogs. Her cat was very friendly and just jumped onto me, climbing all over the place. I thought about picking it up, but suddenly, it extended its claws and scratched me, drawing blood. It really startled me, and my friend was also surprised. Fortunately, the wound wasn't too deep, and it didn't leave a scar, but it left me with a vivid memory. Cats can be quite proud and independent.


Chanchao Meow Expo 2023 was actually an invitation from a few cat-loving friends, which is why we decided to go. He had received several complimentary tickets from exhibitors, so we gathered some friends and went together. Some of our friends had already visited the expo on regular days, and their feedback was that it's quite enjoyable to explore. They bought many things and received lots of free samples and giveaways. In fact, pet enthusiasts know that pet-related products can add up to significant expenses, so any opportunity to save a little is welcomed. That's why those friends went to the expo on regular days since there might be fewer visitors and more freebies to grab.

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