HSUS Veterinarian Study

This survey of US veterinarians was conducted to identify the optimum strategy for changing attitudes about allowing free roaming cats and to identify the most trusted resources for information on cat care and treatment.

All vets believe that cats should be neutered or spayed for several reasons including:

• Prevention of unwanted kittens (61%)
• Prevention of disease/cancer  (42%)
• Behavior problems (15%)
• Prevent spraying (4%)
• Best thing for them (3%)
• No answer (1%)

Male vets are more concerned about unwanted kittens (63%) versus female vets who equally weight the danger of disease (54%).

Vets are comfortable suggesting treatment options but are wary of non-medical suggestions.

Two thirds of vets suggest keeping their cats indoors due to danger from:

• Safety from vehicles (65%)
• May catch diseases (56%)
• Fights with other cats (15%)
• Live longer (13%)
• Safety from theft (10%)
• May catch fleas/ticks (10%)
• May annoy neighbors (8%)
• May kill/injure birds and animals (8%)
• Wild animals (6%)
• Weather (2%)
• Straying (2%)
• Dogs (2%)
• Injuries (2%)

Male vets are more likely to be concerned with vehicles (71%) than female vets, who are more concerned about disease (65%).

Two thirds of vets have actually tried to convince owners to change habits and keep cats inside. Female vets were more likely to make this suggestion (77%), being concerned with disease, including leukemia (60%).

The benefits of keeping a cat outdoors include:

• Destroy furniture (33%)
• Nature is to be outside (18%)
• Cruel to keep it inside (17%)
• Environment allows for it (17%)
• Need exercise and sunshine (14%)
• Farm cats (13%)
• No answer (10%)

The most significant problems associated with outdoor cats are:

• May catch disease (47%)
• Hit by vehicles (24%)
• Fights (14%)
• Injury (8%)
• Kill/injure birds and small animals (3%)
• May catch fleas/ticks (1%)
• Annoy neighbors (1%)
• Stolen (1%)

The themes most likely to convince clients to keep cats indoors are (mean out of 5):

• “A safe cat is a happy cat” (4.1)
• “There’s no place like home for your cat” ( 4.3)
• “Take the worry out of cat care–keep your cat at home” (3.8)
• “A safe and happy cat is at home” (3.6)
• “Don’t make your cat an outsider” (3.6)
• “Home is where the cat is” (3.6)
• “Feel the love and keep your cat home” (3.4)
• “Keep your cat on the inside track” (3.4)
• “Discover the indoor jungle” (3.2)

The best methods of educating clients are:

• Brochures (88%)
• Posters (51%)
• Videotapes (51%)
• Support network (47%)
• CD-ROM (32%)
• Audiotapes (31%)