According to the “China Pet Industry White Paper—2022 China Pet Consumption Report,” in 2022 the urban pet (dog and cat) consumption market reached RMB 270.6 billion, up 8.7% from 2021—a significant deceleration compared with the 21.2% growth recorded in 2021. Specifically, growth in the dog consumption market slowed to 3.1%, while the cat consumption market continued to expand steadily, increasing by 16.1% over 2021. The surge in the “cat economy” during the pandemic has provided a solid impetus for the pet industry’s steady growth.

Trend Chart of Dog and Cat Population Changes in the White Paper

Due to cats’ inherent stability and the relatively lower demands they place on owners in terms of time, energy, and cost compared with dog owners, the cat economy has been subject to remarkably few adverse factors—even during the unique circumstances of the pandemic. Behind these robust growth figures, the cat economy has given rise to numerous new consumption trends, and as pet healthcare constitutes the second-largest segment of the overall pet-consumption landscape, feline veterinary care is increasingly attracting attention.

What changes have occurred in pet healthcare under the “cat economy”? By examining selected sections of the “China Pet Industry White Paper: 2022 China Feline Veterinary Care Report,” we may be able to find the answer.

The “China Pet Industry White Paper—2022 China Feline Veterinary Care Report” draws on data collected from September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022, covering 31 provinces, 114 cities, 15 brands, and 1,800 veterinary hospitals. A total of more than 3.7 million feline case records were reviewed, and a pet owner survey was conducted in collaboration with 5,572 dog and cat owners who sought veterinary care.

The cat population continues to rise, and the number of veterinary visits is increasing in tandem.

Data show that in 2022, cats accounted for 61% of all veterinary visits, an increase of 3.1 percentage points compared with 2021.

At the city level, in 2022, first-tier cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai each saw cat visits account for more than 60% of total veterinary visits, with this share increasing compared with 2021. Nanning, Chengdu, and Xi’an also improved their rankings relative to 2021, with even faster growth in the proportion of cat visits.

In terms of the number of veterinary visits, the annual average was 2.1 per cat, a significant decline compared with 2021 data. Notably, 54.1% of cats visited the vet only once in the past year, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to this reduction in annual veterinary visits.

New first-tier cities have a high proportion of young cats, while middle-aged cats are relatively more prevalent in first-tier cities.

Among cat age groups, kittens account for 33.2% and senior cats only 2.7%. The proportion of kittens has been steadily increasing, rising by 1.1 percentage points compared with 2021.

Among cities, Kunming (39.4%), Hefei (38.1%), Nanning (38%), Xi’an (37%), and Chongqing (36.4%) have the highest proportions of young cats, indicating strong demand for cat ownership. The cities with the highest proportions of middle-aged cats are Beijing (8.7%), Shanghai (4.2%), and Guangzhou (4.0%), while all other cities fall below 3%.

Among the cat breeds seen in veterinary clinics, the British Shorthair is the most popular, accounting for 34.1% of visits, followed by the Ragdoll at 12.1%, and the Scottish Fold in third place with a share of 10.9% in 2021. This year, the Scottish Fold has also dropped out of the top ten cat breeds.

The overall vaccination coverage for cats has yet to meet the standard, and public awareness of vaccination still needs to be improved.

In terms of feline immunization, the overall vaccination coverage is only 45.5%, falling short of the threshold for herd immunity; among middle-aged and senior cats, the coverage is even lower, at just 22.7%, while the seropositivity rate for feline antibodies is only 10.5%.

In addition, the prevalence of internal parasite control in cats is 7.7%, while the prevalence of external parasite control reaches 26.4%; products that provide both internal and external parasite protection account for 24.5%. Given the challenges of administering oral medications to cats, combination products that deliver simultaneous internal and external protection are increasingly favored by pet owners and represent the future trend in the parasitic control market.

Thus, it is evident that the risk of infectious diseases in cats remains high, and awareness of feline immunization still needs to be widely promoted among pet owners.

Feline panleukopenia, pulmonary edema, and chronic kidney disease top the list of feline killers.

The primary reason for cats visiting the hospital is health maintenance and prevention, accounting for 62.6% of cases; customer trust and loyalty are key factors. Other reasons include medical treatment (37.4%), vaccination (35.4%), routine health check-ups (11.1%), and spaying/neutering (7.8%).

Among the most common reasons for cats to be hospitalized, spaying/neutering accounts for the largest share at 26.8%, followed by feline lower urinary tract disease at 14.7%, with urinary obstruction being the primary clinical presentation. It is important to note that during hospitalization for feline panleukopenia—particularly in young kittens—the risk of cross-contamination should not be overlooked.

The ranking of the leading causes of death in cats remains consistent with previous years: among kittens, feline panleukopenia is the primary cause of mortality, accounting for 23.5% of cases; in young cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (with pulmonary edema) is the most common cause of death, while chronic kidney disease is the predominant cause of death in senior cats.

