DOI: https:// doi. org / 10.56496 / ERDB3502

Rebecca Courtley, RVN, ISFM CertFN

ENVELOPE rvnbecca @ gmail. com

Rebecca worked in office administration and IT for many years before, in her thirties, she fulfilled a long-held dream of joining the veterinary profession. In 2016 she trained as a veterinary care assistant and in 2019 she qualified as an RVN. Since qualifying, Rebecca has continued to work in small animal first opinion practice, where she is particularly keen to make a difference to feline welfare. She completed her ISFM Certificate in Feline Friendly Nursing with distinction, and obtained the Cat Friendly Clinic‘ Silver’ status for her practice. She has also diversified her career by working with a veterinary software company. At home, Rebecca has a cat called Maisy and a tortoise called George.

ABSTRACT Cats make up a large proportion of the patients seen in practice, but often their needs are not met at home or in the clinical setting. This can cause acute stress, leading to behavioural and medical issues if not treated. However, this does not need to be the case – with better understanding and advocacy, veterinary nurses( VNs) can improve the welfare of feline patients.

The author shares her journey from being apprehensive about handling cats to becoming a passionate feline advocate. Where others may shy away from cats, these‘ cat nurses’ step up on behalf of their feline friends, in true superhero style – something she encourages other VNs to do.

The article outlines strategies to reduce feline stress, including educating owners on carrier use, creating separate cat-friendly waiting areas and offering cat-only appointment times. In practices, gentle handling techniques and allowing cats more time and greater control are recommended.

Stress-reducing measures for hospitalised cats include separate cat wards and providing hiding places, such as Feline Forts or improvised alternatives. The author also encourages VNs to educate owners using resources from organisations such as International Cat Care and Cats Protection.

The article calls for veterinary practices to adopt a feline-friendly approach, recognising the unique needs of cats and empowering VNs to act as their advocates. Through education and advocacy, VNs can enhance cat care while fostering trust between cats, owners and veterinary staff.

Keywords feline welfare, cat handling, cat-friendly nursing, cat nursing, feline advocacy

16 Veterinary Nursing Journal