- Feline visits outpaced broader veterinary trends, growing for a third consecutive year amid industry headwinds.
- A persistent feline care gap remains, with many cats still not receiving regular veterinary care despite market momentum.
- Demographic and lifestyle shifts favor cats, supporting the long-term relevance of feline-focused strategies.
- Technology and data tools such as AI and behavioral analytics are emerging as accelerators for feline medicalization.
- Feline-specific practice approaches, including stress-reduction protocols and improved communication, help reduce barriers to care.
- The report sets the stage for 2026 research, including a landmark 40,000-household U.S. pet ownership study.
Catalyst Council has released its Key Insights from Catalyst Council in 2025 report, capturing the defining trends and market dynamics shaping the feline veterinary landscape. Drawing on quarterly reports and aggregated data, the synthesis highlights a pivotal period in which feline veterinary care demonstrated sustained growth and increasing strategic importance—even as overall U.S. veterinary clinical visits declined.
Feline Visit Momentum in a Challenging Environment
The 2025 insights confirm that feline veterinary visits continued to grow for the third consecutive year, reaching record share levels of clinical activity. This performance underscores the resilience of feline care and its expanding role within veterinary practices.
The Ongoing Feline Care Gap
Despite positive visit trends, the report identifies a large and persistent feline care gap. A significant portion of the U.S. cat population still does not receive regular veterinary care, representing a major untapped opportunity for improving feline health outcomes and supporting practice growth.
Demographic Tailwinds and Lifestyle Shifts
Changes in household composition, pet ownership patterns, and lifestyle preferences continue to favor cats. These dynamics reinforce the need for feline-focused strategies and practice models tailored to the needs of cat caregivers.
Technology as an Accelerator
Emerging tools—including AI-enabled assessments, behavioral data capture, and predictive analytics—are highlighted as important enablers of earlier detection, improved utilization, and stronger alignment between caregiver observations and clinical decision-making.
Practice Protocols Designed for Cats
Feline-specific protocols that reduce stress and improve communication are shown to lower barriers to care. By adopting approaches designed around cats’ unique needs, practices can support sustained engagement and utilization.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The report also points forward to Catalyst Council’s next phase of research. In 2026, the organization plans to release findings from a 40,000-household U.S. pet ownership study aimed at deepening understanding of veterinary care utilization, caregiver behavior, and population dynamics.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
