Souq Waqif pet shops a big draw for young and old

Doha residents, Gayle Soriano and Carla Lacson had never owned pets back home in the Philippines but yesterday they found themselves strolling from one pet store to another at Souq Waqif looking for a scratching post for a grey longhair they have both adopted a couple of months back.They found the cat loitering outside their flat and the feline decided to stay longer, waiting for leftover food from the owners of its newfound home. But they stopped giving leftovers after a veterinarian recommended that they should, instead, feed it with cat food.“I never thought it would be this expensive to own a cat!” complained Gayle, who added that she now spends extra to buy cat food, cat litter and other pet necessities. “But we’ve grown fond of her because she’s quiet and housebroken,” she added.In another pet shop, a mother was having a light banter with her two sons, who tried but failed to convince her to buy them a Persian cat.“We used to own some cats and dogs back in our country but our home here in Doha is too small, making it very difficult for us to take care of a pet,” she told Gulf Times. “Perhaps, next time,” she said, comforting the obviously disappointed young boy as they walked away from the store.Mohamed, who manages one of the pet shops, said the stores are one of the “best” attractions and crowd drawers at Souq Waqif, which is renowned among Qatar residents and tourists alike for its restaurants, souvenir shops and antiquated ambience.However, demand for pets has dropped in recent months, which he attributed to the summer season and the exodus of many expatriate workers affected by company downsizing since oil prices fell. “While many people visit the shops, there are only a few who buy pets. But once residents start coming back from their vacation, maybe our sales will pick up,” he noted.One family visiting the Souq said a trip to the pet shops is a must for their children. “While we do not buy any pets, our children enjoy looking at the variety of fish and other animals. They also enjoy petting the rabbits and dogs,” the father said.When asked what pets are popular among customers, Mohamed said customer preference “always varies and depends on how much they are willing to spend for a pet.”He said a Maltese puppy sells for QR2,500, while a Persian kitten can be bought for QR1,000. A small turtle, he added, costs QR45. Love birds range from QR60 to QR120 and an African grey parrot costs QR1,500.