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RTAs leading cause of death in cats, study finds
RTAs were the cause of death in 45.6 per cent of cases.
It is the first study to include data from cats without vets.

A new study has revealed road traffic accidents (RTAs) to be the leading cause of death among UK cats aged up to eight years old.

The 'Bristol Cats' study, a collaboration between the University of Bristol Veterinary School and Cats Protection, is believed to be the first study into feline mortality to include cats without veterinary surgeons or insurance.

Researchers gathered data from a series of questionnaires, designed to develop a longitudinal study of feline health, welfare and behaviour. They also examined medical records from the cat's first eight years of life, and collected data from the owners themselves.

Where cats died during the study, their cause of death was categorised into either organ-specific issue, disease or event. This was then analysed by age and lifestage.

Of the 2,444 cats recruited into the study, 362 died before reaching nine years old.

The most common cause of death in cats aged up to eight years old was an RTA, which had occurred in 45.6 per cent of cases. RTAs were also the leading cause in kittens (aged under one year) and young adult cats (1-6 years old).

Among 29 kittens which died during the study, 61.2 per cent died as a result of an RTA. This was followed by feline infectious peritonitis (11.9 per cent) and other trauma (7.5 per cent).

RTAs were also the most common cause of death in young adult cats, occurring in 49.6 per cent of cases. Of the deceased young cats, 6.5 per cent died of kidney disease, 6.5 per cent died of heart disease and 14.4 per cent died of a non-specified reason.

Aimee Taylor, corresponding author from Bristol Vet School, said: “Our study is the first to include deaths that weren't recorded in medical records or insurance in pet cats up to 8 years old. We found age increases the chance of death, but there is a high mortality risk for cats up to two-years-old, too.

“However, as our research only looked into pet cats up to eight-years-old, disease related causes of death may well overtake RTAs in older cats.”

Dr Emily Blackwell, principal investigator at Bristol Cats, said: “Findings from the study could be used to raise awareness amongst owners of young adult cats, as well as develop better vet care strategies to improve the length and quality of life for the UK’s pet cats.”

The full study has been published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Image © Shutterstock

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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...
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Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."