AAFP
New webinars launched on AAFP’s eLearning Center
The AAFP is continually providing new learning opportunities on its eLearning Center platform. This includes free online CE webinars for its membership. Additionally, on 6 April 2020, the AAFP will host an inaugural virtual eConference, with speakers Drs Sarah Heath and Sheilah Robertson. The latest featured webinars, ‘feline anesthesia highlights’ and ‘feline thyroid disease’, are now available. Others slated for release cover topics such as: therapy and diagnostics; an update on the prevention of feline upper respiratory infections; and weight loss in the palliative care setting.
Cat2Vet Day partnership expands focus to highlight ongoing care
During the Cat2Vet Day campaign in August, the AAFP and its partners targeted ongoing veterinary care to reinforce the message to cat caregivers that cats need routine check-ups. The AAFP participated in a successful collaborative social media campaign using #Cat2Vet. A series of educational infographics on diverse ongoing care topics was deployed and the video series, ‘Cat Talks’, premiered with a resounding success.
The infographic with the highest reach and engagement (right) reached 94,700 followers on Facebook, had nearly 1000 shares and 8000 engagements. The Cat Talks premiere reached nearly 40,000 followers in its Facebook premiere and follow-up post. It had 24,000 views and over 5000 ThruPlays (video watched to near completion).
Catfriendly.com/cat2vetday was redesigned to include even more information that will be continually updated as part of the ongoing cat care campaign.
Updated Feline Zoonoses Guidelines
The AAFP’s updated Zoonoses Guidelines aim to provide accurate information about feline zoonotic diseases to owners, physicians and veterinarians to allow logical decisions to be made concerning cat ownership.
There are many benefits of having pet cats; however, education is key to the prevention of these common diseases, which are transmittable between animals and humans. With these guidelines, the AAFP aims to address the misinformation that exists about cats and disease transmission.
A client brochure is also available, and this, as well as the guidelines, provides specific suggestions on ways to decrease the risk of contracting zoonotic diseases.
The guidelines and client brochure appear on pages 1008–1021 of this issue of JFMS , and can also be accessed at catvets.com/guidelines and catvets.com/client-brochures.
2020 AAFP conference: save the date
At the time of going to press, the number of registrants for the 2019 AAFP Conference and 5th World Feline Veterinary Conference was projected to show a 30% increase on 2018 conference numbers, totaling approximately 1900 people. The AAFP thank all of their partners for making this possible. A conference recap will be included in the January 2020 issue of JFMS.
This level of attendance signals AAFP’s growth and the association is always looking for exciting ways to present the latest research and education to the veterinary community. With that in mind, the AAFP is pleased to announce preliminary details of its 2020 Annual Conference. With the theme of ‘Feline head and neck: diseases, disorders, and more’, the event will be held on 1–4 October 2020 in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
ISFM
Member survey - your chance to shape ISFM
Throughout November, ISFM is running a survey in order to find out how ISFM veterinary membership is used and valued. The feedback will help ISFM to assess whether the resources that are currently provided are supporting members’ roles in caring for cats, in line with the aims of International Cat Care (iCatCare), its parent charity.
To help ISFM to continue delivering knowledge, tools and value to its members, it would like to encourage as many members as possible to complete the survey. The feedback will be used to help shape membership in order to support the global ISFM community into the future.
The Kitten Checklist launched to help owners avoid heartache
Twenty UK-based animal and veterinary organisations, including ISFM and its parent charity iCatCare, have come together to create The Kitten Checklist, aimed at equipping prospective owners with guidelines on adopting or buying a kitten.
The Kitten Checklist, which was launched by The Cat Group on 24 September, has been developed to help potential new owners find a happy, healthy kitten, and to avoid the heartache and potential costs involved with taking on a sick kitten or one that is frightened of people. The checklist covers how to identify signs of ill health, how to understand the kitten’s behaviour and how to determine the degree to which it is comfortable around people.
Whether the kitten comes from a neighbour, a pedigree cat breeder or a homing organisation, be it free or paid for, the same advice applies to all.
Mr Steve Reed, co-chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cats, comments: ‘Every kitten looks cute and people often take on kittens because they feel sorry for them, or just don’t want to say no to the seller.’
The Kitten Checklist will help prospective owners to choose the right kitten for them. As with most things, doing some research and being prepared can help to alleviate many of the potential problems.
