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Practical relevance:The ‘2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques’ (hereafter the ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines’) support veterinary professionals with feline interactions and handling to reduce the impact of fear and other protective (negative) emotions, in so doing enhancing feline welfare and In implementing these Guidelines, team satisfaction and cat caregiver confidence in the veterinary team will increase as the result of efficient examinations, better experience, more reliable diagnostic testing and improved feline wellbeing. Veterinary professionals will learn the importance of understanding and appropriately responding to the current emotional state of the cat and tailoring each visit to the individual.Clinical challenges:Cats have evolved with emotions and behaviors that are necessary for their survival as both a predator and prey species. A clinical setting and the required examinations and procedures to meet their physical health needs can result in behavioral responses to protective emotions. Cat friendly interactions require understanding, interpreting and appropriately responding to cats’ emotional states and giving them a perceived sense of control while performing the required assessment.Evidence base:These Guidelines have been created by a Task Force of experts convened by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine, based on an extensive literature review and, where evidence is lacking, the authors’ experience.Endorsements:These Guidelines have been endorsed by a number of groups and organizations, as detailed on page 1127 and at catvets.com/interactions and icatcare.org/cat-friendly-guidelines .

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine if epaxial muscle height (EMH) could be reliably incorporated into annual routine wellness screenings, and also determine its relationship to age, body condition score (BCS), subjective muscle assessment (SMA), breed and sex in mature cats. Methods EMH was determined independently by three observers from ultrasonographic examinations – collected by an additional trained individual – of cats enrolled at the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic, University of Liverpool, UK. Age, body weight, BCS and SMA data were also collected. Results A total of 92 cats were included, 35 of which had repeat ultrasonographic examinations 12 months apart. Enrolled cats were a median age of 8 years and 9 months at the time of the first measurement. Variation in the quality of ultrasonographic images collected did not affect muscle depth measurements ( P = 0.974). Further, there was good intra- and inter-observer repeatability for all observations (intraclass correlation range 0.97−0.99). There was a moderate positive association between EMH and body weight ( r = 0.49, P Conclusions and relevance The accuracy of EMH measurement using ultrasonographic imaging is good, irrespective of observer experience and provided that the ultrasonographer has some training. This suggests that ultrasonographic measurement of EMH could have a major practical impact as a non-invasive determination of muscle mass in pet cat populations. Further research is required to assess longitudinal changes in muscle mass over time in senior pet cats.

This workshop discussed the prevalence of feline osteoarthritis (OA), how the nursing team can work with cat caregivers and the rest of the veterinary team to recognise and diagnose feline OA, and the role of the nursing team in the on-going management of feline OA

Practical relevance: An understanding of the process of musculoskeletal ageing – which all senior and geriatric cats will experience – is vital to maintaining the health and welfare of our ageing cat population. Clinical challenges: Assessment of the feline musculoskeletal system is not always straightforward. Diagnosis of impairment relies on input from owners and veterinarians in terms of visual observation, and clinical and orthopaedic examination, in addition to diagnostic imaging Audience: This review is written for the primary care veterinary team. Aims: The goals are to raise awareness and improve clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal impairment as a result of ageing. The article also reviews therapeutic options and considers the evidence available for the prevention/deceleration of musculoskeletal ageing and impairment. Evidence base: There is good evidence of a high prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative joint disease (DJD) in older cats. There is also good evidence to indicate that functional impairment and chronic pain are sequelae of musculoskeletal disease. However, there is a paucity of information for what is best practice for the management and treatment of musculoskeletal impairment in a clinical situation. There is also a lack of evidence on how prevention of central stimulation of the nervous system caused by musculoskeletal impairment and, in turn the development of chronic pain, can be avoided.

Skin disease is common in cats and dogs, and can be a reason for relinquishment, abandonment, or even consideration for euthanasia. However, many dermatological conditions are very amenable to diagnosis and effective treatment within the shelter without marked expense. This chapter will describe dermatological problems of particular relevance in the shelter setting. Quick reference guides: Zoonotic diseases in shelters; Dealing with the itchy dog: is it atopic dermatitis?; Exotic diseases in shelters.

Feline infectious peritonitis is a serious and fatal disease that arises as a consequence of infection with feline coronavirus. This chapter covers presentation and clinical signs, diagnostic testing, differential diagnoses, treatment, prevention and management following confirmation of feline infectious peritonitis in a shelter. Quick reference guide: Toxoplasmosis.