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Study From MSD Animal Health Reveals Opportunity To Increase Feline Vaccination Through Knowledge Sharing Between Veterinarians And Cat Owners
2 weeks ago 
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Vets seen as key drivers of vaccination while differing perspectives and misconceptions are noted as barriers to vaccination compliance
MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), has announced the publication of results from a recent global survey of cat owners and vets aimed at uncovering key drivers, barriers and unmet needs affecting feline vaccination compliance. The study, “Drivers, Barriers, and Unmet Needs affecting Feline Vaccination Compliance: Insights from a Global Survey of Cat Owners and Veterinarians,” was presented at the 2026 World Feline Congress 2026 June 26-28, 2026 and published in the journal Veterinary Sciences.
The study found that cat owners and vets have differing perspectives when it comes to the role of vaccination, with 16% of owners citing vaccination as a key contributor to feline health compared to 69% of veterinarians. It also revealed significant educational gaps exist regarding the importance of vaccination, with 58% of cat owners relying on veterinarians for vaccine information, but only 23% of veterinarians actively sharing educational materials on vaccination importance. Veterinary recommendations (71%) were seen as a top driver to vaccination. This demonstrates that owners seek additional information on the benefits of vaccination, and rely on their vets as a trusted source.
“Our study shows a concerning knowledge gap amongst cat owners regarding the importance of vaccinating their pets,” said Victoria Miles, Companion Animal Director, MSD Animal Health Great Britain. “However, these survey results also confirm how influential veterinary recommendations are, which highlights the pivotal role the profession can play in educating cat owners and improve feline vaccination rates.”
Key Findings
- Veterinarians cite vaccination at a higher rate than cat owners as a key contributor to feline health.
When asked to unaidedly identify three key contributors to maintaining feline health, the most frequent response among cat owners was a high-quality diet (94%). Checkups at the veterinarian (39%), affection (35%) and playtime (17%) were all cited ahead of vaccination (16%). Meanwhile, vaccination and feeding a high-quality diet tied for the top response among vets at 69% each.
- Veterinary recommendations are a leading driver in the decision to vaccinate.
For owners of vaccinated cats, the leading factors influencing their decision to vaccinate were a desire to maintain their cat’s health (62%) and their vet’s recommendation (57%). 71% of vets reported that their recommendation was a top driver for an owner to vaccinate their cat.
- Educational gaps and misconceptions are a top driver of pet owners’ decision not to vaccinate.
Owners who elected not to vaccinate their cats primarily cited beliefs that vaccines were unnecessary for healthy cats (27%) or indoor cats (27%). This aligned with vet’s perceptions of barriers to vaccination including lack of client understanding (53%) and vaccine misinformation (51%).
- Most cat owners want vaccine information from veterinarians or veterinary practice websites, but few veterinarians report sharing materials on the importance of vaccination for cats.
58% of cat owners cited their vet as their primary source of vaccine information. Contrastingly, only 23% of vets report sharing educational materials on the importance of vaccination with cat owners.
These key findings underscore the opportunity for vets to influence vaccination decisions through client education and communication.
“As part of MSD Animal Health’s commitment to the health and welfare of animals, the company organises the year-round ‘Don’t Wait, Vaccinate!’ initiative to support veterinarians with educating pet owners on the importance of vaccination,” adds Victoria. Information to support discussions with cat owners can be found here: Cat Diseases - MSD Animal Health United Kingdom
Study Methodology
Conducted from May 2024 to August 2024, the study captured data from a representative sample of 1,330 companion animal vets and 5,071 cat owners across 14 countries: the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.
UK-NON-260800002
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