Why has feline health research fallen behind? Here’s the scoop.

By Joan Hustace Walker

Though cats may rule as a more popular pet than the dog in sheer numbers, a quick search of peer-reviewed veterinary research shows a different story. Cats have historically lagged far behind dogs when it comes to the number of studies performed for their benefit by researchers. In the 1970s, dog-related research was nearly twice that of studies involving cats. The 1980s saw little change in the proportion between dog and cat research.

Studies show that dog owners are willing to spend up to a dollar daily for medication for their dogs, whereas cat owners will spend only 60 cents a day.

In the 1990s, the gap began to narrow; for every three studies involving dogs, two studies involved cats. And though the gap continues to narrow, cat research in the 21st century still trails studies involving dogs by…

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