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Home to our Ultimate Congress Veterinary Guide for Modern Day Cat Care

This guide is designed to help you get the most out of Congress.

We’ve collected everything you need to know, from details about our expert speakers and inspiring lecture series, to information about us as a charity and the programmes that we run. We’ll continue to update this guide with the latest information as events are added and more details are made available. Click the links below to be taken directly to that section.

Section 1: Congress fees

Section 2: Meet the speakers

Section 3: Lecture guide

Section 4: The charity

Congress Fees

As an international charity, we seek to inspire and empower as many people who share our vision of a Cat Friendly World as possible. We firmly believe that in sharing information, skills and knowledge, together we can improve the life experience of cats everywhere. This is why we’ve designed our events to be accessible for all, with groundbreaking research, access to the expertise of leading names in feline medicine and practical, high quality CPD available to a worldwide community of veterinary professionals. Ultimately, we want to create a Cat Friendly world and we’re here to provide you with the knowledge and skills to achieve that.

This year we’re offering bursary placements to vets in developing countries to attend the congress. If you’re #FelineGenerous and would like to help support a veterinary colleague in another country, please click to DONATE.

We’re all part of a community that’s changing the world for cats, so if you can afford to, please consider supporting those seeking to make positive changes in the welfare of cats in their country and know that you’re helping to expand the horizons of a Cat Friendly World.

Meet Our Speakers

Our speakers at this year’s Congress represent worldwide expertise in feline medicine and welfare. Keynote speaker, Professor Kenneth Simpson, is joined by more than twenty feline experts, find out more about them, their subject areas, and when they’ll be speaking below.

 

Professor Kenneth Simpson
Kenny is a graduate from the Royal (DICK) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh and gained a PHD in gastroenterology at the University of Leicester. Now Chief of the Section of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Cornell, his research interests are centred below the diaphragm, with a focus on inflammatory diseases of the GI tract (including the pancreas and liver), host bacterial interactions in health and disease, and culture independent bacteriology.

Join Kenny’s live lectures and panel discussions on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June. There is also an on-demand lecture from Kenny covering chronic inflammatory enteropathy in cats available from Saturday 26th June.

 


Professor Jill Maddison

Jill is currently Professor of General Practice at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Director of Professional Development overseeing the college’s continuing education programmes. She has lectured extensively around the world on clinical problem solving, small animal internal medicine and clinical pharmacology and to keep in touch with the realities of private general practice, she regularly consults at the RVC’s first opinion practice, the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital.

Join Jill’s live lectures on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th June and watch her on-demand lecture on Feline Therapeutics from Saturday 26th June.


Dr Jessica Quimby

Dr Quimby received her veterinary degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed a PhD focusing on feline CKD at Colorado State University. Dr Quimby is now a faculty member at the Ohio State University where her research continues to focus on chronic kidney disease in cats. She has received the International Renal Interest Society Award and the AVMF/Winn Feline Foundation Research Award for her contributions to nephrology and feline medicine.

Join Dr Quimby’s live panel discussion with Natalie Finch and Rosanne Jepson on Sunday 27th June

 

 


Professor Carmel Mooney

Carmel Mooney graduated from University College Dublin, Ireland in 1986 and spent the next 12 years working at Edinburgh and Glasgow Veterinary Schools. She has completed both MPhil and PhD theses on feline hyperthyroidism and has gained RCVS Specialist Status in Small Animal Medicine (Endocrinology). She has lectured widely both nationally and internationally and has published many research articles in small animal endocrinology.

Join Carmel’s live lecture on Friday 25th June

 



Sally Griffin

Sally graduated from the University of Liverpool and spent several years as a general practitioner in small animal practice. During this time, she developed a keen interest in ultrasound and undertook a certificate in advanced veterinary practice with an emphasis on imaging.

Join Sally’s live panel discussions with Sam Taylor and Peter Kook on Friday 25th June and on Sunday 27th June with Kenny Simpson, Peter Kook and Melanie Dobromyelskij.

Sally has also produced an on-demand lecture on Imaging the Pancreas which is available from Friday 25th June.

 


Peter Kook

Peter graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover and also finished his doctoral dissertation and small animal internship here. Following a successful career in private practice, Peter now shares his time seeing patients, lecturing students and residents at Vetsuisse faculty, University of Zurich and doing clinical research.

