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Why Focus on Felines in Your Veterinary Clinic?
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Susan Little
BSc, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Feline)
Dr Little received her BSc from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada) and her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, before achieving board certification in Feline Practice in 1997. She is currently part owner of two cat specialty practices in Ottawa, Canada. A past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and a current board member for the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (representing the American Animal Hospital Association), she has received numerous awards for her contributions to feline medicine. Dr Little has edited and co-authored two feline textbooks, and has written many clinical papers; she also peer-reviews articles for various veterinary journals.
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Key Points
- Although there have been great advances in feline medicine in the last fifty years, many cat owners are less likely to seek veterinary care for their pet compared to dog owners.
- It is in the best interests of pet, owner, and clinician to adapt hospital policies and procedures with the feline patient in mind; an understanding of the unique nature of cats is the starting point.
- There are many small factors that can make a difference between a welcoming, reassuring cat-friendly clinic and a veterinary practice which is off-putting to both owners and cats.
- Handling cats with respect is a critical component of successful feline practice, and this can be achieved in various ways.
Introduction
Just over 50 years ago, the Canadian Veterinary Journal carried an article, presenting an outline of all that was known at that time about feline medicine (1). It ran to ten pages in total. Feline medicine has grown steadily in popularity since then; the first cat-only practices were established in the U.S. in the 1970’s. Veterinarians can now pursue specialty certification in feline medicine and surgery in many countries, and benefit from specific continuing education opportunities, including journals and textbooks devoted to feline medicine. However, a disconnect exists between the advances in feline medicine and what is happening in day-to-day veterinary practice. Although cats have now surpassed dogs as the most popular companion animal in many countries, most veterinary clinics are designed primarily with canine patients in mind. In addition, some alarming statistics about feline veterinary care have been published recently, further highlighting the discrepancy in care for cat patients compared to dog patients. For example, in 2011, feline veterinary visits in the U.S. had decreased 4.4% from 2006, while canine visits increased by over 9% in the same period (2), and it is estimated that fewer than half of the 74 million pet cats in that country receive regular veterinary care. In 2011 in Canada, only 46% of cat owners had taken their cat to the veterinarian in the previous year, compared with 77% of dog owners (3). While these statistics are disappointing, they can be taken as an opportunity to improve feline health and to increase veterinary business.
The reasons for the decline in feline veterinary care are multiple and complex (4). They include issues such as:
- Difficulty getting the cat to the veterinary clinic
- Low levels of owner awareness regarding basic feline medical needs
- Owner difficulty in recognizing subtle signs of illness in cats
- The perception that cats are able to take care of themselves
- The belief that indoor cats are protected from most illnesses
- The low perceived value of cats, since many cats are acquired accidentally or for free
- Owner discomfort and stress associated with experiences at the veterinary clinic
Why have a cat-friendly clinic?
All veterinarians who treat cats can benefit from an understanding of the unique nature of cats as well as the physiologic and behavioral responses to stress experienced by this species. Cats are bonded to their home environment and seldom leave it by choice. Being forced into a strange environment makes a cat uncertain about its safety, and causes anxiety and distress. Cats prefer to avoid danger and confrontation by running away or hiding, strategies that are not easy to employ during clinic visits. It is important to make a visit to the clinic as pleasant as possible for both cat and owner, and if possible this should start when a kitten or young cat attends the clinic for the first time. This age group is less likely to experience anxiety during a veterinary consultation, which offers an opportunity to bond both client and pet to the clinic by making the visit a positive experience. This is important, as some cat owners will feel that a traumatic experience at the clinic is more detrimental to the cat than a lack of veterinary care. Implementation of approaches to create a feline-friendly practice environment and use of respectful handling techniques will improve welfare and veterinary care for cats; it will also make working with cats safer and more rewarding for the veterinary team. In addition, a focus on health care tailored to feline life stages improves early recognition and treatment of problems, thereby improving pet health and welfare, and preserving the human-animal bond. [...]
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