Research on Changes in Resource-Allocation Logic among Shenzhen Youth in the Age of Waithood: Evidence from the Pet Economy

China's pet economy has grown rapidly over the past decade, yet this commercial boom has coincided with a less discussed social shift: young people in first-tier cities are finding it increasingly difficult to reach the conventional milestones of adulthood. Sky-high property prices and a fiercely competitive labour market have stretched the transition to adulthood into what scholars call Waithood. Although this theory was originally developed to explain the living conditions of young people in Africa, its application to research in the context of Chinese cities remains relatively limited. Furthermore, existing studies on pet ownership rarely interpret pet-owning behavior from the macro perspective of the reconfiguration of youth resources. Taking Shenzhen as a case, this paper examines how Waithood reshapes the allocation of money, time and emotional energy among young adults, and what pet consumption reveals about this reallocation. Drawing on published literature, industry statistics and existing youth surveys, the analysis suggests that pet-keeping is best understood not as a fleeting emotional fad but as a strategic reallocation of resources under conditions of deep uncertainty. The findings carry implications for interpreting delayed family formation, shifting consumption patterns and the changing meaning of adulthood in urban China.