Join Peter’s live panel discussions with Sam Taylor and Sally Griffin on Friday 25th June and on Sunday 27th June with Kenny Simpson, Sally Griffin and Melanie Dobromyelskij.

Peter has also produced an on-demand lecture on pancreatitis and blood tests which is available from Friday 25th June.


Professor Danielle Gunn Moore

Danièlle Gunn-Moore graduated from the R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, in 1991. She completed her Residency (part funded by International Cat Care) and her PhD (on Feline Infectious Peritonitis) at The Feline Centre, University of Bristol. She returned to Edinburgh to establish the Feline Clinic in 1998 and became full Professor of Feline Medicine in 2006. Danielle has lectured extensively and is an internationally recognised expert in her area. In 2011 she was awarded the International Society for Feline Medicine/Hill’s award for Outstanding Contributions to Feline Medicine and in 2012 the Royal Dick students voted her “The clinician I would most like to be”.

Join Danielle’s live lecture on Sunday 27th June


Dr Melanie Dobromylskj

Dr Dobromylskyj qualified from Bristol University in 2004, having also intercalated a BSc in Veterinary Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2002. She joined Finn Pathologists in 2012, where she is a diagnostic histopathologist and covers both first opinion and referral practice cases. She became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2014 and an honorary lecturer in anatomic pathology at the RVC in 2015. In 2016 she became a RCVS-recognised specialist in veterinary pathology (small animals), and a Fellow of the RCVS for Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice in 2020. She has a particular interest in feline pathology and medicine, immunohistochemistry, and in teaching and research collaborations.

Join Dr Dobromylskyj’s live panel discussions on Saturday 26th June with Kenny Simpson and Tony Ryan and with Kenny Simpson, Sally Griffin and Peter Kook on Sunday 27th June.


Natalie Finch

Natalie graduated from the University of Liverpool and completed her PhD at the Royal Veterinary College researching chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. She is a European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Specialist in Feline Medicine. Natalie was awarded the International Renal Interest Society award in recognition of her contribution to advancement of this field and she is one of only a few vets to be awarded a prestigious Wellcome trust Fellowship.

Join Natalie’s live panel discussion with Jessica Quimby and Rosanne Jepson on Sunday 27th June.

 


Professor Alex German

Alex German holds the position of Royal Canin Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool. His main clinical and research interest is the management of obesity in pets. For 15 years, he has run the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University of Liverpool. This specialist clinic aims to improve the quality of life of all overweight pets through clinical excellence, research and education.

Watch Alex’s on demand lecture on Is Obesity a Disease? from Friday 25th June.

 


Kelly Eyre

Kelly started her career with cats when she became a Cat Care Assistant for Cats Protection. In 2015 she qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and began to further develop her interest in feline health and wellbeing. She now manages the Royal Canin Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic at the University of Liverpool which is a project aiming to extend the quality of life in ageing cats through research and education.

Watch Kelly’s on demand lecture with Georgia Woods-Lee on Feline Middle Age Spread available from Friday 25th June.

 


Georgia Woods-Lee

Georgia Woods-Lee qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2004 from Myerscough College, Preston UK. After working as a head nurse and clinical coach in obesity clinics, Georgia joined Royal Canin in 2015 as their Weight Management Clinic Nurse at the University of Liverpool, Small Animal Teaching Hospital. She has provided education to vets and nurses throughout many countries on the topics of obesity care and nutrition.

Watch Georgia’s on demand lecture with Kelly Eyre on Feline Middle Age Spread available from Friday 25th June.

 

 


Professor Séverine Tasker

Séverine graduated from Bristol Veterinary School and worked for the PDSA before completing a Residency in Feline Medicine, funded by the Feline Advisory Bureau (now International Cat Care) at the Dick Vet School in Edinburgh before moving to Bristol University to complete a PhD on feline haemoplasmas. She remained at Bristol until 2018, where she worked in the Feline Centre of Langford Vets and Bristol Veterinary School. She is now Chief Medical Officer for the Linnaeus Group, part of Mars Vet Health, and is honorary Professor of Feline Medicine at Bristol.

Watch Séverine’s on-demand lecture on FIP: what’s new? From Sunday 27th June.

