2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines

Abstract

Practical relevance: The ‘2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’ (hereafter the ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’) describe how the veterinary clinic environment can be manipulated to minimise feline patient distress. Many components of a veterinary clinic visit or stay may result in negative experiences for cats. However, much can be done to improve a cat’s experience by making the veterinary clinic more cat friendly. Exposure to other cats and other species can be reduced, and adjustments made with consideration of the feline senses and species-specific behaviour. Caregivers can prepare cats for a clinic visit with appropriate advice. Waiting rooms, examination rooms, hospital wards and other clinic areas can be designed and altered to reduce stress and hence encourage positive emotions. Changes need not be structural or expensive in order to be effective and make a difference to the cats and, in turn, to cat caregivers and the veterinary team. Moreover, by improving the all-round experience at the veterinary clinic, there are positive effects on preventive healthcare, identification of and recovery from illness, and compliance with treatment. Clinical challenges: Good feline healthcare necessitates visiting the veterinary clinic, which, simply by being outside of a cat’s territory and familiar surroundings, may lead to negative experiences. Such experiences can trigger negative (protective) emotions and associated physiological stress, which can result in misleading clinical findings, patient distress, prolonged recovery from illness, further difficulties with handling at subsequent visits and potential veterinary personnel injury. There may be a mistaken belief that veterinary clinics must undergo significant renovation or building work to become cat friendly, and that, if species cannot be separated, then clinics cannot improve their care of cats. These Guidelines aim to dispel any such misconceptions and provide detailed practical advice. Evidence base: These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors’ experience. Endorsements: These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organisations, as detailed on page 1161 and at icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines and catvets.com/environment .

2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques

“…< A cat friendly environment is also fundamental for achieving an optimal veterinary visit, and is the focus of the accompanying '2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines'. 60…”

“…Carrier training, cooperative care, and a cat friendly veterinary environment and interactions that help cats feel safe, greatly increase the potential for feline positive (engaging) emotional states. For more information on how the veterinary practice environment can be manipulated to minimize feline patient distress, see the accompanying '2022 iSFM/ AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines' 60 (hereafter the 'Cat Friendly Veterinary Environ ment Guidelines').…”

“…). 7,71 As discussed in the accompanying 'Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines', 60 the following additional equipment is also not recommended for cat friendly interactions: cat bags, gauntlets or gloves, muzzles of any kind, Elizabethan collars, anesthetic induction boxes/vessels, pillow cases, mesh cat 'nabbers', air muzzles or any other device placed over the cat's head, cat tongs or rabies poles.…”

“…Prepare the cat-only examination room (if available) with all equipment that may be needed before the appointment to avoid sensory arousal of the cat caused by exiting and re-entering the room. See the accompanying ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’ 60 for a list of equipment for the cat friendly examination room, and additionally for information on working in multispecies practices. Importantly, the only non-medical equipment needed to interact with and handle cats is a variety of treats, soft blankets or towels, and a high-sided bed or the bottom half of their own cat carrier.…”

ISFM’S Cat Friendly Principles for Veterinary Professionals

“…The aim is to encourage and facilitate them to become collaborative participants in their necessary husbandry and veterinary care procedures. Key to cooperative care is having a cat friendly environment set-up, 5 ensuring cat friendly interactions 4 between people and cats, and providing positive reinforcement. Using these three methods in combination, we can teach cats to:…”