In urban India, the concept of “family” is undergoing a subtle transformation. What used to mean parents, children, grandparents, and the rest of the family living under the same roof now increasingly means paws, whiskers, and wagging tails too. From the metro cities of Mumbai and Bengaluru to smaller urban centers, pets are no longer considered mere guardians of the house. Instead, they are increasingly being brought home as sons, daughters, and siblings. But how temporary, emotional, or permanent is this change?
The rise of “pet parents”