 

 


Myles McKenna

Myles graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2013. After time spent in general practice, he completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Cornell University, USA. After working in private referral practice in Australia and the UK, he joined UCD as Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine in 2020. His main areas of interest are infectious disease, hepatology and nephrology.

Watch Myles’s on-demand lecture on Management of Hepatic Liposis from Sunday 27th June.

 


Dr Rachel Korman

Rachel Korman is a recognized specialist in feline medicine. She graduated from th eUniversity of Queensland and completed a residency in feline internal medicine at the University of Bristol. She is a Fellow of the Feline Medicine Chapter of the ANZCVS, treasurer of the Feline Medicine Chapter, tutor for the CVE Feline Medicine Course and forum mentor for the International Society of Feline Medicine Academy.

Watch Rachel’s on-demand lecture Yellow Cats: Liver Disease Case studies from Sunday 27th June.


Dr Katherine Briscoe

Kath graduated from the University of Sydney in 2003 and has worked in private small animal practice in Sydney and the UK before completing an internship and residency at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sydney. During her residency, Kath completed a research project on the pathology of feline low grade alimentary lymphoma and IBD. She has a keen interest in all aspects of feline medicine and is also passionate about providing continuing education for veterinary practitioners, ensuring they are well versed in what can be achieved in their own clinics and at what stage they should consider referral.

Watch Kath’s on-demand lecture Practical Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis Studies from Friday 25th June.

 


Dr Lara Boland

Lara graduated from the University of Sydney in 2004 and initially worked in feline and general small animal practice in Australia. She completed specialist training at the University of Bristol, UK and has been working at the Valentine Charlton Cat Centre at the University of Sydney since 2013 as a Senior Lecturer. Lara has always been fascinated by all thing’s feline including endocrine, urinary tract and geriatric diseases of cats.

Watch Lara’s on-demand lecture Troublesome Guts: Gastrointestinal Cases from Saturday 26th June.


Dr Rosanne Jepson

Rosanne graduated from the University of Bristol and did both her PhD and residency training at the Royal Veterinary College. Rosanne divides her time between clinical work and research. Her main clinical interests include all aspects of small animal nephrology and urology whilst her research has been focussed on feline chronic kidney disease and hypertension.

Join Rosanne’s live panel discussion with Jessica Quimby and Natalie Finch on Sunday 27th June.

 

 


Dr Bradley Simon

Dr Bradley Simon received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 and completed a residency in anesthesia and analgesia at the University of Pennsylvania in 2012. Following his residency, he received his Master’s degree from Ross University with focus on opioid-opioid combinations and their impact on analgesic efficacy in cats. He has written over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and contributed to several books on canine and feline anesthesia and analgesia. Dr Simon is a national and international lecturer and is keen to continue his path of spreading knowledge and awareness about feline pain management and anesthesia to the veterinary profession and general public.

Watch Dr Simon’s on-demand lectures on Deadly Anesthetic Mistakes and Pain Management Under Control from Sunday 27th June.


 

Lecture Guide

As qualified vets, Nathalie Dowgray, Head of ISFM, and Sam Taylor, ISFM Feline Medicine Specialist, know the value of high-quality lectures and CPD! To help you decide which lectures to attend and how they will be of value to you, they have created a lecture guide, explaining their strengths as a speaker, lecture synopsis, likely content, and how it can be applied in practice, so you can plan your time according to your interests.

 

Logical clinical reasoning – Jill Maddison
Value of speaker Highly experienced speaker – Professor of general practice at the Royal Veterinary College, director of the veterinary course at RVC, author of many books
Synopsis Do you find medical cases frustrating rather than fun? Does the thought of seeing a patient with chronic diarrhoea make your heart sink? This lecture will introduce you to logical problem solving and how to apply it to the common important clinical signs seen in feline cases
Likely Content An introduction to the concept of logical clinical problem solving, and how to apply this to feline medicine cases.
How to apply in practice? The cat is complex, and feline medicine cases can be scary and frustrating. Logical clinical reasoning gives knowledge and skill to gain confidence with these cases in practice.

