A new online resource to help veterinary students, practitioners and pet owners better understand, and deal with, the undesirable behaviour of cats is being launched by WikiVet.

Troublesome feline behaviour can be a serious problem for cat owners and one that can be a huge source of concern and distress. Owners usually turn to their local vet for help, and in a recent survey of over 800 cat owners by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), 75 % said that problem behaviour is a subject that they expected vets to be knowledgeable about.

Despite this level of concern and expectation among cat owners, many find that their local vet is less knowledgeable than they anticipated and cannot offer the effective advice they need.

That is why WikiVet, a collaboration of UK veterinary schools coordinated by the RVC, has teamed up with global veterinary health company, Ceva Santé Animale, to create a comprehensive online resource solely dedicated to the issue.

It is the first of its kind and contains over 40 encyclopaedic pages on the topic of feline behaviour as well as expert videos and an interactive quiz. The pages include information on normal feline behaviour, problem behaviours and how to manage them as well as the importance of cats' environment. The resource will be available to all levels of veterinary practitioners from student vets and nurses to senior level surgeons.

Jon Bowen leads the Veterinary Behaviour Service at the RVC, is an expert in feline behaviour and has contributed his knowledge to the resource. He said: “As well as being a trusted source of advice for owners, vets may also have the added challenge of distinguishing feline behaviour problems from medical issues.

“I am thrilled to have been involved in the creation of these new resources which will help to raise awareness and understanding of this complex and previously under-appreciated topic.”

To mark the beginning of the project WikiVet are also launching the Feline Behaviour Global Student Challenge. This is an online quiz which gives participants the chance to test their expertise and identify gaps in their knowledge. The top three scores will be rewarded with a £50 ebook prize. Once the competition has ended, the quiz will be available to users of WikiVet.

Martin Mitchell, Group Communications Director at Ceva Santé Animale, said:  “In an increasingly urban and stressful world, the veterinary profession has a major role to play in educating the public about behaviour related issues.  As Ceva, we are delighted to partner WikiVet in the development of this valuable new online resource that we all hope will help veterinarians and future veterinarians to pass on their knowledge to help improve the bond between cats and their owners."

 

 

Contact: Jordan Kenny

T: 01727 733882
M: 07557163744
E: jordan@communciationsmanagement.co.uk

 

 For further information, about Ceva Santé Animale

Martin Mitchell
Group Communications Director
Tél. +33 (0)5 57 55 40 80
E-mail: martin.mitchell@ceva.com

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