The charity Cats Protection has raised concerns about the rising trend of using harnesses on cats,noting that they can cause considerable stress and interfere with a cat’s natural fight-or-flight instincts.

A recent survey conducted by the organization revealed that 15%of cat owners now use harnesses—an increase from 10%just a year ago.

The study also points to a notable shift in the profile of cat owners:younger,wealthier urban residents are increasingly becoming cat parents,with a growing preference for pedigree breeds over mixed-breed cats.

More owners are now purchasing cats instead of adopting,resulting in a drop in rehoming rates from animal welfare charities,which often have limited availability of pedigree cats.

Neutering rates have declined to 82%.Although microchipping is legally required for cats in England,younger owners are less inclined to chip their pets,often opting for GPS trackers as an alternative.