 

Feline diabetes: Can you achieve remission – Carmel Mooney
Value of speaker Professor at the University of Dublin and Internal Medicine Specialist. Highly experience particularly in feline endocrinology.
Synopsis Diabetic remission is the goal when managing some feline diabetics. This lecture will discuss how, and when this can be achieved, avoiding complications.
Likely Content Discussion of causes of diabetes, management and role of insulin and diet, monitoring cats for remission and risk of relapse
How to apply in practice? Managing feline diabetic cats can be frustrating

 

Imaging the pancreas – Sally Griffin
Value of speaker Experienced imager and specialist but excellent at explaining what can be a challenging discipline.
Synopsis The pancreas can be the ‘holy grail’ of feline abdominal imaging, hard to find and hard to interpret the appearance. This lecture will explain how to find and image the pancreas and understand what abnormalities mean.
Likely Content Practical information on how to image this elusive organ.
How to apply in practice? Practical techniques to use in the clinic to allow practitioners to find and interpret the images of the feline pancreas with ultrasound.

 

I think this cat has pancreatitis; What blood tests should I do -Peter Kook
Value of speaker Peter Kook works at the University of Zurich and has been involved in several research projects on feline pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases and lectures on this subject. Brings a combination of science and practical application in the clinic.
Synopsis Discuss available diagnostic tests for pancreatitis and the limitations.
Likely Content Discussion of sensitivity and specificity of blood tests for pancreatitis
How to apply in practice? Help practitioners choose and interpret commonly used blood tests for feline pancreatitis.

 

Is obesity a disease and what are our responsibilities as veterinary professionals? – Alex German
Value of speaker Professor from the University of Liverpool and well-known for his work on obesity in companion animals. Brings his experience of comparative obesity biology as well as research on communication around obesity as a disease.
Synopsis Obesity is humans is classed as a disease, with physiological consequences, is it the same in cats? The lecture will discuss how Professor German feels about the disease label and how to approach the obese cat in the clinic.
Likely Content Discussion of the consequences of obesity and why it can be classed as a disease in itself and how this may change how we talk about and approach it.
How to apply in practice? This lecture may change your thoughts and approach to the overweight or obese cat in your clinic, allowing you to communicate with owners and manage cases with confidence and knowledge.

 

Feline middle-age spread; preventing and managing obesity in the ageing cat – Kelly Eyre, Georgia Woods-Lee
Value of speaker Kelly Eyre and Georgia Woods-Lee are both RVN who work in clinical research at the University of Liverpool. They bring their practical experience from working with clients at the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic and the Weight Management Clinic to this congress, in addition to their feline nursing and nutritional expertise.
Synopsis Obesity is on the increase and in our feline patients is at its peak in there middle to senior years. Prevention is better than a cure and this lecture will cover how to talk to clients and manage obesity in the ageing cat.
Likely Content This lecture will cover how to recognise ageing in cats, what strategies you need for obesity care in ageing cats and what is involved in the management of obesity in cats with concurrent age-related disease.
How to apply in practice? Obesity is a common problem in pet cats, especially in urban locations. Knowing how to approach its management to support the cats and the owner is an important skill for GP vets. An understanding of appropriate weight reduction in ageing cats with comorbidities is also important.

 

Practical pancreatitis: pancreatitis cases – Katherine Briscoe
Value of speaker Katherine Briscoe is a fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists but currently works in primary practice. Her years of experience both in referral and first opinion allow her to provide practical solutions to common problems.
Synopsis These lectures will provide delegates with an insight into the management of real-life cases by our specialists, warts and all they will present real-life cases, where things went wrong as well as right!
Likely Content Discussion of real-life pancreatitis cases with a reflection on case management
How to apply in practice? Seeing principles applied to cases seen in the clinic allow us to move these tips and skills into our own day to day practice.

 

Feline pancreatitis: Where are we now with treatment? – Kenneth Simpson
Value of speaker Professor of Small Animal Medicine at Cornell University, Kenny brings years of experience in clinics but also ground-breaking research on gastrointestinal disease. A scientist and a clinician is a rare breed!
Synopsis Feline pancreatitis is a challenging disease to manage, can be hard to diagnose and can be recurrent and bring comorbidities. The lecture will discuss treatment approaches for chronic and acute cases.
Likely Content No magic bullet in the management of pancreatitis in cats, the lecture will discuss management approaches to this frustrating condition.
How to apply in practice? Pancreatitis is common – take-home treatment and management strategies to use in the clinic.

