CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS
CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS
As cat ownership worldwide increases and human-feline relationships evolve, we must stop extrapolating from our canine knowledge and recognize that cats are not “small dogs”.
Nearly two-thirds of cat owners describe themselves as a cat person and speak of their cats as family members. (1)
Our understanding of feline parasites and current approaches are based on our knowledge of dogs; it’s vital that we recognise that cats are not small dogs; this comparison is outdated.
Dr Barbara Kohn
Dr.med.vet. DipECVIM-CA
Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine and Director of the
Small Animal Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Germany
Unique cat behaviours contribute to parasite risk
Unlike dogs, cats are often asymptomatic, posing an under recognized epidemiological challenge (2)
Cat lifestyle factors can also elevate the risk of parasite infection:
Spending time outside the home can increase exposure to parasites, while also potentially contributing to spreading parasitic infections
In contrast to dogs, independence is the cat’s middle name. Free-roaming adventures are the feline way.
Destroying the evidence
Fastidious grooming nature of cats reduces the visibility of parasitic infections.
Predatory behaviour increases their risk of endoparasite infestations
Cat’s natural predatory behaviour increase their chances to interact with rodents and wildlife creating opportunities for the transmission of pathogens.
A need for better cat-specific preventative healthcare
Veterinarians see cats less often than dogs in clinics and compliance with preventative treatments can be challenging.(3)
”Because we see fewer cats in the clinic, feline parasite prevention compliance is challenging, and we are still behind in our understanding”
Dr.med.vet. DipECVIM-CA
This could leave them and their owners vulnerable to infection, highlighting a need for more feline-specific treatment and prevention strategies and products.
References: 1.Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides. 2.Global Experts Take a Fresh Look at Companion Animal Parasites, with the Cat inMind. (2022). International Animal Health Journal. Vol.9
(Issue 3). 6-8. 3.Vetoquinol 2021. Data on file. Study of 1416 cat owners in UK, Germany, France and Italy. Conducted by Sapio Research in August 2021.
