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American Association of Feline Practitioners

Veterinary professionals passionate about the care of cats

Feline Enrichment Resources

Student Enrichment Contest

Thank you for your interest in the Feline Enrichment Contest and learning more about enriching the lives of cats. Below are some resources you can access for additional information:

AAFP/ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines:
These Guidelines are organized around five primary concepts that provide the framework for a healthy feline environment regardless of the cat's lifestyle, were established to address the needs of pet cats in any environment, including home, veterinary hospital and shelter.

AAFP Client Brochure – Your Cat's Environmental Needs:
Addressing your cat's physical and emotional needs enhances its health and quality of life. Behavior problems are a leading cause of pets being surrendered or euthanized. These problems often occur in cats because their needs have not been fully met. Cats need resources to perform their natural behaviors and have control over their social interactions. As owners, we can enhance our cats' health and wellbeing by ensuring all their needs are met in the home environment. You might ask: "What can be stressful for a beloved cat with food, water, and a roof over its head?

AAFP Cat Owner Website page – What Your Cat Needs to Feel Secure:
Other relevant content on the site includes (search feature): Territory, Cat Friendly Homes, Indoor vs Outdoor, Living with a Clawed Cats, Vocalize, How to Feed a Cat, Litterbox, Playing with Your Cat, House-soiling, Senior Cat and more.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Resources
Environmental Enrichment: Practical Strategies for Improving Feline Welfare
This article aims to assist general veterinary practitioners to recognize how cats respond to confinement, and to understand what constitutes environmental enrichment, to help them implement or advise on appropriate enrichment strategies for cats confined in a hospital cage, home environment or rescue shelter, based on published evidence to date. In this article, the authors aim to equip veterinary professionals with the tools to assist clients in the use of food puzzles for their cat as a way to support feline physical health and emotional wellbeing. They outline different types of food puzzles, and explain how to introduce them to cats and how to trouble shoot challenges with their use.

Food Puzzles for Cats: Feeding for Physical and Emotional Wellbeing
This article aims to equip veterinary professionals with the tools to assist clients in the use of food puzzles for their cats as a way to support feline physical health and emotional wellbeing. They outline different types of food puzzles, and explain how to introduce them to cats and how to troubleshoot challenges with their use.

 Scientific Abstracts

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