March 19 @ 1:30 PM Central
The Untapped Feline Patient: Turning Insight Into Action
Jon Ayers
Former Chair & CEO, IDEXX Laboratories
Jane Brunt, DVM
Senior Advisor to CATalyst Council & Founder of Cat Hospital At Towson
Kristin Wuhrman
Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer of CatsOnly Veterinary Services
Cats now represent 25% of all veterinary clinical visits, marking a sustained shift in species share and signaling significant growth potential for practices positioned to respond. In this session, CATalyst Council will unpack findings from their landmark 60,000-household national survey examining cat owner perceptions, attitudes toward feline health, emotional drivers, and barriers to veterinary care.
Attendees will gain data-driven insight into how cat owners think, what concerns influence care decisions, what anxieties shape clinic visits, and where opportunities exist to close the feline care gap. The session translates market intelligence into practical strategies—helping practices capture unmet demand, strengthen client relationships, and fully realize the growing feline opportunity.
Jon Ayers
Former Chair & CEO, IDEXX Laboratories
Jonathan (Jon) W. Ayers is former Chair and CEO of IDEXX Laboratories, where he grew revenue from $380 million to $2.4 billion and helped generate a 100-fold shareholder return, transforming veterinary diagnostics and software. After a life-changing cycling accident in 2019 left him quadriplegic, Jon redirected his leadership toward conservation and industry advancement. He now serves as Chair of Panthera and chairs the CATalyst Council Feline Market Insights Committee. A Yale graduate with an MBA from Harvard, Jon is a leading voice on innovation, AI, consolidation, and the future of veterinary medicine.
Jane Brunt, DVM
Senior Advisor to CATalyst Council & Founder of Cat Hospital At Towson
Jane Brunt, DVM is a senior advisor to CATalyst Council and founder of Cat Hospital At Towson, Maryland’s first feline-exclusive, AAHA-accredited practice. As a past president of Feline Veterinary Medical Association and Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, she has presented widely and authored peer-reviewed publications on cat topics. She remains an active AVMA member and supporter of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, advancing veterinary student mental health and well-being, veterinary excellence, and the human–feline bond.
Kristin Wuhrman
Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer of CatsOnly Veterinary Services
Kristin Wuhrman is a recognized leader in feline health, behavior, and care delivery, with more than 20 years advancing innovation across the pet and veterinary industries. She is Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of CatsOnly Veterinary Services, a collaborative network of feline-exclusive hospitals built around species-specific and behavior-informed care. Kristin has held leadership roles at Trupanion, Vetstreet, Zoetis, Ceva, and Basepaws, and now serves as Chair of CATalyst Council, advancing feline medicine through research and cross-industry collaboration. A Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, she also advises and invests in emerging feline-focused companies.