Communities, shopping malls introduce pet toilets

Shenzhen, already renowned nationwide for its spotless and smart public restrooms, is making headlines again thanks to the city’s many communities and shopping malls that have rolled out pet toilets designed to address the issue of pet waste.

The Coast City shopping mall in Nanshan District has built a dedicated restroom for cats and dogs. This pet restroom is located next to the regular restrooms and is equipped with pet urine pads, diapers, deodorizers, and other items. On the walls, there are instructions on the proper handling of pet waste. The overall environment is clean and odorless.

A dedicated pet toilet inside a restroom offers a clean, convenient option for pet relief at the Coast City shopping mall in Nanshan District. Photos from Shenzhen Evening News

Many communities and shopping areas also provide pet waste cleaning tools for pet owners. In One Mall in Yantian District, there are conspicuous spots for pet owners to pick up doggy waste bags. In the Upperhills shopping mall in Futian District, there are trash bins equipped with doggy waste bags and hand-wiping paper for cleaning up pet waste.

Pet owners can find waste bins stocked with doggy bags and hand wipes at the Upperhills shopping mall in Futian District.

The pet park on Jingtian North Sixth Street in Futian District also provides pet trash bins and waste disposal bags to help pet owners deal with their pets' waste in a timely manner.

"Breeds like chihuahuas and shih tzus can manage to go to the bathroom at home, but for larger dogs, outdoor defecation is a basic necessity," said a woman who owns a small Scottish terrier named AD. "The pet toilets meet the physiological needs of pets while also creating a cleaner, more comfortable public space for those who do not own pets."

Pet waste bins and disposal bags are available at the pet park on Jingtian North Sixth Street in Futian District.

Xiao Xiang, owner of a Pomeranian named Snowball, remarked, "The pet toilets in Luohu and Longgang have separate areas for drinking water and waste disposal. They are very pet-friendly and convenient for pet owners."

Shenzhen has long been a pioneer in creating a pet-friendly urban environment. As early as 2020, the city became the first in China to legislate against the consumption of cats and dogs, setting a groundbreaking precedent. Today, Shenzhen boasts over 50 pet-friendly shopping malls, with more on the way.

According to the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, the overall urban pet market in China exceeded 300 billion yuan (US$41.6 billion) in 2024, while the number of pet dogs and cats in urban areas surpassed 120 million.