Abstract
A Canadian author, William Patrick Kinsella, once wrote: ‘If you build it, they will come.’ As we wind up the celebrations for JFMS’s 20th Anniversary (the Anniversary Hub remains accessible at bit.ly/20thhub) and embrace our 21st year, it is amazing to look back to 1998, and life pre-JFMS. At that time, research articles on feline medicine were few and far between. It didn’t take me long to read those papers that interested me in journals and I was never behind. Thanks to having a platform devoted to publishing high quality feline research, there are more papers than I can comfortably read and now my quandry is choosing which feline papers to peruse. What a wonderful dilemma to have! And how humbling.
It will take many minds and hearts to help us understand cats better
Over the past 15 years, it has become evident how pivotal wellbeing is in affecting a cat’s physical health. We now recognize not only that mental and emotional health plays a role in influencing feline behavior and interaction with caregivers, but that clinical signs of sickness may be a reflection of ‘dis-EASE’. The body is more than the sum of its systems. Further, we are beginning to learn about epigenetics, not just of the individual but the effects of the previous generation’s emotional and physical stressors. What a myriad of complexities … and wonder!
In this issue’s News & Views, 1 you will find that the Morris Animal Foundation has concluded that understanding feline behavior is so important that ‘there is a pressing need and the potential for rapid progress’ in learning about this aspect of health. All blue ribbon panel members of a roundtable discussion convened by the foundation agreed that ‘behavioral problems and health are inextricably linked, and that many common diseases can be traced back to one or more root causes in the physical and social environment of these pets. Moreover, distress and/or anxiety are significant welfare issues.’
For the first time, the Morris Animal Foundation is offering a specific funding opportunity to undertake research in this area. As well as providing a summary from the Morris Animal Foundation’s roundtable discussion, there is an invitation to submit a proposal for the Mark L Morris Jr Investigator Award on the theme of ‘Environmental, social and emotional risk factors for health and welfare in cats’. 1 Several key research questions have been identified as being especially relevant. They include:
How to prevent, alleviate or predict intercat conflict between potential housemates;
The impact of the environment on wellness from the perspective of resources but also how technology might help assess and improve welfare;
Long-term impact of kitten socialization;
Caregiver awareness and cat–human interactions;
Awareness among the veterinary team of the importance of behaviour at home, as well as in the clinic;
Effects of aging in cats on treating comorbidities, on cognitive dysfunction and on recognition of quality of life.
This is important. I urge you to give this your consideration and share the opportunity. It will take many minds and hearts to help us understand cats better so that we truly can help them live healthier lives alongside people.