According to Vetsource data referenced in the “CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume VII,” feline clinical visits increased 2.7% year over year in the third quarter of 2026. Clinical visits include visits where a patient receives medical care, encompassing wellness and sick visits. During the same time, canine clinical visits fell 3.3%, and clinical visits for all species fell 1.9%.
This represents the 12th straight quarter of growth in feline visits, while canine visits fell in 11 of the last 12 quarters.
Puppies and kittens showed similar growth patterns. Although the CATalyst Council report shows kitten visits in Q3 2026 were down almost 1% from Q3 2025, kitten visits are predicted to finish the fiscal year about 11% above the 2018/2019 pre-COVID baseline, making 2026 the seventh consecutive year of growth. By comparison, puppy clinical visits fell 10% in Q3, putting puppy visits on track to finish 44% below the pre-COVID baseline. Smaller puppy cohorts mean fewer canine visits during subsequent years. While larger kitten cohorts theoretically mean more cat visits, only about a third of cats visit the vet annually. Taking this data into consideration, the CATalyst Council forecasts a 1% to 2% decline in all clinical visits over the next decade.
The consistent growth in feline visits gives veterinary practices an opportunity to nurture relationships with cat owners and potentially shift overall numbers in a more positive direction.