Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for pet cats aged eight or younger in the UK, according to new research by the University of Bristol Veterinary School and Cats Protection. The study, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, is the first in the UK to assess cat mortality rates using data beyond veterinary and insurance records.
Researchers used data from the long-term “Bristol Cats” study, which tracks feline health, welfare, and behavior through owner questionnaires and medical records. Out of 2,444 cats in the study, at least 362 died before their ninth birthday.
Among those deaths, road traffic accidents accounted for 45.6%, making it the most common cause overall. For kittens under one year old, that number rose to 61.2%, followed by feline infectious peritonitis (11.9%) and other trauma (7.5%).
For cats aged one to six, road accidents remained the top cause at 49.6%. Other causes in this group included unspecified illnesses (14.4%), kidney disease (6.5%), and heart disease (6.5%).
The study also calculated annual probabilities of death by age. Cats under two years old had a 2.8–3.1% chance of dying each year. That figure dropped to 1.7% for two- to three-year-olds before rising steadily, reaching 3.6% in cats aged seven to eight.
Lead author Aimee Taylor from Langford Vets said the findings offer a clearer picture of early cat mortality by including cases not typically recorded in vet clinics. “While the risk of death increases with age, cats under two years also face a high mortality risk, mainly from accidents,” she said. “In older cats, disease-related causes may become more common.”
Dr. Emily Blackwell, senior lecturer and lead researcher of the Bristol Cats study, emphasized the importance of early disease detection. “Greater awareness of kidney and heart disease in young adult cats could help reduce early deaths and improve lifespan,” she said.
Cats Protection’s feline epidemiologist Dr. Jenni McDonald noted that the data reflects real-life experiences of cats and provides useful insights. “Understanding how and why cats die helps owners and care professionals improve their wellbeing and safety,” she said.
The findings highlight the need for increased road safety awareness and early veterinary checks to protect the health of the UK’s 11 million pet cats.
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