“Every vet practice needs cat lovers”

Dr. Little, if there was one thing you could change at veterinary cat practices all over the world, what would it be?

Dr. Susan Little: I think every veterinary practice needs to have team members that love cats. Many small animal practices are focused on the dog. The environment, team skills, communications may be all geared to the dog owner. Having cat-focused team members means the needs of cats can receive equal time and effort and communications for cat owners can be tailored to their unique needs.

Why is it important to have cat-friendly veterinary practices? 
Despite the fact that cats are as popular a pet as dogs in many countries (and more popular in some countries) they do not receive the same amount of medical care. While the reasons for this are complex, one large barrier is the stress of the veterinary visit. In recent years, many resources and programs have become available to help veterinary teams create lower stress environments and learn to interact with cats in a gentler and safer way. This means that cat owners are more likely to return to a veterinary practice where both the owner and the cat have had a good experience.

As cats are becoming increasingly popular pets, do you observe any changes in how cat owners relate to their cat?
In the last decade or so, we are seeing increased emotional attachment. As cats moved from the farmyard to the sofa, they have attained the status of a family member. Many cat owners are keen to provide the best care possible. As a result, they expect more interaction with their veterinary team and they expect support throughout the lifetime of their pet. 

What, in your opinion, are the most prominent trends in cat care?
I think the biggest trend has occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many veterinarians have been unable to examine and treat patients as we normally would. This has provoked an increase in use of telemedicine services. Veterinarians can have virtual consultations with cat owners while the owner and cat are at home. While this is not appropriate for many situations, it has become clear that we can indeed manage some health problems in this way. 

Could you give an example?
An example would be as part of a monitoring program for a chronic disease. Virtual consultations will not replace physical examinations but will have a permanent complementary role in many veterinary practices. For cats, avoiding some trips to the veterinary hospital is an important benefit, as these can be very stressful for them. Including virtual consultations in cat care may ultimately lead to cats receiving better health care.

How can healthcare products for cats improve?
Cats present unique challenges with regard to administering medication. It is normal for cats to be circumspect and careful about eating things that are new to them. They are also very sensitive to smell and texture. They have smaller mouths than dogs and are harder for owners to restrain to administer oral medication. This means some cats are not adequately treated simply because it is difficult to administer an important drug. Pharmaceutical companies have shown more interest in developing drug formulations that are smaller, taste better or are neutral, and that have options (suspensions and tablets, for example). Novel modes of administration such as transdermal and transmucosal, so via absorption through skin and mucous membranes, have also proven their worth. 

What can cat owners actively do to keep their cats healthy?
The most important thing cat owners can do is to establish a relationship with a cat friendly veterinary practice and commit to regular preventive healthcare. Cats are masters of hiding signs of illness so their health problems are often more advanced than expected once they are taken to the veterinarian. Health monitoring, such as with regular blood and urine tests, can detect disease early so management may be easier and outcomes improved.

About Dr. Susan Little

Dr. Susan Little is a former president (2015) of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), board member as well as past president of the Winn Feline Foundation, and a world-renowned expert in feline healthcare. She is part owner of two feline specialty practices in Ottawa, Canada.

As part of the Cat’Xpert Consulting Group for Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cat’Xpert initiative, which aims at raising awareness for the unique health needs of cats, she provides the Cat’Xpert team with invaluable insights on cat-friendliness in veterinary care. Her expertise and thoughtful contributions have helped to move the initiative forward tremendously.