Abstract
ISFM – the International Society of Feline Medicine – is the veterinary division of the charity International Cat Care, which was founded 60 years ago this year. The charity was started in the UK in 1958 (originally called the Feline Advisory Bureau), and it was formed out of a recognition that at that time so little was known about cats and cat diseases.
From the start, the simple aim of international Cat Care (www.icatcare.org) was to improve the health and welfare of domestic cats. The charity works to enhance the care and understanding of owned and unowned cats, as well as, through ISFM, to improve the veterinary care of cats. ISFM itself was originally formed 22 years ago as ESFM – the European Society of Feline Medicine – and, as a pivotal part of its activities, established the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), now in its 20th volume.
To work towards its vision of a world where all cats are treated with care, compassion and understanding, International Cat Care, as well as ISFM, operates internationally and partners with other like-minded organisations around the world to help achieve this. It was with this global vision that ISFM joined with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) in 2002 to publish JFMS together. With the mission to improve the health and welfare of cats by supporting high standards of practice, continuing education and scientific investigation, the AAFP shares common aims (see box) with ISFM and this partnership works successfully to provide a wider, more international readership of JFMS.
60 years young
As we enter our diamond anniversary year and look back at the six decades International Cat Care has been in existence, there have been significant advances in our knowledge of cats. However, despite being at the forefront of improvements, the charity also recognises the major challenges that we still face. From an international perspective, there are huge variations in the way cats are cared for from one country to another, but with the increasing popularity of cats as pets throughout the world, the need for better understanding and management has never been more important. To this end, the charity has spearheaded an ‘International Declaration of Responsibilities to Cats’, aimed at a broad range of stakeholders – governments, local authorities, nongovernmental organisations, individuals involved in welfare work, owners and breeders, as well as veterinary professionals.
Sixty years ago, nobody involved in the founding of the charity would have had any idea of the international impact it would have. Equally, we look forward to the future, confident in the knowledge that, although there is still a tremendous amount to be done, so many people – not least the members of ISFM and AAFP and the other readers and authors of JFMS papers – are committed to ensuring the care, compassion and understanding that all cats deserve. Here’s to the next 60 years…
