2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Environmental Design

Background:

• Veterinary clinic visits can induce significant stress and negative emotions in cats due to unfamiliar environments.
• This stress can lead to misleading clinical findings, prolonged recovery, and handling difficulties.
• Misconceptions exist that significant renovations are required to create cat-friendly clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidelines for minimizing feline patient distress in veterinary environments.
• To demonstrate that effective cat-friendly adjustments do not require extensive structural changes.
• To improve the overall veterinary experience for cats, caregivers, and veterinary teams.

Main Methods:

• Development of guidelines by a task force of experts from the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners.
• Extensive literature review to support recommendations.
• Incorporation of authors' experience where evidence was lacking.

Main Results:

• The guidelines detail environmental manipulations considering feline senses and behaviors to reduce stress.
• Strategies include minimizing exposure to other animals and species-specific adjustments in waiting rooms, exam rooms, and wards.
• Caregiver preparation advice is provided to aid cats before clinic visits.

Conclusions:

• Modifying the veterinary clinic environment can significantly reduce feline distress and promote positive emotions.
• Even minor, inexpensive changes can enhance the cat's experience.
• Improved feline patient experience positively impacts preventive care, illness management, and treatment compliance.