Shortly before this issue went to press with the “Nine Lives” profiles of feline-only veterinary professionals, Hill’s Pet Nutrition released the well-timed World of the Cat Report. The resource, available for download at bit.ly/3DyQAZ7, examines the state of feline veterinary care, nutrition and trends. It’s the work of Hill’s Cat Advisory Team, whose members include Dr. Lisa Restine, a board-certified feline medicine veterinarian and the company’s professional veterinary feline affairs manager.
One of the report’s key takeaways, Dr. Restine said, is that veterinary clinics can thrive financially if they use cat-friendly practices and follow published guidelines, like those posted at bit.ly/3XDSA9a.
“You’re going to increase revenue,” she said. “You’re helping the cat, you’re helping the cat parent, and you’re also helping the business.”
In many cases, luring cats and their owners into a clinic is the hard part.
“We know how destructive stress can be for cats, and we want to help,” Dr. Restine said. “The best way to do that is by keeping our patients happy and easier to work with. By utilizing the guidelines, we’re able to do more diagnostics, and the clients return more often and are more receptive to listening to us.”
The 28-page report is full of advice and statistics, such as these:
- The United States has an estimated 30 million to 40 million stray, feral or uncared-for cats.
- 31% of U.S. cats were obtained from animal shelters and only 3% were purchased from breeders.
- As of 2024, 96 veterinarians worldwide were feline-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Restine was one of them.
- 82% of dogs visit a veterinarian annually. In contrast, only 40% of cats do.
“The cat owner has to realize the importance of seeing the veterinarian and getting a benefit out of the visit,” Dr. Restine said. “It’s not just a vaccine visit. It’s an examination, and we’re looking to prevent disease. With something like obesity, it’s much easier to prevent weight gain than it is to have weight loss.”