Source: PR Newswire
A 2026 report from the Best Friends Animal Society highlights major progress in reducing cat deaths in U.S. shelters, with nearly 75% fewer cats killed in 2025 compared to a decade ago, based on data from over 10,000 shelters. The organization attributes this improvement to three primary factors: expanded community cat programs that spay, neuter, vaccinate, and return cats to outdoor homes; a 20% rise in cat adoptions, driven largely by Gen Z; and the growth of kitten foster programs, which improve survival rates for vulnerable young cats and reduce shelter overcrowding.
Despite this progress, about 200,000 cats are still killed annually, indicating continued need for action. The report comes as shelters enter “kitten season,” when intake surges, and encourages the public to adopt, volunteer, and advocate. Best Friends continues working toward its goal of making the U.S. a “no-kill” nation, defined as a 90% save rate for shelter animals.