Birmingham, UK 3 April 2013:

International Cat Care (ICC: formerly the Feline Advisory Bureau) and Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) used the Ceva Welfare Awards ceremony to announce a new partnership that will strengthen their existing initiatives to promote improved cat health.

Ceva and International Cat Care, through its veterinary division the International Society of Feline Medicine already co-operate in Australia and New Zealand in the highly successful programme to promote “Cat Friendly Clinics.” More people now live in cities than in rural areas, and cat ownership has increased in parallel with this. Despite this fact, cats continue to receive less routine veterinary care than dogs (Figures: 64% cats v 86% dogs in USA* and only an estimated 25-30%* of UK cats)

The partnership will focus on:

• Reaching out to both owners and vets to enable a better understanding of cat behaviour and improving its welfare in the home and in the veterinary clinic.
• Support for the continuing education of professional audiences through congresses and the development of specialised feline materials.
• Corporate social responsibility – ICC’s welfare work is closely aligned to Ceva’s vision “Together, beyond animal health”: the two bodies are committed to find better ways to protect the wellbeing of both owned and unowned cats throughout the world.

Commenting on the partnership Dr. Pascal Raoul, Ceva’s Head of Pharmaceuticals said:
“I am delighted to have been able to attend the Ceva Welfare Awards to understand the truly wonderful work that many people, including fellow vets and members of society are doing to ensure the well being of the animal population. Our relationship with International Cat Care and its veterinary division ISFM is also built on the same mutual commitment that together, we can improve the health and well being of cats, which in turn play such a vital role in our increasingly urbanised lives.”

* Sources AAFP (America Association of Feline Practitioners) and ICC