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Cats achieved 2.6 million live outcomes in 2024, up 1% from 2023
Source: Shelter Animals Count (2025)
Shelter Animals Count. (2025). Shelter Animals Count 2024 Annual Report. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/shelters/#us-cat-live-outcomes-2024
2.2 million
Approximately 2.2 million cats were adopted from US shelters in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
273,000
273,000 cats were euthanized in US shelters in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
188,000
188,000 cats were killed in US shelters in 2024, a 10.5% decrease from 2023 and the lowest on record
Best Friends Animal Society (2025)
362,000
362,000 cats were returned to owner or field in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
