New CATalyst Council Report Shows Record 25% Feline Clinical Visit Species Share, A Twelve-Quarter Outperformance Streak and a $34 Billion Addressable Market Opportunity

Cats now account for nearly one in four clinical visits at U.S. veterinary practices, according to newly released data from CATalyst Council. CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume V reveals that while the overall companion-animal veterinary market continued to contract throughout 2025, feline clinical visits grew in every quarter of the year, extending an outperformance streak to twelve consecutive quarters and fundamentally reshaping the veterinary landscape.

The report, integrating seven independent data sources with full-year 2025 metrics, estimates the U.S. feline veterinary market reached $12.7 billion in 2025 practice revenue. If cats achieved the same level of veterinary access and care intensity as dogs, that figure would reach $33.9 billion, a 2.7x multiple, representing $21.2 billion in incremental revenue and one of the most substantial growth opportunities in companion-animal healthcare.

“The data across these sources tells a consistent story: felines are the resilient growth segment in an otherwise contracting veterinary market,” said Jon Ayers, Chair of the CATalyst Council Market Insights Committee. “With feline clinical visits reaching record share and a landmark household survey supporting a 38 percentage point medicalization gap to canines, the scale of the opportunity and the urgency to pivot to feline centricity has never been clearer.”

Critical Findings Driving the Feline Growth Story

CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume V identifies the four key patterns highlighting the feline opportunity:

• Record market share: Feline clinical visit share reached 24.7% in Q4 2025, the highest single-quarter reading ever recorded. Cats now account for nearly one in four clinical interactions at U.S. veterinary practices. Feline clinical visits grew in every quarter of 2025, with an outperformance gap averaging 3.2 percentage points over twelve consecutive quarters. Clinical visits are defined as a patient receiving medical care.
• Revenue per visit converges: Revenue per kitten visit ($162) has now matched revenue per puppy visit ($161), eliminating the historical pricing gap. Each additional feline clinical visit (kittens and adults) represents approximately $246 in clinical revenue. The economic case for practice investment in feline care has never been stronger.
• Consistent Volume Resilience: Declining puppy visits in 2025 (from 2018-2019 baseline) represent a potential contraction in the canine patient pipeline. The feline segment, by contrast, is demonstrating consistent volume resilience and revenue growth, making it the species segment offering a credible path to sustained market expansion.
• Housing trends favor cats: The median first-time homebuyer age has risen to 40 years. The Pending Home Sales Index fell to its lowest level in 25 years. Housing constraints favor feline over canine adoption, as cat ownership is less dependent on yard access and larger living spaces.

“What we’re seeing is no longer a trend; rather it is a structural transformation,” said Kristin Wuhrman, Chair of CATalyst Council. “Practices that invest now in understanding cats more deeply, including their unique behaviors, their subtle health cues, stress physiology, and the distinct needs of their caregivers, will lead the next chapter of veterinary medicine.”

While the feline veterinary market is experiencing strong tailwinds, closing the feline care utilization gap remains one of the industry’s most significant growth opportunities.

Landmark Survey Reveals First Definitive Medicalization Data

Feline Veterinary Market Insights, Volume V is the first CATalyst report to present medicalization rates derived from an early-release population data from CATalyst Council’s landmark 60,000-household survey, conducted in partnership with Forward Group and Kynetec.

The results reveal a 38 percentage point medicalization gap between cats and dogs. An estimated 33% of U.S. household cats received veterinary care in 2025, compared to an estimated 71% of dogs. CATalyst estimates that approximately 51 million cats that are members of American families received no veterinary care, not even a basic annual exam, during 2025.

The survey screened approximately 60,000 U.S. households, with over 30,000 pet-owning homes.

“For the first time, we have definitive data on both how many cats live in American homes and how many are receiving care,” said Gina Fortunato, Executive Director of CATalyst Council. “Felines are proving to be the most resilient segment in a contracting market, yet sustainable growth requires closing the utilization gap of fifty-one million cats with no veterinary care in the past year.”

Fortunato continues, “This is a call to action, especially since nearly 21 million owned cats are already in the life stages where medical conditions occur with high frequency and semi-annual veterinary visits are clinically relevant. Instead, most of these felines are not going to the veterinarian at all. When we remove barriers to care and make visits easier for cats and their people, utilization goes up. That’s the path forward.”

A Market That Matters

The report’s findings carry strategic weight for the entire veterinary industry. CATalyst Council projects a $34 billion total addressable market for feline veterinary care if feline medicalization and care intensity matched that of dogs. That gap represents $21 billion in unrealized revenue, nearly three times current revenue. Supported by seven independent data sources and early-release results from the 60,000-household CATalyst 2026 survey, the analysis confirms that cats are increasingly contributing to practice stability at a time when overall visit volumes face sustained headwinds.

“Feline medicine has moved from an inflection point to a strategic imperative,” said Fortunato. “The convergence of record feline veterinary visit share and definitive medicalization data against four years of declining overall veterinary visits, means the long-term outlook for veterinary growth will increasingly depend on how effectively we serve cats and their families. The data is clear, and the opportunity is significant.”

Looking Ahead

Full results from CATalyst Council’s landmark 60,000-household U.S. pet ownership survey will inform the 2026 CATalyst State of the Cat Report. The survey, approved by two Institutional Review Boards, provides the most comprehensive understanding of U.S. pet ownership and veterinary utilization since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary conclusions are expected in early March 2026.

The full Volume V CATalyst Feline Veterinary Market Insights report and the forthcoming 2026 CATalyst State of the Cat findings are available exclusively to CATalyst Council sponsors. To receive updates or inquire about the benefits of sponsorship, please either contact Gina Fortunato, visit catalystcouncil.org or follow CATalyst Council on LinkedIn.

About CATalyst Council

CATalyst Council is the veterinary industry’s leading authority on the U.S. feline market and 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. CATalyst Council advances feline health through feline-specific intelligence that drives evidence-based innovation and lifelong care.

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"The scale of the opportunity and the urgency to pivot to feline centricity has never been clearer.” - Jon Ayers, Chair of the CATalyst Council Market Insights Committee