press release

First conference of the FVF

First conference for the Feline Veterinary Federation What more promising start could there be for the inaugural conference of a new feline veterinary umbrella group than the wonderful setting of Vevey, near Geneva.

In December 2008, Nestle Purina hosted the first conference for the Feline Veterinary Federation (FVF) created by FAB/ESFM to bring together a number of feline veterinary groups from different countries.

Dr Lizzie Parker, Head of Veterinary Channel Europe at Nestle Purina comments, ‘As a company passionately committed to the health and well-being of cats worldwide, it is a great honour for us to be able to support FVF in its endeavours to help improve international cat welfare’.

FVF is a non-profit division of the charity the Feline Advisory Bureau and has the aims of providing a working framework for the collaboration of like-minded veterinary cat groups dedicated to advancing the veterinary understanding and welfare of cats and sharing information.

The ultimate beneficiaries will be cats everywhere.

Representatives of cat groups, from Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France, UK and Sweden were present. All these cat groups are independent entities and have been working together with FAB for over a year and translating FAB information for their own audiences. FAB provides a liaison person from its feline expert panel to help where possible.

At the meeting there was opportunity to share in s ome high level feline CPD provided by Dr Andrew Sparkes from the Animal Health Trust and chairman of FAB, Dr Albert Lloret from the University of Barcelona and Dr Clementine Jean-Philippe from Purina. The groups presented information about cats and feline veterinary care in their countries.

Not surprisingly, it became clear that many of the problems encountered in one country were mirrored by the experiences of delegates from other countries.

To this end the group agreed to set up its own web forum to exchange experiences and problems and to share the management of the forum on a rotating basis. Each group will provide some CPD for the FVF to share during the year, and FAB/ESFM will make time available at the ESFM Conference each year for further discussions and meeting between the groups.

It is hoped that FVF membership will grow to encompass groups not only from all over Europe but worldwide. Purina has generously agreed to host this meeting annually and any feline groups interested in joining FVF should contact Claire Bessant on claire@fabcats.org.

                                         -  Ends  -                                      January 22, 2008

For further details contact Karen Bessant, FAB press officer on telephone 01380 827 142, kbessant@aol.com or from the FAB headquarters on 0870 742 2278.

Photograph attached of FVF group representatives and Purina personnel who attended the meeting.

Front row, from left: Annalisa Franceschetti (Nestle Purina), Greet Junius (B), Michelle Fradin-Fevre (Fr), Ingrid Putcuyps (B), Lizzie Parker (Nestle Purina).

Middle row, from left: Andy Sparkes (UK), Ann-Claire Gagnon (Fr), Llibertat Real Sampietro (Sp), Natalia Sanna (I), Tom Deleu (B), Veerle de Temmerman (B), Anna Gerbert (Sw), Albert Lloret (Sp), Mike Burke (Nestle Purina), Christina Bettini (I).

Back row, from left: Henny Bax (NL), Ross Tiffin (UK), Karin Hoogendorm (NL), Blandine Capello (Nestle Purina), Clementine Jean-Philippe (Nestle Purina).