Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines

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

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Download - 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guideline Press Release
Co-released with the 2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines
Free On-Demand Webinar: Cat Friendly Interactions: Improving Visits for You and Cats

See Endorsing Organizations (below)

Supplemental Resources:

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) have released the 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques (Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines). These Guidelines support veterinary professionals to reduce the impact of fear and other protective (negative) emotions. In implementing these Guidelines, team satisfaction and cat caregiver confidence in the veterinary team will increase as the result of efficient examinations, better experience, more reliable diagnostic testing, and improved feline wellbeing. Veterinary professionals will learn the importance of understanding and appropriately responding to the current emotional state of the cat and tailoring each visit to the individual.

Cats have evolved with emotions and behaviors that are necessary for their survival as both a predator and prey species. A clinical setting and the required examinations and procedures to meet their physical health needs can result in behavioral responses to protective emotions. Cat Friendly interactions require understanding, interpreting, and appropriately responding to cats’ emotional states and giving them a perceived sense of control while performing the required assessment.

The Task Force includes Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP (Feline), (co-chair); Nathalie Dowgray, BVSc, MANZCVS, PGDip, MRCVS, PhD (co-chair); Hazel C. Carney, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine/Feline); Ellen Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline); Sarah L.H. Ellis, BSc (Hons), PGDip, PhD; Sarah Heath, BVSc, PgCertVE, DECAWBM(BM), CCAB, FHEA, FRCVS; Lee Niel, BSc, PhD; Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline); and Samantha Taylor, BVetMed (Hons), CertSAM, DECVIM-CA, MANZCVS, FRCVS.

The Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines are proudly endorsed by:

The AAFP and ISFM thank these organizations for supporting these Guidelines. If you are with an organization that would like to endorse these Guidelines, please submit here.

The AAFP Cat Friendly Practice® Program is sponsored by Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva Animal Health, Elanco, Hill’s, IDEXX, Merck Animal Health, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, and Royal Canin, and is supported by Wedgewood Pharmacy. The ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic Program is sponsored by IDEXX, Ceva, Royal Canin, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Zoetis. The AAFP and ISFM gratefully acknowledge the support of these companies in enabling them to deliver and build on their Cat Friendly Practice/Clinic Programs.

Download - 2011 AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines
Translated - Portuguese