Tseng Yi-ju, a Taiwanese animal communicator based in Xiamen, Fujian province, has been assisting pet owners on the Chinese mainland by helping them better understand their animals’ needs and strengthening the emotional bonds between pets and their families. Since relocating to Xiamen in 2021, Tseng has built a career centered on animal communication and customized pet accessories, benefiting from local government initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs from Taiwan.
Tseng highlighted the growing cultural shift where pets are increasingly regarded as integral family members. Her services respond to this trend by addressing behavioral challenges and fostering deeper connections between owners and their animals. One notable example involved a cat that developed self-harming behavior, despite no physical ailments. Through communication sessions, Tseng identified environmental stress as the root cause, prompting the owner to move to a quieter apartment, which resolved the issue.
Her work also extends to supporting owners through emotionally difficult periods, particularly as their pets approach the end of life. Tseng recounted cases where clients sought guidance for aging pets facing serious health challenges. In one instance, an elderly dog’s strong desire to undergo surgery, despite its age, was revealed during a session. Following the procedure, the dog showed remarkable recovery, providing the owner with a sense of closure and relief despite the pet’s eventual passing.
Tseng’s approach has inspired some clients to pursue animal communication themselves, viewing it as a therapeutic tool. Liu Jingruo, a Xiamen resident, shared how her experience with Tseng helped her navigate the final days of her 17-year-old poodle, Youyou, who underwent surgery for a ruptured cyst that veterinarians initially deemed too risky. Liu has since encouraged her middle-school child to engage with animal communication training, finding that it fosters empathy and emotional support for young people, who sometimes prefer confiding in their pets over human family members.
Other practitioners, such as student Sun Xiaonan, have noted the benefits of animal communication in managing multi-pet households and reducing stress among animals. Sun described how understanding her pets’ emotional needs allowed her to resolve conflicts between a newly adopted stray and an existing resident cat, ultimately protecting the well-being of both animals.
As interest in this field grows, Tseng and others see animal communication emerging as a significant component of pet care on the mainland, providing not only behavioral insights but also essential emotional support for modern families.