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

In the September episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, we bring together two conversations on how innovation and teamwork shape feline medicine.

First, Yaiza Gómez Mejías speaks with Morgane Debuigne, winner of the JFMS Resident Best Paper Award 2024, about her article on feline supraglottic airway devices. What does the latest research reveal about their role in anaesthesia and where do they fit alongside established practice?

Then, Dr Kelly St. Denis continues her discussion with Mary Ellen Goldberg on feline rehabilitation. In this second part, they explore therapies, exercises, and the practical ways veterinary teams and owners can play a role in supporting recovery. Catch up on the first part of their conversation by tuning into our July episode!

For further reading material please visit:

Placement of the feline V-gel Advanced supraglottic airway device and tracheal selectivity during controlled mechanical ventilation: a clinical and tomodensitometric evaluation

Computed tomography assessment of V-Gel Advanced supraglottic airway device placement in cats

Physical rehabilitation of cats: 1. Common conditions benefiting from physiotherapy

Physical rehabilitation of cats: 2. Treatment therapies and exercises

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:

Morgane Debuigne, Dipl. ECVAA, Winner of the JFMS Resident Best Paper Award 2024

Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Co-editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and JFMS Open Reports, St Denis Veterinary Professional Corporation, Powassan, Ontario, Canada

Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS, VTS-LAM, VTS Hon, Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner & JFMS Author

In the August episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, we explore how feline care often requires thinking beyond the obvious - especially when clinical signs don’t match expectations.

First, Yaiza Gómez Mejías speaks with Annamaria Tiozzo Ambrosi about her award-winning JFMS Open Report on hypokalaemic myopathy associated with iatrogenic hypercorticism. The case, involving long-term steroid use in a cat with subtle but serious symptoms, highlights the diagnostic value of persistence, good history taking, and knowing when the usual differentials don’t quite add up.

Then, Katie McCallum and Giulia Cattaneo join Yaiza to discuss their JFMS Clinical Spotlight review on feline enteropathogens and molecular diagnostics. They explore common risk factors for enteric disease, from shelter environments to raw feeding, and unpack how genetics, co-infections, and gut ecology influence both testing decisions and clinical outcomes.

For further reading material please visit:

Hypokalaemic myopathy associated with iatrogenic hypercorticism in a cat

Feline enteropathogens and molecular diagnostics: benefits, limitations and clinical applications

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:

Katie McCallum, BVM, BVM&S, BSAVA PGCertSAM, DipECVIM-CA, FHEA, MRCVS, Clinical Veterinarian and Affiliated Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine

Giulia Cattaneo, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Senior Clinical Training Scholar (Small Animal Medicine) & ECVIM Resident in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Annamaria Tiozzo Ambrosi, DVM, Medical Consultant & Winner of JFMS Open Reports Practitioner Best Paper Award

In the July episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, we explore what happens when the clinical picture doesn’t tell the whole story and why feline care often hinges on context as much as condition.

Ann Hohenhaus joins host Yaiza Gómez-Mejías to reflect on her widely read JFMS article about non-regenerative anaemia in cats. But beyond the lab values, what makes this condition so difficult to spot? The conversation touches on overlooked clinical signs, unexpected owner observations, and the real-world decisions veterinarians face when managing anaemia in everyday practice.

Then, Dr Kelly St. Denis speaks with Mary Ellen Goldberg about feline rehabilitation: when it’s needed, why it’s underused, and how it fits into modern pain management. In this first of a two-part conversation, they explore common challenges, the importance ofbehavioural sensitivity, and the value of a flexible, feline-friendly approach. Stay tuned for Part Two coming later this year!

For further reading material please visit:

Feline non-regenerative anemia: Diagnostic and treatment recommendations

Physical rehabilitation of cats: 1. Common conditions benefiting from physiotherapy

Physical rehabilitation of cats: 2. Treatment therapies and exercises

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) CertAP (SAM-F) Acr AVEPA, Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:
Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology), AMC’s Director of Pet Health Information

Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Co-editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and JFMS Open Reports, St Denis Veterinary Professional Corporation, Powassan, Ontario, Canada

Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS, VTS-LAM, VTS Hon, Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner & JFMS Author

In the June episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, host Yaiza Gómez-Mejías continues two insightful conversations from earlier this year, revisiting complex topics in feline internal medicine and dermatology through the lens of recent clinical guidelines and case experience.

First, Sam Taylor and Rachel Korman return to discuss further aspects of the 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of feline lower urinary tract disease. Building on their previous conversation, they explore how clinical decisions are made in practice and reflect on how guideline recommendations translate into everyday patient care. To hear the first part of this discussion, listen back to our February 2025 episode.

Then, Dr Kelly St. Denis is joined once again by Dr Frane Banovic to complete their discussion on immune-mediated skin diseases in cats, drawing on the second of two JFMS Clinical Spotlight articles. Together, they consider some of the key challenges in recognising and managing these conditions, and share insights into treatment options informed by both evidence and experience. For the first half of this conversation, revisit our April 2025 episode.

For further reading material please visit:

2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract diseases in cats

Frane Banovic : Feline Immune-mediated skin disorders (Part One)

Frane Banovic : Feline Immune-mediated skin disorders (Part Two)

Host:

Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) CertAP (SAM-F) Acr AVEPA, Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:

Samantha Taylor, BVetMed(Hons), CertSAM, DipECVIM-CA, MANZCVS, FRCVS, Feline Medicine Specialist and ISFM Academy Lead

Rachel Korman, ​​BVSc, MANZCVS (Int Med), FANZCVS (Fel Med), Specialist in Feline Internal Medicine

Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Co-editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and JFMS Open Reports, St Denis Veterinary Professional Corporation, Powassan, Ontario, Canada

Frane Banovic, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVD, Associate Professor of Veterinary Dermatology in the Department for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine.

In the May episode of Chattering with International Cat Care, host Yaiza Gómez-Mejías introduces two expert-led conversations that bring the internal workings of the cat into sharp focus - from complications at birth to techniques for examining the feline fundus.

First, Dr Petra Černá and Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore discuss their JFMS article on dystocia and kitten mortality in pedigree cats. They describe the most common types of dystocia, reflect on breed-related risk factors, and share practical considerations from both clinical and breeding perspectives.

Then, Dr Natalia Giannakopoulou and Dr Ben Blacklock offer hands-on advice from their recent Clinical Spotlight article on fundoscopy in cats. They cover how to build confidence with the ophthalmoscope, recommend suitable lenses for general practice, and explain how to approach the feline fundus methodically to avoid common diagnostic pitfalls.

For further reading material please visit:

Feline dystocia and kitten mortality up to 12 weeks in pedigree cats

Fundoscopy in cats: a practical guide and common findings

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) CertAP (SAM-F) Acr AVEPA, Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:

Petra Černá, PhD DACVIM (SAIM) MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), Feline medicine specialist, PhD candidate at Colorado State University, FIFe International and allbreed judge.

Danièlle Gunn-Moore, BSc (Hon), BVM&S, PhD, MANZCVS (feline), FHEA, FRSB, FRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine, The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh

Natalia Giannakopoulou, DVM, PGCertSAO, MRCVS, Resident in Veterinary Ophthalmology (The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies)

Ben Blacklock, BVSc, DipECVO, SFHEA, MRCVS, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Ophthamology