 

State of the art: role of bacteria in GI, liver and pancreatic disease in cats – Kenneth Simpson
Value of speaker Professor Simpson’s research has focussed on bacterial and host interactions in gastrointestinal disease. Well placed to discuss this topic.
Synopsis The role of bacteria and other micro-organisms in the development of liver, pancreatic and intestinal inflammation will be discussed.
How to apply in practice? Up to date scientific information from Professor Simpson’s laboratory to help us understand new developments and current theories on the role of bacteria in GI disease

 

Interactive cases using (logical clinical reasoning) -Jill Maddison
Value of speaker Highly experienced speaker – Professor of general practice at the Royal Veterinary College, director of the veterinary course at RVC, author of many books
Synopsis After an earlier introduction to logical problem solving are you ready to apply this to the common clinical signs seen in feline cases?
Likely Content Practical application of logical clinical reasoning to feline cases
How to apply in practice? This session will give you the practical skills to start applying logical clinical reasoning to your feline medicine cases

 

Feline therapeutics: what makes cats different? – Jill Maddison
Value of speaker Highly experienced speaker – Professor of general practice at the Royal Veterinary College, director of the veterinary course at RVC, author of many books
Synopsis Cats are physiological different to dogs and hence certain drugs will cause adverse effects. The lecture will discuss these important physiological differences.
Likely Content Understand what medications are handled differently by cats and how they cause toxicity in some cases.
How to apply in practice? Take back to the clinic the knowledge of which drugs can be a toxin to cats, interactions and contraindications, to allow clinicians to make informed discussions when prescribing.

 

Safe GIT surgery: how to cut safely and optimise recovery – Tony Ryan
Value of speaker A specialist surgeon practising soft tissue surgery in a busy referral centre, Tony understands how to minimise complications and optimise surgical techniques for this species
Synopsis Dr Ryan will discuss surgical techniques and provide tips and tricks to improve outcomes for this species.
Likely Content Principles of GI surgery and application to cats, practical information on common GI surgeries.
How to apply in practice? Exploratory laparotomy and other GI surgery are commonly performed in general practice. Surgical technique and planning can optimise recovery and outcomes.

 

 

Management of chronic inflammatory enteropathy in cats – Kenneth Simpson
Synopsis ‘IBD’ is a human term used in cats with idiopathic inflammatory intestinal inflammation but is this the best term? How should this inflammation be managed?
Likely Content Dietary or medical treatment – and in which situation to apply them to cases of the chronic intestinal disease – is discussed in this lecture.
How to apply in practice? Treating cats with GI inflammation is challenging, take back to the clinic the latest information on the management of these conditions.

 

Therapeutics for GI disease in cats: fact vs fiction -Kenneth Simpson
Synopsis We prescribe many drugs for the treatment of vomiting, diarrhoea and other GI complaints but what is the evidence for their use?
Likely Content Gastroprotectants, antiacids, immunosuppressants, which therapeutics are effective for GI disease in cats?
How to apply in practice? Prescribing certain drugs can be a habit, be informed when printing a drug label that you are using the right drug for the appropriate case and why.

 

Troublesome guts: Gastrointestinal cases – Lara Boland
Value of speaker Lara Boland deals with complex clinical cases during her working day at Sydney University but as a senior lecturer is also used to teaching, so is well placed to present a series of cases with various diagnoses.
Synopsis Learning from real-life cases can be memorable. Chronic and acute GI cases are presented to bring to life the theories learnt in other talks.
How to apply in practice? When you see a similar case you will be reminded of cases presented in these case-based talks and be familiar with what can go right, and perhaps what can go wrong!

 

The future of GI disease – Kenneth Simpson
Value of speaker As the recipient of multiple award for his work on GI disease, Professor Simpson is more than qualified to lecture on the direction of future research into this area of companion animal science.

 

An update on feline liver disease – Danielle Gunn-Moore
Value of speaker Danielle Gunn-Moore is well known to many in our audience. A Professor of Feline Medicine at Edinburgh University she continues to see complex clinical cases referred to her hospital as well as advance research on feline medicine topics
Synopsis Feline liver disease is common and our understanding of the pathophysiological processes of the types of disease is ever changing, Professor Gunn-Moore will update us on where things currently stand in diagnosing and managing this complex group of diseases.
Likely Content An update on the diagnosis, treatment and management of feline liver disease
How to apply in practice? A very common problem in cats and out knowledge of the best ways to diagnose and mange is ever evolving, so this is a great opportunity to get up to date and ready for your next case.

