Abstract

Background. Cat abandonment is a major global animal welfare and public health issue, with millions of cats entering shelters each year, and many never reclaimed or adopted. In the Republic of Korea, research on factors driving abandonment and adoption is scarce. Cats differ behaviorally and ecologically from dogs—often living as stray or community cats—posing unique management challenges. This study examines how socioeconomic indicators, veterinary costs, and trap–neuter–return (TNR) activity influenced cat abandonment and adoption outcomes between 2021 and 2023.

Methods. Publicly available data from 250 Korean jurisdictions were compiled, including records on abandonment and adoption, unemployment benefit counts, income indicators, veterinary fees, and TNR activity. Ordinary least squares regression identified predictors for two dependent variables: (1) cat abandonments per 100,000 residents and (2) the percentage of abandoned cats adopted. Spatial regression diagnostics assessed potential spatial dependence.

Results. Across all three years, unemployment benefit recipients were negatively associated with cat abandonment rates (β = –0.22 to –0.24), indicating that stronger welfare safety nets correspond with fewer abandonments. In contrast, community cats managed through TNR per 100,000 residents were positively associated with abandonment counts (β = 0.29 to 0.31), likely reflecting reactive TNR targeting in high-abandonment areas or increased detection of abandoned cats. For adoption, rabies vaccination fees were consistently negatively associated (β = –0.19 to –0.25), with revisit consultation fees also showing negative links. In contrast, consultation and hospitalisation fees were positively associated with adoption rates in 2022–2023 (β up to 0.33 for consultation fees), suggesting that better-developed veterinary infrastructure may foster adoption. No spatial dependence was detected for abandonment or adoption, implying that patterns were shaped by local rather than regional effects.

Conclusions. This study delivers the first nationwide, multi-year analysis of cat abandonment and adoption in Korea by integrating socioeconomic, veterinary, and TNR data. Findings show that welfare programs like unemployment benefits may reduce abandonment, while TNR counts may reflect underlying abandonment pressures rather than directly increasing them. Veterinary costs influenced adoption: preventive care costs could deter adopters, while higher consultation and hospitalisation fees reflected stronger veterinary capacity and a culture supportive of adoption. These results broaden understanding of the drivers of cat welfare outcomes and highlight the need for longitudinal and mixed-method studies to clarify causality and guide evidence-based policies to reduce abandonment and improve adoption.