An annual review of feline welfare advances in 2026 highlights key improvements in pain management, disease treatment, enrichment science, and legislation that have improved welfare for cats in the UK and beyond.
2026 represents meaningful progress for feline welfare across legislative, clinical, and scientific dimensions. Each advance - from mandatory microchipping to FIP treatment expansion and improved anaesthetic monitoring - directly improves welfare for individual cats. The cumulative impact of these advances across millions of cats represents significant welfare benefit. Sustaining this progress requires continued advocacy, research investment, and public engagement with cat welfare as a serious animal welfare priority.