Feline Veterinary Market Reaches New Milestone as CATalyst Council Reports Record Q3 Growth and a Three-Year Momentum Surge
The landscape of companion-animal medicine is undergoing a measurable shift, and cats are emerging as the driving force behind it. According to newly published data from the CATalyst Council, the feline segment of the veterinary market has reached a pivotal moment. The organization’s latest report, Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume IV, reveals that cats accounted for 23 percent of all clinical veterinary visits in the third quarter of 2025—the highest proportion ever recorded for a Q3 reporting period. This new milestone underscores an unmistakable trend: feline veterinary care is not only growing but accelerating in a way that is reshaping both clinical practice and industry strategy.
The findings are particularly noteworthy because they emerge at a time when overall companion-animal clinical visits have been declining year-over-year since 2022. While the total number of veterinary visits for all species continues to soften, cats are moving in the opposite direction. Feline clinical visits increased by 2 percent in Q3 2025, marking the third consecutive year in which cats have outpaced growth in all-species veterinary utilization. This consistent rise signals a deep and sustained shift in the market—one that is being fueled by changes in pet ownership, healthcare access, inflation pressures, and emerging technologies that enable more proactive feline care.
Kristin Wuhrman, Vice Chair of CATalyst Council, emphasizes that this is not a temporary surge or isolated anomaly. “We’re seeing sustained momentum, not just a moment,” she noted. “The continued rise in feline visits tells a clear story: cats are shaping the future of companion-animal medicine. Their needs, behaviors, and subtle health cues demand thoughtful, species-specific care. Practices that lean into understanding cats more deeply will lead this next chapter.”
Wuhrman’s observation points to a broader truth long recognized in veterinary medicine: cats, despite being the most populous companion animal in the United States, have historically been underserved in clinical environments. Unlike dogs, which tend to be more comfortable traveling and visiting veterinary offices, cats often present barriers to care due to stress behaviors, transportation challenges, and caregiver misconceptions about their medical needs. Over the last several years, however, practices have increasingly adopted feline-friendly approaches—ranging from low-stress handling and environmental modifications to enhanced communication tools that help caregivers better understand feline health. These strategies are now beginning to pay off at scale.
Unpacking the Numbers: Why Feline Visits Are Rising
The Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume IV report highlights four significant trends that are collectively driving the remarkable growth in feline veterinary care.
1. Growth Across the Care Continuum
Both preventive (wellness) and non-wellness feline visits rose in Q3 2025. This indicates that more cats are being brought in routinely—not only when illness signs appear. For a species whose early symptoms often go unnoticed by caregivers, increased wellness engagement represents a major shift in public understanding. It also reflects the success of initiatives that aim to educate cat owners on the importance of annual exams, dental care, and age-specific monitoring.
2. A Favorable Demographic Landscape
One of the most powerful contributors to the feline market’s growth is demographic momentum. Kitten adoptions remain well above pre-pandemic levels, even as puppy adoptions continue to decline. This shift means a growing share of new pet owners are choosing cats, creating robust long-term potential for veterinary engagement throughout each pet’s life cycle. More kittens entering households today translate into more adult and senior feline patients in the years ahead.
3. Inflation and Affordability Pressures
Veterinary services inflation continues to exceed growth in the broader Consumer Price Index, placing additional strain on pet owners and potentially reducing utilization for some segments. Yet the feline market is demonstrating resilience despite these pressures. This underscores both the increasing commitment of cat owners to health maintenance and the importance of new cost-accessible care models that many practices are beginning to adopt. From payment plans and telehealth to subscription-based wellness programs, innovations that improve affordability are becoming essential components of feline healthcare delivery.
4. Technology as a Catalyst for Feline Medicalization
Advances in AI-enabled home monitoring, diagnostics, wearables, and behavioral data analysis are emerging as key tools for early detection of feline disease. Cats are experts at masking discomfort or illness, so tools that provide continuous insight into activity patterns, appetite, litterbox behavior, and vocalization are enabling caregivers and clinicians to intervene earlier. According to the report, these technologies have the potential to accelerate feline medicalization at a faster rate than other species. As these innovations become more broadly adopted, the gap between dog and cat healthcare utilization may narrow significantly.
Industry Leaders Reflect on a Market in Transformation
The implications of these trends are profound for the veterinary profession. Jane Brunt, DVM, Executive Director of CATalyst Council, explained, “This data reinforces something we’ve observed for decades in feline medicine: when you remove barriers to care and make visits easier for cats and their people, utilization goes up.” Brunt noted that as more practices adopt feline-friendly protocols, outcomes improve across the board. “As more practices embrace feline-friendly approaches, we’re watching the gap narrow and outcomes improve. This is good news for cats, caregivers, and the profession.”
Jon Ayers, Chair of the CATalyst Council Market Insights Committee, underscored the strategic importance of this momentum. “With feline visits rising while overall visits plateau, the long-term outlook for veterinary growth will increasingly depend on how effectively we serve cats and their families,” he said. “The data is clear, and the opportunity is significant.”
The economic potential alone is striking. CATalyst Council projects that if feline medicalization—the rate at which cats receive routine and advanced medical care—were to match that of dogs, the U.S. feline veterinary market could expand 2.5 times its current size, reaching $32 billion. This represents one of the most substantial and underdeveloped opportunities in companion-animal healthcare.
Anne Ward, DVM, Chair of CATalyst Council, added that the momentum reflects a broader collaborative effort across the veterinary ecosystem. “The growing engagement from veterinary professionals, industry partners, and caregivers reflects a shared commitment to elevating care for cats,” Ward said. “This report highlights both the progress we’ve made and the work still ahead, and CATalyst Council is proud to help drive that momentum across the profession.”
A Turning Point for the Veterinary Industry
As the CATalyst Council’s latest analysis demonstrates, feline medicine has officially reached an inflection point. Rising feline visit volumes, evolving caregiver expectations, and new technology-driven insights are intersecting to reshape both clinical care and the broader veterinary economy. The report suggests that the next era of veterinary growth will be defined not only by innovation and expanded access but also by how effectively the profession adapts to the unique needs of millions of cats and their families.
The data is clear: cats are no longer the silent majority of companion animals. They are actively shaping the future of veterinary medicine—and the industry is beginning to respond.
About CATalyst Council
CATalyst Council is a national 501(c)(3) dedicated to advancing feline health and elevating the human-feline bond. The organization convenes veterinary leaders, industry partners, and researchers to deliver evidence-based resources, encourage community collaboration, and ensure all companion cats receive lifelong care.
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