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425,000 dogs and cats were killed in US shelters in 2024, down 59% from 1.03 million in 2016
Source: Best Friends Animal Society (2025)
Best Friends Animal Society. (2025). Best Friends Animal Society. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/shelters/#us-shelter-animals-killed-2024
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)
2.2 million
Approximately 2.2 million cats were adopted from US shelters in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
8%
Cat euthanasia rate dropped to 8% in 2024, down from 13% in 2019
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
