International Student in Switzerland Survives on Cat Food Amidst High Cost of living
Zurich, Switzerland - A Chinese Ph.D. student in switzerland has gained online notoriety for his extreme cost-cutting measures, including consuming cat food as a primary protein source. Identifying himself as “teh most conservative Chinese in Switzerland,” the student details his unconventional survival strategies on Chinese social media.
The student, a medical school graduate who previously worked in Shanghai and saved 300,000 yuan (approximately 60 million won), highlights the meaningful financial challenges faced by international students in one of the world’s most expensive countries.
“To maintain a Ph.D. in Switzerland, you need 1000 ~ 1500 Swiss francs (about 1.5 million ~ 2.2 million won) a month,” he stated.
His posts center around the affordability and nutritional value of cat food. A 3kg bag of cat food,available at Swiss hypermarkets for 3.75 Swiss Francs (around 6,600 won), contains 32% protein. “It’s the most efficient protein source found in Switzerland,” he claims.
He’s also shared tips to make the diet more palatable, advising against mixing the food with milk and suggesting pairing it with party peanuts to mask the flavour and increase satiety.He even asserts a benefit to his hair health, noting, “My colleagues from nearby doctoral programs suffer from hair loss, but cat food has a soft and shiny ingredient, so my hair is better.”
Beyond cat food, the student has explored other avenues for sustenance, including leveraging blood donation centers. “if you donate blood in Switzerland, you can receive unlimited drinks, chocolate, sandwiches, soups, sweets, jelly, etc.,” he explained.
Responses from other Chinese netizens have been mixed, with some reporting unsuccessful attempts to replicate the diet, stating, “I tried it, but I couldn’t eat it because it was too ill.”