Among common feline diseases, feline lower urinary tract syndrome, feline gastroenteritis, and feline upper respiratory tract infection syndrome account for the top three in terms of prevalence. Feline upper respiratory tract infection syndrome, feline lower urinary tract syndrome, and chronic kidney disease are the most frequently diagnosed conditions in kittens, adult cats, and middle-aged to senior cats, respectively, underscoring the need to strengthen standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols for common feline diseases.

In addition to feline diseases, drug poisoning is also a common occurrence, accounting for 29.4% of cases—most of which are caused by owners administering medication on their own, such as antipyretics. Pesticide and acaricide poisoning accounts for 24.3% of cases, often resulting from owners purchasing these products online and using them without professional guidance. Poisoning from toxic plants and animal toxins makes up 16.8% of cases, primarily involving household ornamental plants; the most frequent culprit is lily poisoning. These statistics clearly demonstrate that self-purchasing medications online is a major contributing factor to feline poisoning.

Cats are prone to many common diseases, so diagnostic testing should be standardized.

Among the common diagnostic tests for feline respiratory diseases are radiography (X-ray/CR/DR), complete blood count, serum amyloid A (SAA) testing, biochemical profiling, and ultrasonography, with radiography accounting for the largest proportion at 53.70%.

Among the common diagnostic tests for feline urinary tract diseases, ultrasonography, complete blood count, biochemical analysis, ASS testing, and radiography (X-ray/CR/DR) are utilized; of these, ultrasonography accounts for the largest proportion, at 44.80%.

Among the common diagnostic tests for chronic kidney disease in cats, biochemical testing, complete blood count, blood gas and electrolyte analysis, SAA testing, and ultrasonography are frequently performed; biochemical testing accounts for the largest proportion, at 60.00%.

Among the common diagnostic tests for feline gastrointestinal diseases, complete blood count, serum amyloid A (SAA) testing, fecal examination, radiography (X-ray/CR/DR), and parasitological examination are the most frequently performed. Notably, the complete blood count accounts for the largest proportion, at 51.40%.

Medication for common feline diseases: among the commonly used drug classes for feline respiratory disorders, antimicrobials account for the largest proportion, reaching 68.40%; drugs that regulate water, electrolyte, and acid–base balance, respiratory medications, vitamin and mineral supplements, and hormonal and endocrine-modulating agents are also frequently prescribed for these conditions.

Among the commonly used medications for feline urinary tract diseases, antimicrobials account for the largest proportion, at 59.90%, while drugs that regulate water, electrolyte, and acid–base balance, analgesics, vitamin and mineral supplements, and hematologic agents are also frequently prescribed.

Common medication classes for chronic kidney disease in cats include drugs that regulate water, electrolyte, and acid–base balance, which are used in 61.20% of cases; antimicrobial agents, vitamin and mineral supplements, gastrointestinal medications, and cardiovascular medications are also frequently prescribed.

Among the commonly used drug classes for feline gastrointestinal disorders, antimicrobials are the most frequently prescribed, accounting for 66.90% of all prescriptions. Gastrointestinal medications, vitamin and mineral supplements, drugs for regulating water, electrolyte, and acid–base balance, and biological products (excluding vaccines) are also frequently used.

When prescribing medications for various diseases, the appropriateness of antibiotic use must be clearly defined. For feline laboratory testing, submitting samples to third-party laboratories that offer PCR-based testing can effectively address the issue of in-hospital sample contamination, while providing a broader range of test options at lower costs. The overuse of antibiotics has led to an increased proportion of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Histopathological examination is a valuable tool for the definitive clinical diagnosis of feline diseases.

In feline coronavirus testing, the highest detection rate is observed in pleural and peritoneal effusions, while the lowest detection rate is found in aqueous humor. Among age groups, young cats exhibit the highest detection rate, whereas middle-aged and senior cats show the lowest. The Devon Rex breed has the highest detection rate, while the Persian breed has the lowest.

Female pet owners make up the largest share, and attitudes toward pet ownership have shifted.

Among cat owners, the primary demographic is aged 20–30, accounting for 62% of the total; 86% are female, and 64% are unmarried; 68% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unmarried, highly educated young women constitute the main group of cat owners.

Cats acquired through purchase transactions account for 44% of the total, with purchases from brick-and-mortar pet stores representing the largest share at 20%. Next are purchases from other cat owners and online purchases, accounting for 18% and 6%, respectively. Meanwhile, 27% of cat lovers have found their “forever homes” through adoption or foster care.

Seventy-six percent of cat owners regard their cats as important family members, loved ones, or even their own children; 16% see their cats as friends, companions, and confidants for venting negative emotions; and 7% view cats simply as pets, without assigning them any specific role.

The top three factors that cat owners consider essential for a pet hospital are the veterinarian’s level of expertise, a quiet and hygienic environment, and comprehensive equipment and facilities. Location and service, by contrast, are not viewed as primary considerations by cat owners.

The foregoing is merely our interpretation of selected sections from the “China Pet Industry White Paper—2022 China Feline Veterinary Care Report.”

This article is reprinted from: PaiDu Pet Industry Reference