Burger ‘Cat Boxes’ Are McDonald’s Latest Sensation in China

People are going crazy for McDonald’s new ‘cat boxes,’ simple foldable structures that come with the purchase of a new combo meal, which features one spicy chicken filet burger, chicken nuggets, fries, and a Coke.

The supply of food-inspired cat houses is limited to about 100,000, and many restaurants have already sold out, driving demand even further.

The boxes come with delivery orders, and with some minor construction, will serve as lovely homes for customers’ feline friends.

Image via Weibo

Many people shared pictures and videos of the boxes on Chinese social media after the campaign launched. 

The cardboard cat house is shaped like a giant burger box, with the three designs inspired by McDonald’s iconic big mac, cheeseburger, and fish burger boxes. It has a hole on the top, allowing cats to enter, exit, and stick their heads out.

McDonald’s made the structure more cat-friendly by providing a scratcher that fits in the base of the carton.

Image via Weibo

The hashtag ‘McDonald’s Cat House’ (#麦当劳猫窝#) has gained more than 130 million views on Weibo.

“I didn’t get the box. I’m such a bad parent,” commented one netizen, who clearly missed out on the pet-focused fast food promo.

Another opined, “The box is perfect, except that the supply isn’t able to meet demand.”

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While not everyone got a chance to bring the box home, many still managed to satisfy their beloved feline companions with some no-frills alternatives. 

C’est bon, indeed. Image via Weibo

Far from a shot in the dark, McDonald’s knew exactly what they were doing when they unleashed the latest fast-food frenzy on Chinese consumers.

Pet ownership is now steadily rising in China, as is the market for pet products.

According to China Business Review, China’s National Bureau of Statistics reveals that the country’s pet industry grew a remarkable 2,000% in just 10 years. In 2020, the number of pet cats in the country reached a whopping 48.62 million, according to data from the 2020 Chinese Pet Industry White Paper.

All images via McDonald’s