CATS Report 2025 | CATS Report

Read the Cats and Their Stats (CATS) UK annual report

Welcome to CATS 2025, our sixth comprehensive survey about cats in the UK. Packed with cat statistics, the latest report highlights rising cat ownership among younger, more affluent individuals, increased interest in pedigree breeds, and a shift toward purchasing rather than adopting cats. This is placing increased pressure on the rehoming sector, which is already working at high capacity. Social media is influencing how younger owners care for their pets, offering both risks and opportunities for promoting cat welfare.

Access to veterinary care remains a concern, with affordability potentially deterring less affluent individuals from cat ownership.

Here’s a summary of what we found. You can read a number of cat statistics in our full report as well as reports from the devolved nations.

Read the full report Read the reports from the devolved nations

Cat population and ownership

There are around 10.2 million owned cats in the UK, a slight fall from 10.6 million in 2024
Almost one in four households (24%) own a cat, down from 25% in 2024
66% of households own one cat: 34% own two or more cats
Ownership has increased for 18 to 34-year-olds, declined for 35 to 54-year-olds, and although stable for women and those age 55+, is at its lowest level for these groups since 2020
A higher proportion of cat owners that have acquired a cat in the last 12 months are in more affluent social groups. 49% of recent cat owners are ‘AB social grade’ (44% in 2024)
For the first time, for cats acquired in the last 12 months, over half are pedigrees (51%)
The proportion of the total pet cat population that is ‘bought’ has continued to increase, 38% in 2025 from 34% in 2024

Where are owners getting their cats from?

Cats tend to be bought (38%), adopted from a UK rehoming charity (23%) or have been taken on from a neighbour, family member or friend (16%)
8% of the total current cat population was acquired during the last 12 months, equating to over 1.8 million cats

Find out more about getting a cat or kitten.

Veterinary care

1.5 million cats (15%) are not neutered. The top reason for not neutering is that owners want their cat to have kittens (19%). The top reason in 2024 was that ‘my cat doesn’t go outside’ now at 17% (20% in 2024)
The cost of neutering is no longer one of the top reasons why owners decide not to neuter their cat. Cats Protection offers a low-cost neutering scheme for eligible owners
Microchipping numbers have stalled, despite the introduction of compulsory pet cat microchipping in England in 2024. Across the UK, 74% of cats are microchipped (75% in 2024), 22% are not microchipped
Top reasons for not being microchipped are that the cat doesn’t go outside (22%), the cat doesn’t stray or go far (20%)
93% of cat owners that have microchipped their cat say that their contact details are up to date, up from 92% in 2024

Find out more about neutering and microchipping.

Cat health

8% of owned cats are not registered with a vet, 9% in 2024
64% of cat owners take their cat to the vet routinely each year
57% of owners say that they do not visit the vet as often as they would like (58% in 2024)
For the first time, the stress of a vet visit is equal to cost as a barrier to visiting the vet (25% each)
The proportion of insured cats has increased again to 53% (50% in 2024)
The proportion of cats that are up to date with vaccinations has risen again to 77% (75% in 2024)
32% of owners identify their cat as overweight, while 26% think their cat is an ideal weight and 38% worry that their cat is underweight, very similar to 2024 figures
Owners are increasingly researching their cat’s needs, both before and after purchase:
35% of owners did lots of research before getting their cat: (34% in 2024)
35% of owners tend to do lots of research about how best to look after their cat: (32% in 2024)
Some cat accessories seem to be gaining in popularity but can be associated with stress for cats. 12% own a GPS tracker collar, 15% own a cat harness and 11% own a cat backpack
40% of cat owners own or use an electronic or ‘smart’ product for their cat

Find out more about looking after your cat’s health.

The role that cats play in our lives

The wellbeing benefits of cat ownership are still a strong motivator for having a cat; companionship, reducing loneliness and reducing stress are collectively the top reasons that people choose to own a cat (55%)
Over 1.5 million households don’t currently own a cat but would like to
Over half a million households can’t have a cat due to issues with landlords
21% of people who had to give up their cat say that affordability is the reason
22% of owners said the main reason for having a cat in their life is to help them feel less stressed
74% of owners say having a cat brings them joy
92% of owners consider their cat part of the family
86% of owners spend time stroking their cat or sitting together every day, with 71% regularly talking to their cat
49% of cat owners say their cat gives them something to get up for in the morning
A quarter (25%) of those who don’t own a cat say it’s because they couldn’t go through the pain of loss again

Safety of cats

27% of cat owners said that their cat had been injured in the time that they had owned them. The most common reason for injury is fights with other cats outside the household, 15%
3% of injuries were due to a road traffic accident
Of the cat owners who have seen their cat experience fireworks, 65% say that their cat is adversely affected by them, including hiding (24%) or trying to escape/run away (14%), similar figures for 2024

Find out more about keeping your cat safe.

Where do we go from here?

Now in its sixth year, the CATS Report continues to shed light on the evolving world of cats and the people who care for them. It offers vital insight for the animal welfare sector, the veterinary profession, and government, helping us all understand how best to protect and promote feline welfare in a fast-moving landscape.

A key trend is the rise of a younger, often more affluent, generation of cat owners. They care deeply about their pets and are keen to do the right thing. Many turn first to social media for advice, and they’re more likely to buy a cat than adopt one, often with a preference for pedigree breeds, including those with known health concerns.

This presents both opportunities and challenges. It’s encouraging to see strong emotional investment in cats, and we welcome any owner wanting to do their best. But cats are not small dogs. They have unique behaviours, needs and instincts. From litter trays to territory, companionship to independence, responsible ownership starts with understanding what it truly means to see the world through cats’ eyes.

Education is therefore more important than ever. We want to help the whole of the UK public, whether they own a cat, feed a stray, or come across a feral, to understand the needs of all cats. Owned cats, community cats, strays and ferals each require different approaches, but all deserve respect, care and protection. A truly cat-literate nation is one where every cat’s welfare is better understood and better safeguarded.

We must also consider how these trends affect rehoming. As adoption rates fall and interest in pedigree cats rises, we may begin to see a shift in the kinds of cats needing our help.

Read the full report