 

Avoid these silent but deadly anaesthetic mistakes: Passing gas for the GI diseased patient and more!- Bradley Simon
Value of speaker Dr Simon is an Associate professor of anaesthesiology at Texas A and M university and having published over 20 peer-reviewed papers with a focus on opioid efficacy in cats he is well qualified to lecture on the anaesthesia and analgesia for abdominal disease in cats.
Synopsis Anaesthesia can be a barrier to surgery on the liver or GI tract in cats. This talk will give confidence in the anaesthetic management of such cases.
Likely Content Using effective and safe anaesthetic agents in cats with GI pathology or liver disease.
How to apply in practice? Come up with safe anaesthesia plans for your GI and liver cases for smooth and safe anaesthesia.

 

Let’s get visceral, visceral…pain management under control!- Bradley Simon
Value of speaker Dr Simon is an Associate professor of anaesthesiology at Texas A and M university and having published over 20 peer-reviewed papers with a focus on opioid efficacy in cats he is well qualified to lecture on the anaesthesia and analgesia for abdominal disease in cats.
Synopsis Knowing what analgesic to use and when, plus potential complications or interactions is useful to anyone dealing with feline cases.
Likely Content Analgesia for pancreatitis, Gi disease and post-surgery for gut or liver biopsies will be discussed.
How to apply in practice? Feel confident providing safe analgesia to pancreatitis cases, post-GI surgery and for liver cases.

 

FIP what’s new? -Séverine Tasker
Value of speaker Professor Tasker needs little introduction to most as a leading expert, particularly in the area of feline infectious disease.
Synopsis Novel treatments for FIP are being used around the world and are discussed in detail in the lecture.
Likely Content The lecture will provide an understanding of the drugs studied in the treatment of FIP as well as a summary of diagnostic testing.
How to apply in practice? Is FIP now a curable disease? You’ll understand the treatments and the limitations to their use legally and practically and feel confident discussing them with clients.

 

Management of hepatic lipidosis – Myles McKenna
Value of speaker Dr Mckenna is Assistant Professor in small animal medicine at the University of Dublin and enjoys giving talks on many areas of small animal medicine
Synopsis Hepatic lipidosis is challenging to treat, can be expensive and require hospitalisation. The lecture will discuss causes and updates on the management of this condition.
Likely Content Management of hepatic lipidosis
How to apply in practice? Early intervention to prevent hepatic lipidosis with assisted feeding is important, along with appropriate treatment. These are skills learnt from this talk.

 

Yellow Cats: Liver disease case studies -Rachel Korman
Value of speaker Rachel Korman heads the feline service at her hospital which is also a Cat Friendly Clinic. She loves working with and talking about cats and sharing her knowledge and experience.
Synopsis Jaundice cats present commonly to busy practices and a logical approach is needed. This lecture will include real-life cases and outcomes of liver disease.
Likely Content Management of complex and more straightforward liver cases with real cases and treatments used in the clinic.
How to apply in practice? Skills learnt from listening to case studies can be applied to similar cases seen even the next day!

 

Routine health screening: Insight from the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic -Nathalie Dowgray
Value of speaker Prior to starting at ISFM Nathalie Dowgray established the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic (FHAC) at the University of Liverpool, researching ageing in cats for her PhD.
Synopsis This lecture will cover the key findings from the FHAC from 206 middle aged cats, including owner observed changes in their behaviour and findings on clinical examinations over a 3-year period.
Likely Content The findings of the 1st 3 years of the FHAC
How to apply in practice? Regular routine health checks are an important part of the GP work and this lecture will show you the evidence as why an annual examination is important for cats aged 7-12.

 

 

 

 

The charity

As a charity we aim to provide veterinarians and veterinary nurses and technicians with high-level resources on feline health and welfare, enabling better treatment and care of cats. Find out more about iCatCare and ISFM and the programmes we run that are designed to support you below.

