Paws up: Cat care defies industry trends

Cat lovers, I am SO proud of you! According to the just-released 2025 CATalyst Feline Market Insights Report, our fabulous feline friends are officially the MVPs of the veterinary world. While other areas of veterinary care are feeling the economic pinch, feline veterinary visits and revenue are on the rise—and not just by a whisker.

KJ's famous cat Grayson at the vet office receiving laser treatment which assists in relieving chronic inflammation associated with stomatitis.

📈 The numbers don't lie (but cats still might knock them off the counter)

The CATalyst Council, the go-to organization for all things feline in the veterinary industry, dropped their first-of-its-kind, data-driven report offering a deep dive into feline healthcare trends across the U.S. Spoiler alert: Cat visits to the vet have been steadily growing since early 2021. Yes, even while overall companion animal visits are trending down, cats are bucking the trend with claws out and tails high.

“We’re seeing strong evidence that feline veterinary care is resilient in the face of inflation and other pressures on pet-owning households,” said Kristin Wurhman, CATalyst Council Vice Chair. “Driven in part by growing cat ownership, cats present a clear opportunity to prioritize investment in a more modern, data-informed feline care ecosystem.”

👏 You tell 'em, Kristin! Our purring pals are no longer the overlooked roommates of the pet world—they’re family, and they’re getting the care they deserve.

🧶 Key kitty takeaways from the report:

Feline clinical visits are up year-over-year (2023–2024), even as overall pet visits declined.

Cat ownership continues to grow, marking a permanent shift post-pandemic.

Urban living and return-to-office life are making cats the pet of choice—because let’s face it, cats are independent, adorable, and excellent at Zoom-bombing.

🐱 Why this matters to you (and your cat):

The more we understand the needs of our feline companions, the better we can care for them. This report shines a light on the growing importance of prioritizing feline health. That means more cat-friendly clinics, more research on feline behavior, and yes, maybe even more treats at the vet.

Want to get a peek at the full report? Reach out to Jane Brunt, DVM at jane.brunt@catalystcouncil.org or check out the CATalyst Council’s site for updates.

🧡 As your Kitty Correspondent, I’m thrilled to see the data finally catching up with what we’ve always known: Cats aren’t just important, they're essential. So let’s keep celebrating their rise to the top of the veterinary world—one wellness visit at a time!

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About KJ

KJ McGlinn, known as The Kitty Correspondent on Pet Pals TV, is a longtime media personality, author of Raised by Cats, and proud cat mom to a clowder of seven. She’s on a mission to celebrate cats, educate their humans, and spotlight the pawsitive impact of feline companionship. You’ll often find her talking cats, comics, and kindness across the Kinda Nerdy Network and beyond.

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