Feline physiotherapy and rehabilitation: 2. clinical application

There is an increasing demand for effective postoperative and post-injury rehabilitation for any cat with compromised physical function due to injury, surgery or disease.

The design of a suitable rehabilitation programme that will assist the recovery process, as well as ensure the return of neuromusculoskeletal control to the highest levels of function possible, requires a good understanding of feline behaviour, accurate assessment of the cat's condition and the correct implementation of a range of physiotherapeutic modalities.

This two-part review article is directed at the primary care veterinary team. The clinical application of a variety of physiotherapeutic modalities in the rehabilitation of cats is examined in this second part.

Although evidence supporting the benefits of physiotherapy and rehabilitation with cats is sparse, many techniques, treatments and rehabilitation regimens successfully used on human patients are being readily adapted for animal use. Treatment recommendations described in this review are primarily based on the author's experience, and that of colleagues, except where specific reference is made to published evidence.