New Cat Friendly Guidelines aim to provide a better understanding of feline emotions and how, in the veterinary clinic, interactions with cats and the physical environment can be adapted to achieve a truly cat-friendly experience. The guidelines take a cat-centric approach, respecting their emotions and the resulting behaviors.
. . . ‘cat friendly interaction’ replaces ‘cat friendly handling’ from earlier guidelines, recognizing that non-physical interactions play an important part in a cat friendly approach.”
Source: AAFP via LinkedIn, September 26, 2022. Link. The behavior of the veterinary team and the style of their interactions with feline patients can help to optimize a cat’s emotional health, both in terms of emotional valence and arousal.
The guidelines emphasize that it is the responsibility of the veterinary team to improve the experience of cats in their practice. It is also important to recognize when anxiolytics or appropriate sedation protocols play a role in achieving these experiences.