press release

Cynthia awards for good ‘cattitude'

Three Cynthia Awards - the equivalent of Oscars for good ‘cattitude' in veterinary practice - are to be awarded by The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB), a charity dedicated to the health and wellbeing of cats, in The Groucho Club, 42 Dean Street, London on Friday, November 10 at 12.30. Representatives from veterinary practices gaining top awards in the nationwide FAB Cat Friendly Practice Competition will also be present to receive awards from the charity.

The Cynthia Award is a bronze statue modelled on and named after the cat on the FAB's logo.

Launched in April this year, the aim of the FAB Cat Friendly Practice competition is to raise awareness of the needs of cats in practice and to make a visit to the vet less stressful for cats, owners and vets alike. Historically, veterinary practices have centred around dogs. Cats are now, however, the most popular pet in the UK. There are an estimated 9 million cats (7 million dogs) in the UK.

FAB received 200 nominations from cat owners for over 80 veterinary practices across the UK. Nominated practices were invited to submit a report showing what they had undertaken to make their practice feline friendly.  Practices were shortlisted based on the content of the reports. Top awards were only presented following visits to the practice by a veterinary surgeon and nurse who are members of the FAB feline expert panel.

Thanks to the support of sponsors Hill's Pet Nutrition, Pfizer Animal Health and Direct Line, FAB has provided veterinary practices with a free handbook on Creating a Cat Friendly Practice and information leaflets for them to distribute to cat owners.

‘There are excellent veterinary practices out there - both small animal and otherwise - and it is good to see some of those gaining recognition from an organisation as well respected by the public and vets alike as the FAB,' says Mrs Lynne Hill MRCVS, President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Founded nearly 50 years ago, FAB is a charity dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats through improved feline knowledge, to help us all care better for our cats. FAB supports residencies at the UK veterinary schools, provides advice to veterinary surgeons and health advice to cat owners through its website. For more information on the work of the charity and the FAB Cat Friendly Practice Campaign go to www.fabcats.org or call 0870 742 2278.

Produced by Karen Bessant, FAB Press Officer

kbessant@aol.com