Source: Animal Health News
CATalyst Council has released the second edition of its Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, and the Expectations Reset report, reaffirming its forecast that U.S. Veterinary clinical visits will decline between 1% and 2% annually through 2035. Updated with second quarter 2026 clinical visit data and findings from the CATalyst 2026 State of the Cat survey, the report shows puppy visits fell 10.5% year over year, marking a fourth consecutive annual decline, while kitten visits increased 1.3%. Overall clinical visits declined 1.5% during fiscal 2026, closely matching the original forecast.
The household survey of more than 60,000 U.S. households confirmed a shortage of young dogs entering homes, reinforcing the demographic outlook. Researchers project the steepest decline will occur in fiscal 2027 before easing over time. While inflation and housing trends may contribute to fewer puppies, CATalyst Council emphasizes that expanding Veterinary care for cats remains the industry’s greatest opportunity for long-term organic growth.