BANGKOK, May 6 -- More and more young Thais are opting for pets over parenthood - and cats have become a clear favourite.

Milin Veraratanaroj, chairman of Tang Ngee Soon Superstore in Udon Thani, has seen it first-hand and said there's been a clear drop in interest in having children since the pandemic began, highlighting a shift in sales of baby products, especially formula and diapers, The Bangkok Post reported today.

"Diaper sales dropped by roughly 20-30 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 year-on-year," he was quoted as saying.

Young people are increasingly seeing kids as expensive, and instead are choosing dogs, cats, rabbits and even squirrels, he said.

To Milin, Thailand's shrinking birth rate could hurt its economy in the l...