CATalyst Council Honors Phoenix
The CATalyst Council, a coalition of the veterinary community, academia, nonprofits, industry and animal welfare organizations, named Phoenix one of the top 10 cat-friendly cities in America. Other honorees include: Tampa, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), Denver, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Atlanta and Minneapolis. The list was compiled after reviewing the top 25 standard metropolitan areas for such data as cat ownership per capita, level of veterinary care, microchipping and cat-friendly local ordinances.
We’re proud to be contributing to the cat-friendliness of our neighborhood by providing one exam room and an enclosed hospital ward that are reserved exclusivelyfor cats. Yep, no dogs in either of these rooms. No dog smells, no dog noise, no dog hair. Just cats. Cats who visit along with their canine housemates share our dog-friendly rooms during that trip, but will be treated to the “feline suite” any time they leave Fido at home. We make extensive use of cat-friendly products and techniques, including calming pheromones, cat toys and treats, and a “less-is-more” approach to physical restraint for minor clinical procedures, and our feline vaccine protocols include only non-adjuvanted vaccines, which are thought to reduce the risk of vaccine-associated tumors that can develop in some cats. Finally, Dr. Burns is an active member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, which helps her stay up-to-date with the latest developments in feline care.
As I’ve posted about before, however, cats often get the short end of the stick when it comes to veterinary care, environmental enrichment, and other important resources–despite outnumbering dogs in American families by some 10 million. The CATalyst council was formed to help bring the veterinary and welfare needs of cats to light. “We are reaching out to all parties – the pet healthcare community, shelter and welfare organizations, government and the public – to ensure that cats receive the proper care and attention they need and deserve,” said Dr. Jane E. Brunt, executive director of the CATalyst Council. “It truly is all about the cat.”
So, join the discussion below: what do you do to improve the health and welfare of your feline family members?