Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, and a Question for Animal Welfare

A new report from CATalyst Council, Vetsource, Kynetec, and Dedekind Cut Labs projects that veterinary visit growth may fall well below industry expectations through 2035. ACCESS REPORT HERE

The headline finding is striking: puppy visits have fallen for four consecutive years and now sit 38% below pre-pandemic levels, while kitten visits have remained 8–10% above baseline.

The report frames this as a demographic challenge for veterinary medicine. I see it as something else as well: evidence that shelter data may be one of the industry's most valuable leading indicators.

Long before this report, animal welfare organizations were seeing a growing divergence between dogs and cats. Shelter Animals Count data shows dog adoptions experienced a significant decline after the pandemic and have only partially recovered. Meanwhile, cat adoptions have remained strong and, in many communities, continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels. The veterinary industry is now seeing the downstream impact of trends that shelters have been watching for years.

The report also raises an important question for animal welfare. Access to care has rightly become one of our industry's highest priorities. Cost, housing, and access to veterinary services are real barriers for many families with pets. But if those factors are the primary explanation, why are cats moving in the opposite direction?

Cat adoptions are growing. Kitten veterinary visits are growing. The divergence between dogs and cats suggests there may be more at work than affordability alone. Are we seeing a lifestyle shift? Are changing work patterns, housing realities, and household preferences making cats a better fit for more people than dogs?

If so, animal welfare may need to think beyond access to care. We may need to ask a bigger question: What role should animal welfare play in encouraging more people to successfully bring companion animals into their lives?

The CATalyst report is an important forecast for veterinary medicine. It should also serve as a reminder that the data collected every day in shelters may tell us far more about the future than we realize.