Pet Owners’ Preferences for Quality-of-Life Improvements and Costs Related to Innovative Therapies in Feline Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis – A Quantitative Survey

Objectives: This research aimed to explore UK cat owners’ preferences for treatments for feline osteoarthritis (OA), by exploring preferences around quality of life (QoL) improvements, safety considerations, and costs associated with hypothetical innovative pain therapies. Methods: Domains identified in an existing conceptual framework were extracted for inclusion in exploratory interviews with cat owners (n = 3) to identify key domains that contribute to the QoL of cats. QoL descriptions for cats with OA and hypothetical product attributes were developed and validated through veterinarian interviews (n = 3). An online survey was subsequently shared with 255 pet owners in the UK. Pet owners were presented with QoL descriptions and hypothetical product attributes to gather their preference for QoL improvements, and their willingness to pay (WTP) for (unbranded) pain therapies at various price points. Results: Pet owners were motivated to improve their cat’s QoL, which translated into WTP for therapies; specifically, pet owners value QoL improvements in mobility, pain expression, and well-being. When presented with a product profile of the hypothetical novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) and cost, 50% of cat owners were willing to pay more for a mAb that is expected to have improved efficacy and safety when compared to a hypothetical standard of care (SoC). Significantly more pet owners preferred the mAb than the SoC when price was not presented (P <0.01), with product efficacy and safety driving pet owners’ decision making. The majority of pet owners did not agree that taking their cat to the veterinarian once a month for their treatment would be burdensome. Conclusion and relevance: Cat owners in the UK are motivated to improve their cat’s QoL, which translates into WTP for efficacious treatment in pain associated with osteoarthritis. Veterinarians should offer cat owners the pain treatment they feel is best suited for improving the cat’s QoL and to ensure subsequent owner-pet bond is preserved.