Dr. Ashlie Saffire and Caitlin Dutcher-Lundy, RVT, VTS (CP-Feline) recently attended and presented at the Inaugural Feline Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The event, hosted by Butterfly Network and TriviumVet in partnership with the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, brought together leaders from across veterinary medicine and animal health to discuss the future of feline healthcare.
During their presentation, Dr. Saffire and Caitlin discussed the continued growth in cat ownership and the increasing demand for feline-focused veterinary care. They also emphasized the importance of implementing Cat Friendly techniques throughout veterinary hospitals, universities, and the veterinary profession to help make veterinary visits less stressful and more comfortable for cats.
Throughout the summit, veterinary leaders explored how feline healthcare is evolving alongside changes in pet ownership, advances in veterinary medicine, and the growing demand for specialized care. As more households welcome cats and advances in veterinary medicine help them live longer, healthier lives, the need for lifelong preventive, diagnostic, and specialty care continues to grow.
At the same time, cats continue to visit veterinarians less frequently than dogs, despite requiring routine preventive and medical care throughout their lives. Summit attendees discussed the importance of removing barriers to care and creating more positive veterinary experiences that encourage routine visits and improve long-term health outcomes for cats.
Designing Veterinary Care with Cats in Mind
Another key theme of the summit was the need to intentionally design veterinary care around the unique needs of cats. While veterinary medicine has made tremendous advances over the years, many traditional systems, workflows, and hospital environments were originally developed with canine patients in mind.
As our understanding of feline behavior and medicine continues to grow, there is increasing recognition that cats benefit from a different approach. Cat Friendly techniques, thoughtful hospital design, and handling methods that reduce fear and stress can improve the veterinary experience for both cats and their caregivers while supporting better health outcomes.
One of the biggest takeaways from the summit was that advancing feline healthcare requires collaboration across the veterinary profession. Veterinarians, researchers, educators, students, and industry leaders came together to identify barriers to care, share knowledge, and discuss practical solutions that can help improve outcomes for cats now and in the future.
Reflecting on the event, Caitlin shared:
“Overall, it was a very impactful experience, and I believe we got the right people together to make a positive impact in feline medicine.”
Continuing the Conversation
Dr. Saffire and Caitlin will continue these important conversations this September as they both attend and present multiple sessions at the FelineVMA Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The conference brings together veterinary professionals from around the world for continuing education, networking, and the latest advancements in feline medicine.
At Faithful Friends Cat Specialty Center, we’re proud to be part of conversations that advance feline medicine and improve the care cats receive. By participating in industry events like the Feline Leadership Summit, we’re able to bring the latest knowledge, techniques, and best practices back to our patients and their families.
Authors:
Dr. Ashlie Saffire
Ashlie Saffire, DVM, DABVP (Feline) is the founder and lead feline veterinarian at the Faithful Friends Cat Specialty Center in Dublin, Ohio. She is an ABVP board-certified feline specialist and Cat Friendly Certified® veterinarian with advanced expertise in feline medicine, preventive care, and complex medical conditions.
Caitlin Dutcher-Lundy, RVT, VTS (CP-Feline)
Caitlin Dutcher-Lundy is the Director of Clinic Operations at Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic and Cat Specialty Center. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist in Clinical Practice (Feline), and Cat Friendly Certified® professional with advanced expertise in feline nursing, patient care, and veterinary leadership.
