10 Years of Cat Friendly Practice and A Veterinary Resource from AAFP
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) Program. Established in 2012 by the AAFP and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), these professionals designed the CFP Program to elevate care for cats by enhancing the environment and experience of a veterinary visit to reduce the stress for the cat, cat owner, and the veterinary care team. The CFP designation shows that the veterinary practice has committed to provide the highest standards of care for cats and assures cat owners that a practice has taken extra time and effort to consider each cat’s experience and care.
Admit it–if you love reading and talking about cats, sharing cat stories, and (especially) providing good cat care for your special felines, the companion CatFriendly.com website is right up your alley(cat). Sorry…couldn’t resist.
In their continued effort, back in 2017 AAFP announced the launch of a “cat friendly” Internet destination, with content written by feline veterinarians. Mee-WOW! Believe me, if your cats could read, that’s where they’d hang out. And since they can’t read (and you have control of the mouse *s*) I urge you to take an eye-blink look at CatFriendly.com. The site includes a searchable database for you to “Find a Veterinarian or Practice” to help you locate an AAFP member veterinarian or Cat Friendly Practice® in your neck of the woods.
JUST ANOTHER CAT WEBSITE?
Now, y’all know I provide lots of cat care (and dog care) and behavior information here on the Bling, Bitches & Blood blog, as well as in my books. And I know a boatload of wonderful “cat journalists” members of the Cat Writers’ Association who research and 
provide accurate cat information and advice in a variety of ways. That info ONLY works when you also partner with a veterinarian. I’m proud that my book MY CAT HATES MY VET won the Fear Free Pets Award,and the AAFP Cat Friendly Award from the Cat Writers Association.
But too many cat caretakers avoid going to the vet at all because of the angst involved. I even wrote a short booklet about the issue, with some tips how to overcome the kitty angst (and your own!). So I’m already preaching the Cat Friendly message.
When looking for solid, credentialed information, it’s always important to know your source. You can never have too much GOOD information to get you started, and having a website designed, vetted and written by feline specialists takes all the guesswork out of the equation. So I’m delighted to have another resource to share. Trust me, your cat will LOVE you for this!
WHAT YOU’LL FIND AT CatFriendly.com
AAFP recognizes that folks often begin looking for answers to their cat questions by asking “Dr. Google.” That’s why they’ve created CatFriendly.com to provide veterinary-approved, credible information–while still encouraging you to seek veterinary advice and care. Here are some of the information topics the site covers:
- Cat Care at Home
- Healthy & Wellness
- Why Does My Cat….?
- The Toy Box (offers the opportunity to share photos, take quizzes, and other fun stuff!)
- Find a vet
10 Years of Cat Friendly Practice
“Over the last decade, the foundation of the AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice® Program has been at the forefront of advancing feline healthcare,” said Heather O’Steen, AAFP CEO. “The Cat Friendly Practice® Program provides a simple, step-by-step guide on how to create a veterinary environment and experience that reduces stress and puts feline patients at ease so that veterinary professionals can provide the highest level of care and build long-lasting client relationships. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone and applaud our members who have made this commitment and earned a CFP designation.”
To learn more about the Cat Friendly Practice® Program, visit catvets.com/cfp.
Cat caregivers can locate a Cat Friendly Practice® or a Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional by visiting catfriendly.com/find-a-vet.
Today, we have many more options to find solid information, and provide the best care possible for our kitty friends. Applause and purrs to the AAFP and the Cat Friend Practice initiative–and the new resource website for us all. Please share this great information far and wide!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!
Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
