- Record visit share: Feline clinical visits reached 24.7% in Q4 2025, marking 12 consecutive quarters of outperformance.
- $34B addressable market: The feline segment generated $12.7 billion in 2025 revenue but could reach $33.9 billion if cats received care at the same rate as dogs.
- 38-point care gap: Only 33% of U.S. cats received veterinary care in 2025, compared to 71% of dogs — leaving an estimated 51 million cats without care.
- Revenue parity achieved: Kitten visit revenue ($162) now matches puppy visit revenue ($161), strengthening the business case for feline-focused investment.
Cats now account for nearly one in four clinical visits at U.S. veterinary practices, reaching a record 24.7% visit share in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume V.
While the overall companion-animal veterinary market contracted throughout 2025, feline visits grew in every quarter of the year, extending a 12-quarter streak of outperformance and signaling what industry leaders describe as a structural shift in the marketplace.
CATalyst Council estimates the U.S. feline veterinary market generated $12.7 billion in practice revenue in 2025. However, if cats received veterinary care at the same rate and intensity as dogs, the market could reach $33.9 billion — representing $21.2 billion in unrealized revenue and one of the largest growth opportunities in companion-animal healthcare.
Early-release data from CATalyst Council’s 60,000-household survey, conducted in partnership with Forward Group and Kynetec, found a 38 percentage point utilization gap between cats and dogs. An estimated 33% of owned cats received veterinary care in 2025, compared to 71% of dogs. Approximately 51 million cats received no veterinary care, including annual exams, during the year.
The report also highlights that revenue per kitten visit ($162) has reached parity with puppy visits ($161), eliminating a historical pricing gap. Each additional feline clinical visit represents approximately $246 in revenue across life stages.
In addition, demographic and housing trends — including a rising median age for first-time homebuyers and constrained housing conditions — may continue to favor feline ownership. With overall veterinary visit volumes facing sustained headwinds, CATalyst Council suggests long-term industry growth will increasingly depend on closing the feline care gap and reducing barriers to access.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
