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McGrath AP, Horschler DJ, Hancock L. Feline Cognition and the Role of Nutrition: An Evolutionary Perspective and Historical Review. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1967. [PMID: 38998079 PMCID: PMC11240355 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Research into cognition in cats and the impact of nutrition on cat cognitive health lags behind that in dogs but is receiving increased attention. In this review, we discuss the evolutionary history of the domesticated cat, describe possible drivers of domestication, and explore the interrelationships between nutrition and cat cognition. While most cat species are solitary, domesticated cats can live in social groups, engage in complex social encounters, and form strong attachments to humans. Researchers have recently started to study cat cognition using similar methods as those developed for dogs, with an initial primary focus on perception and social cognition. Similar to dogs, cats also show cognitive and behavioral changes associated with stress and aging, but these signs are often gradual and often considered a consequence of natural aging. Despite the fundamental role of nutrition in cognitive development, function, and maintenance, research into the association between nutrition and cognition in cats is only preliminary. Ultimately, additional research is needed to gain a full understanding of cat cognition and to explore the role of nutrition in the cognitive health of cats to help improve their welfare.
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2
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Mortier F, Daminet S, Marynissen S, Smets P, Paepe D. Value of repeated health screening in 259 apparently healthy mature adult and senior cats followed for 2 years. J Vet Intern Med 2024; 38:2089-2098. [PMID: 38967102 PMCID: PMC11256131 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although regular health screening is recommended, long-term follow-up data in healthy aged cats are lacking. OBJECTIVES Determine the most common conditions in a large group of apparently healthy older cats and which diseases are manifested within 2 years in cats confirmed to be healthy based on extensive health screening. ANIMALS Client-owned cats. METHODS Prospective study. Thorough history, physical examination, blood tests, and urinalysis were performed in 259 apparently healthy mature adult (7-10 years) and senior (>10 years) cats. Semi-annual follow-up examinations were performed in 201 confirmed healthy cats. RESULTS At baseline, 21% of apparently healthy cats were not considered healthy but were diagnosed with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) ≥ stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD; 7.7%) or hyperthyroidism (4.6%), among other disorders. Disease occurred significantly more frequently in senior cats compared with mature adult cats. In addition, 40% cats were overweight, 35% had moderate to severe dental disease, and 22% had abnormal cardiac auscultation findings. Within 2 years, 28% of mature adult and 54% of senior cats that were confirmed healthy at inclusion developed new diseases, most commonly IRIS ≥ stage 2 CKD (cumulative incidence, 13.4%), hyperthyroidism (8.5%), chronic enteropathy, hepatopathy or pancreatitis (7.5%), or neoplasia (7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The high prevalence and 2-year incidence of physical examination abnormalities and systemic diseases in apparently healthy older cats argue for regular health screening in cats ≥7 years of age. Although more common in senior cats, occult disease also occurs in mature adult cats, and owners should be informed accordingly.
