Feline Behavioural Medicine – An Important Veterinary Discipline

Abstract

Feline behavioral medicine is a relatively young veterinary discipline and it has been slow to achieve recognition within the profession. One of the most important developments in the field of feline behavior is an increasing understanding of the fact that emotional and cognitive health are important components of overall health and are of equal significance to physical health, which has been the traditional focus of the veterinary profession. In order for behavioral medicine to become a more mainstream feature of veterinary practice, it is helpful to emphasize the fact that it is another form of internal medicine and requires a very similar approach in terms of diagnosis and selection of management and treatment approaches for specific reported behavioral concerns. In addition, taking a behavioral medicine approach to veterinary practice enhances the diagnosis and treatment of physical disease in patients with feline.