政府新闻
上海猫接管电影的那一天 2025-12-08
On a soft, sunny Sunday at Shanghai Wanda Cinema's Wujiaochang location, a Maine Coon named Shunzi arrived with the unhurried composure of someone who knows he's the star of the room. Before the opening credits of "Zootopia 2" even rolled, he had already made the acquaintance of feline "colleagues": Jiete the Devon Rex, Doubao the tabby, and a Garfield-round tomcat charmingly named Jin Tangyuan (Golden Sticky Riceball). Many had come in costume – tiny hats, princess dresses, even a few outfits playfully coordinated with characters from the film – turning the lobby into something between a movie premiere and a pet-parent fashion gala.
The afternoon was part of a themed pet-friendly screening organized by Wanda Cinema and the local pet community Crazy Cat (疯狂的德子). Owners with approximately 40 cats arrived armed with carriers, blankets, and no small amount of nervous anticipation, only to melt instantly upon entering the hall. There were cats nestled in their owners' arms, cats perched alertly on seat backs, and the occasional soft, well-timed mrrp that synced uncannily with the animated animals on screen.
For many, the unexpected part wasn't the chaos – but the calm. As one owner (Xiaohongshu name relxkf) wrote afterward, "I didn't expect my cat to actually watch the movie… but she did. She was focused the entire time." During a chase sequence, her cat's pupils widened and she leaned forward as if ready to join Officer Judy Hopps on duty. At a comedic beat from Nick Wilde, she gently bumped her head against the screen in approval. For 90 minutes, the hall fell into a peculiar harmony: a roomful of cats and humans laughing – or quietly observing – together. "It is my cat's most serious extracurricular activity ever," relxkf wrote on her Xiaohongshu account, noting how the usually hyper kitten sat perfectly still, ignoring even her favorite snack.
Others spoke with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for giving us this chance," one attendee (Xiaohongshu name: Xintian Xuey 新田雪夜) wrote afterward, saying it was her first time joining an event by Crazy Cat and Wanda. "The preparation was so thoughtful. All the cats were beautifully groomed, all so sweet. Ours are a bit shy – but meeting everyone's cats was pure happiness."
The dog-friendly screening the day before, held at Hoyts Cinema in Jing'an District in partnership with Shanghai Pawty Intelligence Team, drew an equally enthusiastic turnout. Pet parents lined up for photos with character standees before settling in for the show and a post-film group photo and raffle – a scene that sold out almost instantly on ticketing apps.
But the real story is bigger than any single weekend. As China's cultural consumption continues to evolve, cinemas are discovering a new competitive edge not through louder sound systems or larger screens alone, but through the creation of spaces that are immersive, participatory, and deeply shareable.
Increasingly, a movie outing is no longer defined solely by what's projected onscreen. It's a memory-making ecosystem – a place where a cat might discover the thrill of a chase scene, where a dog might sit politely through a musical number, and where humans find a community stitched together by affection, curiosity, and the soft rustle of paws or whiskers nearby.
In Shanghai, at least for one animated blockbuster, the line between cinema and pet café has blurred in the most charming way – and audiences, furry and otherwise, seem more than happy to stay awhile.
Source: City News Service
