A staff member touches a cat at Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)
by Hayati Nupus
JAKARTA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The cats are playing in the playground at Arnamir Pet Hotel in South Jakarta. Some are kicking a ball, some are sprawled over the payment machine on the table, and others are busy annoying their fellow felines. Some are daydreaming while peering out the window, while the rest are relaxing in their multi-level rooms.
Pet hotels in Jakarta, including Arnamir Pet Hotel, are experiencing a surge in demand as Eid al-Fitr approaches.
"Our pet hotel rooms have been fully booked since two months ago. Some customers even inquired as early as last December, despite reservations not yet being available," said Mohammad Febriansyah, Arnamir Pet Hotel manager, in a recent interview with Xinhua.
During Indonesia's Eid homecoming season, known as mudik, Jakarta residents leave the city where they live and work to visit their hometowns and celebrate the holiday with extended family.
While mudik is a highly anticipated tradition, it often poses a challenge for pet owners who must leave their beloved animals behind. Traveling long distances with pets is not ideal, as it can cause stress and make the journey more difficult.
This presents an excellent opportunity for pet hotel businesses to boost revenue. Arnamir operates 186 rooms across five branches, each designed with permanent walls for easy cleaning and equipped with food, water, and litter boxes.
Each room is reserved for a single cat and comes with an attached camera, allowing pet owners to monitor their furry companions remotely at any time. The hotel also provides a playground and grooming services.
During the mudik season, Arnamir sees significant profits by charging nightly rates ranging from 60,000 to 125,000 rupiahs (approximately 3.6 to 7.5 U.S. dollars), depending on the type of service. In response to the growing demand ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the hotel has expanded its capacity with 128 additional rooms.
To attract customers, Arnamir offers promotional discounts, free grooming sessions, and other perks. The company actively promotes its services on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to reach a wider audience.
The pet hotel business has a promising future as pet ownership continues to rise. "Our customer base grows year after year," Febriansyah said.
Frida Ilham, a member of Arnamir's team, shared her experiences in caring for cats. "Some cats are affectionate and adjust easily, while others arrive stressed and require special attention," she told Xinhua.
She explained that cats are highly sensitive to stress, especially those with past traumas from living on the streets. Stressed cats often exhibit aggressive behavior or refuse to eat.
"We need to be patient and find ways to make them feel comfortable. We show them love and attention. If they start approaching us, it means they are beginning to trust us. And when they start eating, it's a sign they are adapting," Frida explained.
Despite the challenges, Frida finds her job rewarding. "Seeing these cats happy and healthy when their owners pick them up brings us a deep sense of satisfaction," she said.
Rifa Rahmayanti, a loyal customer, always entrusts Arnamir with her five cats during mudik. She believes boarding them at a pet hotel is a better solution than taking them on a 600-kilometer journey from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, which would only cause them stress and anxiety.
"This way, mudik is more comfortable for us, allowing us to spend quality time with our family. And for our cats, it's like a staycation," Rifa said.
According to her, one of the greatest advantages of a pet hotel is its reliable services, from feeding and care to security. "We can even monitor our cats through CCTV while we're back in our hometown," she added. ■
Two cats are seen taking a rest inside rooms of Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)
A cat is seen taking a rest inside a room of Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)