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3
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Hajzler I, Nenadović K, Vučinić M. Health changes of old cats. J Vet Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
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4
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Rodan I, Dowgray N, Carney HC, Carozza E, Ellis SLH, Heath S, Niel L, St Denis K, Taylor S. 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques. J Feline Med Surg 2022; 24:1093-1132. [PMID: 36259500 PMCID: PMC10845437 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x221128760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE The '2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques' (hereafter the 'Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines') support veterinary professionals with feline interactions and handling to reduce the impact of fear and other protective (negative) emotions, in so doing enhancing feline welfare and 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. CLINICAL CHALLENGES 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. EVIDENCE BASE These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine, 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 organizations, as detailed on page 1127 and at catvets.com/interactions and icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Rodan
- Cat Behavior Solutions, Cat Care Clinic, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nathalie Dowgray
- International Society of Feline Medicine, International Cat Care, Tisbury, Wi ltshire, UK
| | | | | | | | - Sarah Heath
- Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice, Chester, UK
| | - Lee Niel
- Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kelly St Denis
- St Denis Veterinary Professional Corporation, Powassan, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samantha Taylor
- International Society of Feline Medicine, International Cat Care, Wiltshire, Tisbury, UK
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5
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Azadian A, Gunn-Moore DA. Age-related cognitive impairments in domestic cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus. Vet Rec 2022; 191:e1683. [PMID: 35512238 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.1683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related dementia has been documented in domestic cats; however, its interaction with naturally occurring feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection has been investigated minimally. METHODS Visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and problem-solving (PS) ability were evaluated in FIV-infected (n = 37) and control cats (n = 39) using two cognitive tasks tested serially, which assessed the ability of cats to remember the location of a baited container after a set delay, then evaluated the capability of the cats to manipulate the container to obtain the food within a time limit. Cats were categorized using 7 years of age as a cut-off to determine age-related differences. The relationship between cognitive performance and FIV viral load was investigated using real-time PCR cycle threshold (Ct ) values. RESULTS Age significantly affected VSWM and PS ability. Younger cats had better VSWM performance and PS ability compared to older cats with the same FIV status. There was no difference between younger FIV-positive and negative cats in either part of the task. While older FIV-positive cats had significantly worse VSWM than older FIV-negative cats, no differences were found in PS ability. Additionally, Ct values predicted VSWM but not PS ability. CONCLUSION Age-related cognitive impairments and FIV infection appear synergetic, causing greater cognitive deficits in older FIV-infected cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Azadian
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food System, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- Division of Companion Animals, Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK.,Division of Infection & Immunity, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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6
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Hartmann K, Möstl K, Lloret A, Thiry E, Addie DD, Belák S, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Frymus T, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Lutz H, Marsilio F, Pennisi MG, Tasker S, Truyen U, Hosie MJ. Vaccination of Immunocompromised Cats. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050923. [PMID: 35632665 PMCID: PMC9147348 DOI: 10.3390/v14050923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunocompromise is a common condition in cats, especially due to widespread infections with immunosuppressive viruses, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), but also due to chronic non-infectious diseases, such as tumours, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, as well as treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, such as glucocorticoids, cyclosporins, or tumour chemotherapy. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of experts in feline medicine from eleven European countries, discusses the current knowledge and rationale for vaccination of immunocompromised cats. So far, there are few data available on vaccination of immunocompromised cats, and sometimes studies produce controversial results. Thus, this guideline summarizes the available scientific studies and fills in the gaps with expert opinion, where scientific studies are missing. Ultimately, this review aims to help veterinarians with their decision-making in how best to vaccinate immunocompromised cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Hartmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Karin Möstl
- Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Albert Lloret
- Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Etienne Thiry
- Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, FARAH Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Liège University, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Diane D. Addie
- Veterinary Diagnostic Services, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
| | - Sándor Belák
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | | | - Herman Egberink
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Tadeusz Frymus
- Department of Small Animal Diseases with Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (R.H.-L.); (H.L.)
| | - Hans Lutz
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (R.H.-L.); (H.L.)
