New Publication Alert: Caregiver Burden in Cat Owners: A Qualitative Study of Chronic Illness Management

The Veterinary Psychology Lab is pleased to announce the publication of a new study exploring the experiences of cat owners caring for a cat with chronic illness. This study represents the first phase of an ongoing project focused on developing and validating a measure of caregiver burden specifically for cat owners. Although pet caregiver burden has become an increasingly important area of research, most existing studies and assessment tools have focused on dog owners. To develop a meaningful assessment tool for cat caregivers, it is first necessary to understand their lived experiences and the challenges they face.

To address this gap, Dr. Nikki Bennett and undergraduate research assistant Matt Fellows conducted in-depth interviews with cat owners caring for a cat with a chronic illness. Participants described a range of practical and emotional caregiving challenges while also sharing the strategies they used to navigate these demands. A particularly important finding involved the role of the human-cat bond. Participants described how their relationships with their cats motivated them to continue providing care despite significant challenges. At the same time, illness and caregiving responsibilities sometimes altered those relationships. Several themes identified by participants highlight aspects of caregiving that may be unique to cat owners or that have received limited attention in previous research.

Aspects of these findings will directly inform the next phase of this research program: the development and psychometric validation of an assessment tool designed specifically to measure caregiver burden in cat owners. In the Veterinary Psychology Lab, our goal is to improve the identification of caregiver challenges and support the development of interventions and resources that promote the wellbeing of both caregivers and their cats.

Interested in reading the article? You can access the publication here: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2026.0029