International Cat Care (iCatCare)

International Cat Care (iCatCare) was founded in 1958 by a group of passionate cat lovers led by Joan Judd, as a reaction to the dismal lack of information about cat health and welfare. For the last 60 years, International Cat Care has challenged attitudes to cats and has campaigned for better care at all levels.

As iCatCare has grown, both in terms of size and influence, the charity’s vision has expanded with its mission to create a Cat Friendly World by inspiring and empowering those who wish to make change happen. Central to this is a holistic approach to feline welfare, stressing the importance of both physical health and mental wellbeing.

In addition to its work campaigning against issues detrimental to feline welfare, iCatCare provides resources for those working with unowned cats, organises education, events and courses for cat owners and veterinary professionals, and acts as a source of reliable, expert advice and information for owners on all aspects of looking after a cat.

International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM)

The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) operates as the veterinary division of iCatCare, providing a worldwide resource for vets on feline health and welfare.

As well as supporting ISFM members, hosting webinars and educational events, and publishing the top-quality scientific and clinically orientated journal, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, ISFM also runs the Cat Friendly Clinic and CatCareforLife initiatives that are designed to support both veterinary professionals and cat owners.

Cat Friendly Clinic

Cat Friendly Clinic is the global standard in feline care in the clinic.

This accreditation programme has been developed to raise the standards of care and welfare of cats in the veterinary clinic, and to provide veterinarians with practical solutions to problems that they often face when dealing with their feline patients. From an owner’s perspective, it shows a clear commitment to excellent feline care, as well as an assurance that the clinic has done everything in their power to limit the stress of appointments for their cats, which is often reported a major barrier to regular visits. Clients can easily find their nearest Cat Friendly Clinic through the dedicated website search function.

There are three levels of accreditation, Bronze, Silver and Gold, that recognise vet clinics vary widely in their size, location, structure, staffing and equipment, but every level of accreditation demonstrates that the staff understand the needs of cats, how to approach and handle cats gently and with care and the equipment to manage the care of the cats. Staff are also required to maintain and update their knowledge on clinical matters and continuing professional development (CPD).

Achieving Cat Friendly Clinic status involves every member of staff working at the clinic, from receptionists, nurses and technicians to vets, so clients can be sure that every aspect of their cat’s veterinary visit has a Cat Friendly foundation. Each clinic also has at least one ‘Cat Advocate’ who ensure that Cat Friendly standards are adhered to and acts as a point of contact for the public. More information about how to achieve the different levels can be found here.

Becoming an accredited clinic has never been easier or more achievable. Take the first step by visiting the site and registering your interest.

CatCareforLife

 

CatCareforLife is a lifelong partnership of care between veterinary clinic and client for the lifelong health of their cat

Cats are now challenging dogs as the most popular pet in many parts of the world, but there remains a huge disparity in how they receive veterinary care. Some data suggests that dogs are more than twice as likely to be taken to a veterinary clinic, and for many cats, once they’ve had initial vaccinations and neutering, they’re unlikely to see a vet again until they become seriously ill.

There’s no reason why this should be the case, studies also show that cat owners care for their animals as much as dog owners, it’s just that obstacles need to be overcome and clear recommendations need to be made to provide the framework for a proper partnership of care between the veterinary team, owner and cat. The CatCareforLife programme aims to provide a clear platform for vets and owners alike to ensure cats can enjoy long and happy lives, through an effective and appropriate preventive healthcare programme.

This complements the Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation programme detailed above, but regardless of whether a clinic becomes officially accredited as an ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic, the need to engage pro-actively with cat clients is critical, as is the need to create a more welcoming and less stressful environment for their cats. Making visits as stress-free and positive as possible, for both cat and owner, is a major factor in ensuring they will be willing to bring the cat back again.

Beyond a better clinical environment, providing a life-long preventive healthcare plan that both the veterinary team and the owner understand and commit to, is the best way of protecting the health of the cat and preserving the human–animal bond.

Alongside materials and support for both clinics and clients, a dedicated app is currently in development that will allow clients to keep an easily accessible record of their cat’s veterinary information, as well as a host of advice and information to help owners to keep their cat healthy.

Learn more about the scheme and how it can benefit you

iCatCare is supported in its vision of a Cat Friendly World by charities, industry partners, organisations and individuals all over the world. You can view a list of these here