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Survey highlights benefits of cats to mental wellbeing
Nine out of ten cat owners say owning a cat has a positive effect on their mental health.

Findings released ahead of World Mental Health Day 2019 

Research by leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection has highlighted the importance of pets to their owner’s mental health and wellbeing. 


Survey findings published by the charity shows that nine out of ten cat owners (93.7 per cent) say owning a cat has a positive effect on their mental health. Of the activities that people said helped them most were stroking their cat (72 per cent) and playing with their cat (58 per cent).


When asked if owning a cat has had a positive effect on their mental wellbeing, 26.1 per cent of respondents said ‘very much’, 21.6 per cent said ‘quite a lot’, 23.5 per cent said a ‘fair amount’. 


The research comes ahead of World Mental Health Day (10 October) and was conducted as part of Cats Protection’s ‘More Than Just a Cat’ campaign - an initiative that focuses on the numerous ways cats can enhance and enrich human lives.


Kate Bunting from Cats Protection said: “We often hear about how cats have had a positive impact on their owners’ wellbeing and it’s heart-warming to see how cats really can make such a difference to people’s lives.

“We believe anyone can benefit from owning a cat. From sharing a secret to being by our side during lonely times, cats lift our spirits and make us more able to cope with the stresses of modern living so having a cat in the home is a win-win for everyone.”

Eve Hawker from Romford, Essex, is one feline owner who credits her cat for helping her to improve her mental health. Following a complete mental breakdown earlier this year, Eve adopted a fluffy black and white cat called Dusty and says that he came to her at just the right time.

“I’m so grateful to Cats Protection for bringing Dusty and I together,” said Eve. “He has saved me and given me a purpose as well as more love and affection than I ever expected.

“He’s always with me and will help when I’m not feeling myself by nudging my hand and being even more affectionate than usual.

“Since having him in my life, my confidence has started to come back and I’m in a much better place and I believe he has played a huge part in improving my mental health. Dusty is so much more than just a cat, he’s my little angel.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.