Abstract
Award
2015 JFMS Resident Best Paper Award winner
Mirja Nolff, a resident at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, has won the 2015 JFMS Resident Best Paper Award. This annual award recognises quality and excellence for early career authors in veterinary science; 23 papers were eligible for consideration this year.
The criteria used for evaluating studies are benefit to cats, direct usefulness to practitioners, quality of science, originality and standard of writing. Mirja’s study ‘Negative pressure wound therapy augmented full-thickness free skin grafting in the cat: outcome in 10 grafts transferred to six cats’, published in December 2015, was ranked highest overall.
The panel of judges commented that it was a ‘well written paper, giving information on a technique that may be useful in both a specialist and general practice setting’ and that it had ‘impressive results’.
CKD guidelines and podcast
The ISFM’s new consensus guidelines on feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) are published in this issue (pages 219–239). The guidelines aim to give an up-to-date, critically assessed overview of the current diagnostic and treatment options to guide in the practical management of CKD, and have been developed by an independent panel of clinicians and academics. A podcast interview with the panel chairman, Dr Andrew Sparkes, can be accessed at: jfm.sagepub.com/site/Podcast/podcast_dir.xhtml
AAFP
New survey reveals the value of being a Cat Friendly Practice
The AAFP is extremely excited to share the results of its 2015 Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) survey, which definitively establishes the positive value associated with being a CFP. The survey results unequivocally demonstrate that the CFP designation increases feline visits, revenue and patients. The results reflect the views of CFPs that have gone through the process of becoming designated and have implemented the program in their clinic.
Here’s more on what CFPs had to say about the program:
An impressive 98% of respondents are satisfied with being designated a CFP.
When asked which benefits a CFP actually experienced, the top five benefits selected were:
Less stress on feline patients
Higher satisfaction among current clients with cats
Demonstration of how much we care about our patients
Staff learned things about cats they did not know before*
Improved retention or more frequent visits from existing cat owner clients*
(*New benefit listed as compared with previous years’ surveys.)
79% of practices report that they have increased feline visits because of being a CFP.
71% of practices have received positive feedback on being a CFP from their clients.
65% of practices attributed their increase in revenue to implementing the CFP program.
Nearly 68% of respondents said they gained feline patients by being a designated CFP. Of those practices that gained patients: 30% gained 1 to 5 patients 39% gained 6 to 15 patients 20% gained 16 to 25 patients 11% gained 26 or more patients
Research
Winn Feline Foundation – fostering improvements in feline health
Established by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1968 with an initial donation of $125, Winn Feline Foundation awarded over $5.4 million in feline health research grants through 2015. Winn’s mission as a 501(c)(3) public charity is to enhance the relationship between cats and humans by fostering improvements in feline health through research and education.
In order to recognize the outstanding care and relationship veterinary professionals provide to their cat patients, Winn created its Honor Roll program. Clients, co-workers and colleagues can honor veterinarians and technicians through the program. See more details at: winnfelinefoundation.org/programs.
Journals such as JFMS have been critical to disseminating widely the results of Winn-funded cat health studies. Since JFMS began publication in 1999, Winn Feline Foundation has been acknowledged in 26 articles. Recent years have been especially rewarding – three articles in 2014, four articles in 2015 and six articles in 2016 (five of which are currently OnlineFirst).
iCatCare
iCatCare becomes a supporting organisation of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council
The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) is the regulatory body that represents animal trainers, training instructors and animal behaviour therapists in the UK. It promotes humane practice in training and behaviour therapy of animals.
International Cat Care (iCatCare), the parent charity of ISFM, is delighted to have joined the ABTC as a supporting organisation as it recognises the importance of ensuring behaviour therapy for cats is conducted to the highest standard.
ISFM
Cat Friendly Clinic – two firsts
Clinique Veterinaire du Toulon, in Privas, is the first Cat Friendly Clinic in France, having achieved Silver status.
AniCura Københavns Dyrehospital in Copenhagen has become the first Cat Friendly Clinic to achieve Gold status in Denmark.
For a full list of ISFM’s Cat Friendly Clinics go to: icatcare.org/catfriendlyclinic
