Abstract
FVF conference
A meeting of minds to benefit cats everywhere
What more promising start could there be for the inaugural conference of a new feline veterinary umbrella group than the wonderful setting of Vevey, near Geneva?
In December 2008, Nestlé, Purina hosted the first conference of the Feline Veterinary Federation (FVF), a body created by FAB/ESFM to bring together a number of feline veterinary groups from different countries.
The FVF is a non-profit division of the charity, the Feline Advisory Bureau, and has the aims of providing a working framework for the collaboration of like-minded veterinary cat groups dedicated to advancing the veterinary understanding and welfare of cats, and sharing information. The ultimate beneficiaries will be cats everywhere.
Representatives of cat groups from Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France, the UK and Sweden were present. These various cat groups are all independent entities and have been working together with FAB for over a year and translating much of FAB's extensive information archive for their own audiences. FAB provides a liaison person from its feline expert panel to help where possible.
At the meeting there was an opportunity to share in some high level feline CPD provided by JFMS editor and chairman of FAB, Dr Andrew Sparkes, from the Animal Health Trust in the UK; Dr Albert Lloret from the University of Barcelona; and Dr Clementine Jean-Philippe from Nestlé, Purina. The groups then presented information about cats and feline veterinary care in their respective countries. Perhaps not surprisingly, it became clear that many of the problems encountered in the individual countries were mirrored by the experiences of delegates from other countries.
Branching out - the FVF gathers representatives from seven European countries for its first conference, hosted by Nestlé, Purina in Switzerland. Front row, from left: Annalisa Franceschetti (Nestlé, Purina), Greet Junius (Belgium), Michelle Fradin-Fevre (France), Ingrid Putcuyps (Belgium), Lizzie Parker (Nestlé, Purina). Middle row, from left: Andy Sparkes (UK), Anne-Claire Gagnon (France), Llibertat Real Sampietro (Spain), Natalia Sanna (Italy), Tom Deleu (Belgium), Veerle de Temmerman (Belgium), Anna Gerbert (Sweden), Albert Lloret (Spain), Mike Burke (Nestlé, Purina), Christina Bettini (Italy). Back row, from left: Henny Bax (Netherlands), Ross Tiffin (UK), Karin Hoogendorm (Netherlands), Blandine Capello (Nestlé, Purina), Clementine Jean-Philippe (Nestlé, Purina)
www.fabcats.org/fvf
Further information about the FVF member groups is available from FAB's website It is hoped that membership of the FVF will grow to encompass groups not only from all over Europe, but worldwide. Any feline groups interested in joining the federation should contact Claire Sessant, FAS's chief executive, at
To this end the group agreed to set up its own web forum to exchange experiences and federation to share during the year, and FAB/ESFM will make time available at the ESFM Conference each year for further discussions and meeting between the groups.
Nestlé, Purina has generously agreed to host the FVF meeting annually. Speaking at the inaugural conference, Dr Lizzie Parker, head of Veterinary Channel.
Europe at the company, commented: ‘As a company passionately committed to the health and well-being of cats worldwide, it is a great honour for us to be able to support FVF in its endeavours to help improve international cat welfare.’
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