In the November episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, we explore two sides of feline health: global strategy and practical clinical decision making.

First, Severine Tasker reflects on her first few months as iCatCare’s Veterinary Strategic Lead. She talks about what drew her to the role, the international challenges shaping feline welfare, and why understanding context and caregiver realities can change the way we help cats.

Then, Sam Taylor joins us to discuss the newly released iCatCare Diabetes Guidelines. We explore what has shifted since the previous update, how new treatments and monitoring tools are influencing practice, and the considerations that matter most when supporting diabetic cats and their caregivers.

For further reading material please visit:

iCatCare 2025 consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in cats

For iCatCare Veterinary Members, full recordings of each episode of the podcast are available for you to listen to at portal.icatcare.org. To become an iCatCare Veterinary Member, or find out more about our Cat Friendly schemes, visit icatcare.org

Host:

Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:

Severine Tasker, BSc BVSc(Hons) PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FHEA FRCVS, Veterinary Strategic Lead at International Cat Care

Sam Taylor, BVetMed(Hons) CertSAM DipECVIM FRCV, Veterinary Specialist Consultant and Veterinary Specialist Lead at iCatCare

In this special episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, sponsored by Orion Animal Health, iCatCare’s Yaiza Gómez Mejías and Laura Watson are joined by Dr Sarah Heath to explore the clinical relevance of emotional health in feline practice.

Drawing on decades of experience, Dr Heath outlines the principles of the Heath Model - a framework that integrates emotional, cognitive, and physical health as core components of veterinary care. Using accessible tools she offers practical ways to identify emotional bias and arousal in cats, even within time-limited consults. The conversation moves from subtle behavioural cues and their diagnostic value, to the role of veterinary nurses in emotional assessments and client communication.

Rather than treating behaviour as an afterthought, this episode challenges practitioners to recognise behavioural medicine as a veterinary discipline in its own right - essential not only for accurate diagnosis and treatment, but for improving clinical outcomes, reducing repeat visits, and supporting long-term feline welfare.

For further reading material please visit:

Environment and Feline Health: At Home and in the Clinic

Understanding Feline emotions... and their role in problem behaviours

A new model and terminology for understanding feline emotions

Letter to companies who use brachycephalic cats and other breeds with extreme conformation

Hosts:

Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Laura Watson, RVN ISFM AdvCertFB & DipFN, iCatCare Cat Welfare Coordinator

Speaker:
Sarah Heath, BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FHEA FRCVS, RCVS Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine & EBVS ® European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine

In the October episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, we spotlight progress and innovation in feline clinical medicine through two compelling conversations.

First, Sam Taylor speaks with Gabriele Ratti, winner of the ABCD Young Scientist Award, about his research into emerging infectious threats in cats. They explore the shifting landscape of feline infectious diseases, the challenges of studying both unowned and wild felids, and the critical role of prevention and biosecurity across species and settings.

Then, Kelly St. Denis is joined by William Whitehouse and Katrina Viviano to discuss their recent JFMS article on feline clinical therapeutics. Together, they unpack new developments in pain management, drug therapies for conditions like FIP, HCM, and chronic kidney disease, and what these advances mean for veterinary teams and cat caregivers. From once-untreatable diagnoses to evolving best practices, this conversation highlights how ongoing research is reshaping feline care.

For further reading material please visit:

Molecular Detection of Feline Coronavirus in Captive Non-Domestic Felids from Zoological Facilities

Further Research From Gabriele Ratti

Clinical therapeutics in feline medicine: updates for old and new drugs

View The Transcript Here

For iCatCare Veterinary Members, full recordings of each episode of the podcast are available for you to listen to at portal.icatcare.org. To become an iCatCare Veterinary Member, or find out more about our Cat Friendly schemes, visit icatcare.org

Host:

Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:

Sam Taylor, BVetMed(Hons) CertSAM DipECVIM FRCV, Veterinary Specialist Consultant and Veterinary Specialist Lead at iCatCare

Gabriele Ratti, DVM, PhD, ECVM resident, Veterinary microbiologist with experience in diagnostics and research focused on infectious diseases

Kelly St. Denis, DVM, Dipl.ABVP, Co-editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and JFMS Open Reports and board-certified feline specialist

William Whitehouse, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Assistant Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine

Katrina Viviano, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP, Head of Small Animal Internal Medicine