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Maria Grazia Pennisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Séverine Tasker
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK;
- Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd., Shirley, Solihull B90 4BN, UK
| | - Uwe Truyen
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Margaret J. Hosie
- MRC—University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
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Sordo L, Gunn-Moore DA. Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats: Update on Neuropathological and Behavioural Changes Plus Clinical Management. Vet Rec 2021; 188:e3. [PMID: 34651755 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is an established condition in cats that shares many similarities with human Alzheimer's disease (AD), where cognitive decline ultimately results in dementia. Cats with CDS display behavioural abnormalities, including excessive Vocalisation, altered Interaction with owners (increased affection/attention), altered Sleep-wake cycles, House-soiling, Disorientation (spatial and/or temporal), alterations in Activity, Anxiety, and/or Learning/memory deficits (i.e., VISHDAAL). These cats develop neuropathologies, such as accumulation of β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau deposits. Because of its similarities to those in the brains of people with cognitive impairment and AD, the domestic cat could be a natural model for human dementia studies. It is important to diagnose CDS promptly in cats, ruling out other causes for these behavioural changes, to provide effective management. Interventions include environmental enrichment (e.g., easy access to key resources, calming pheromones), dietary supplementations (e.g., Senilife, Aktivait for cats, SAMe), specific diets (e.g., containing antioxidants, medium-chain triglycerides) and, potentially, medication (e.g., selegiline or propentofylline). This article reviews the literature about CDS in cats, its causes, neuropathology, clinical signs, diagnosis and potential management options. By doing so, it furthers our understanding of this condition and allows improved health, welfare and quality of life of affected cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK
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Ray M, Carney HC, Boynton B, Quimby J, Robertson S, St Denis K, Tuzio H, Wright B. 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2021; 23:613-638. [PMID: 34167339 PMCID: PMC10812122 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x211021538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The '2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines' are authored by a Task Force of experts in feline clinical medicine and serve as an update and extension of those published in 2009. They emphasize the individual patient evaluation and the process of aging, with references to other feline practice guidelines for a more complete discussion of specific diseases. Focusing on each cat encourages and empowers the owner to become a part of the cat's care every step of the way. A comprehensive discussion during the physical examination and history taking allows for tailoring the approach to both the cat and the family involved in the care. Videos and analysis of serial historical measurements are brought into the assessment of each patient. These Guidelines introduce the emerging concept of frailty, with a description and methods of its incorporation into the senior cat assessment. Minimum database diagnostics are discussed, along with recommendations for additional investigative considerations. For example, blood pressure assessment is included as a minimum diagnostic procedure in both apparently healthy and ill cats. Cats age at a much faster rate than humans, so practical timelines for testing frequency are included and suggest an increased frequency of diagnostics with advancing age. The importance of nutrition, as well as senior cat nutritional needs and deficiencies, is considered. Pain is highlighted as its own syndrome, with an emphasis on consideration in every senior cat. The Task Force discusses anesthesia, along with strategies to allow aging cats to be safely anesthetized well into their senior years. The medical concept of quality of life is addressed with the latest information available in veterinary medicine. This includes end of life considerations like palliative and hospice care, as well as recommendations on the establishment of 'budgets of care', which greatly influence what can be done for the individual cat. Acknowledgement is given that each cat owner will be different in this regard; and establishing what is reasonable and practical for the individual owner is important. A discussion on euthanasia offers some recommendations to help the owner make a decision that reflects the best interests of the individual cat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hazel C Carney
- WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center, Garden City, ID, USA
| | - Beth Boynton
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Quimby
- The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sheilah Robertson
- Senior Medical Director, Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, Lutz, FL, USA
| | | | - Helen Tuzio
- Forest Hills Cat Hospital, Middle Village, NY, USA
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Quimby J, Gowland S, Carney HC, DePorter T, Plummer P, Westropp J. 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2021; 23:211-233. [PMID: 33627003 PMCID: PMC10812130 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x21993657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The guidelines, authored by a Task Force of experts in feline clinical medicine, are an update and extension of the AAFP-AAHA Feline Life Stage Guidelines published in 2010. The guidelines are published simultaneously in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (volume 23, issue 3, pages 211-233, DOI: 10.1177/1098612X21993657) and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (volume 57, issue 2, pages 51-72, DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7189). A noteworthy change from the earlier guidelines is the division of the cat's lifespan into a five-stage grouping with four distinct age-related stages (kitten, young adult, mature adult, and senior) as well as an end-of-life stage, instead of the previous six. This simplified grouping is consistent with how pet owners generally perceive their cat's maturation and aging process, and provides a readily understood basis for an evolving, individualized, lifelong feline healthcare strategy. The guidelines include a comprehensive table on the components of a feline wellness visit that provides a framework for systematically implementing an individualized life stage approach to feline healthcare. Included are recommendations for managing the most critical health-related factors in relation to a cat's life stage. These recommendations are further explained in the following categories: behavior and environmental needs; elimination; life stage nutrition and weight management; oral health; parasite control; vaccination; zoonoses and human safety; and recommended diagnostics based on life stage. A discussion on overcoming barriers to veterinary visits by cat owners offers practical advice on one of the most challenging aspects of delivering regular feline healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Quimby
- DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Co-Chair of 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines Task Force The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shannon Gowland
- DVM, DABVP, Co-Chair of 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines Task Force OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hazel C Carney
- DVM, MS, DABVP, WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center, Garden City, Idaho, USA
| | - Theresa DePorter
- DVM, MRCVS, DACVB, DECAWBM, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
| | - Paula Plummer
- LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jodi Westropp
- DVM, PhD, DACVIM, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
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10
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Quimby J, Gowland S, Carney HC, DePorter T, Plummer P, Westropp J. 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2021. [PMID: 33627003 DOI: 10.5326/jaaha-ms-7189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The guidelines, authored by a Task Force of experts in feline clinical medicine, are an update and extension of the AAFP-AAHA Feline Life Stage Guidelines published in 2010. The guidelines are published simultaneously in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (volume 23, issue 3, pages 211-233, DOI: 10.1177/1098612X21993657) and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (volume 57, issue 2, pages 51-72, DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7189). A noteworthy change from the earlier guidelines is the division of the cat's lifespan into a five-stage grouping with four distinct age-related stages (kitten, young adult, mature adult, and senior) as well as an end-of-life stage, instead of the previous six. This simplified grouping is consistent with how pet owners generally perceive their cat's maturation and aging process, and provides a readily understood basis for an evolving, individualized, lifelong feline healthcare strategy. The guidelines include a comprehensive table on the components of a feline wellness visit that provides a framework for systematically implementing an individualized life stage approach to feline healthcare. Included are recommendations for managing the most critical health-related factors in relation to a cat's life stage. These recommendations are further explained in the following categories: behavior and environmental needs; elimination; life stage nutrition and weight management; oral health; parasite control; vaccination; zoonoses and human safety; and recommended diagnostics based on life stage. A discussion on overcoming barriers to veterinary visits by cat owners offers practical advice on one of the most challenging aspects of delivering regular feline healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Quimby
- DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Co-Chair of 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines Task Force The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shannon Gowland
- DVM, DABVP, Co-Chair of 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines Task Force OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hazel C Carney
- DVM, MS, DABVP, WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center, Garden City, Idaho, USA
| | - Theresa DePorter
- DVM, MRCVS, DACVB, DECAWBM, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
| | - Paula Plummer
- LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jodi Westropp
- DVM, PhD, DACVIM, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
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Černá P, Gardiner H, Sordo L, Tørnqvist-Johnsen C, Gunn-Moore DA. Potential Causes of Increased Vocalisation in Elderly Cats with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome as Assessed by Their Owners. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1092. [PMID: 32599838 PMCID: PMC7341261 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to explore owner perception of the causes of increased vocalisation in cats diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and consider what impact this vocalisation may have on the cat's household. Owners of cats diagnosed with CDS that presented with increased vocalisation were invited to complete an online survey. The survey consisted of 28 questions including the cat's signalment, its medical history, and questions pertaining to the owner's perception of what motivated their cat´s increased vocalisation. This was determined by looking at the cat's behaviour when vocalising, where it was looking when it was vocalising, and if the vocalisation stopped when the owner interacted with it, e.g., petting or feeding it. The owners were also asked how stressful they found their cat's vocalisation. There were 37 responses. The majority of owners reported that the main cause of their cat's vocalisation appeared to be disorientation (40.5%) or attention seeking (40.5%). Seeking a resource such as food was reported in 16.2%, and pain was perceived to be the cause in only 2.7% of cats. However, the majority of owners (64.8%) believed there was >1 cause of their cat's increased vocalisation. Importantly, when owners were asked how stressful they found their cat's increased vocalisation, 40.5% scored ≥3 (where 1 = not stressful; 5 = significantly stressful). This study provides novel insight into owner perception of feline CDS, as well as potential causes for increased vocalisation; this will allow veterinarians to better advise owners on how to manage their cat with CDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Černá
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
- Small Animal Clinic, The University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 251 61 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah Gardiner
- The Beaumont Veterinary Group—Kidlington branch, Kidlington OX5 1EA, UK;
| | - Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
| | - Camilla Tørnqvist-Johnsen
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
| | - Danièlle A. Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
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