New hope for cat health
We're celebrating the wins our researchers and clinicians are making in the advancement of care for our feline friends.
Curing an invariably fatal disease
University of Sydney clinicians, pharmacologists, and infectious disease researchers are achieving unprecedented success in improving antiviral therapy for cats. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), caused by a feline coronavirus, has long been a death sentence, causing severe inflammation and organ damage. With 50 percent of cases occurring in cats under three years of age, this devastating disease claims the lives of thousands of cats annually in Australia alone. However, groundbreaking research is now offering hope.
“As a clinician, telling an owner of a young, vibrant cat who has developed this disease that I can diagnose it, but I previously had no treatment, was heartbreaking for everyone,” shares Professor Jacqui Norris, Head of School and Dean.
Groundbreaking research led by the team at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, is now offering hope for affected cats and their owners.
The research team (Dr Sally Coggins, Professor Richard Malik, Professor Jacqui Norris, Dr Benjamin Kimble, Associate Professor Mary Thompson, Professor Merran Govendir) have discovered that treating FIP with one of two very closely related antiviral drugs (injectable remdesivir and/ or oral GS- 441524) offers highly effective treatment. Through regular monitoring and optimised dosage regimen, this once fatal disease can now be cured.
Professor Norris, and colleagues, have studied FIP for over 20 years, refining diagnostic tests and epidemiology. New clinical trials, conducted by PhD graduate and feline veterinarian, Dr Sally Coggins have yielded unprecedented results.
Head of School and Dean, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Professor Jacqui Norris' cat, Harvey Norman.
“Dr Coggins conducted a clinical trial following 32 cats, weekly, from the point of diagnosis. We performed blood tests, physical exams, surveys of the owner, and qualitative life assessments. There was meticulous monitoring of the cat’s health for 12 weeks and then monthly thereafter. We're still tracking these cats and speak with their owners," explains Professor Norris.
Veterinarians around Australia, and the global community, are now seeking therapeutic guidance from the University of Sydney research team. A significant contribution from the group has been through collaboration with BOVA Compounding, resulting in effective drugs becoming legally available first in Australia, then the UK, Canada, and most recently, the USA.
"We've gone from zero cats surviving to now up to as many as 96% surviving. That's a game changer," says Professor Norris.
The team continues to investigate ways to optimise treatment, understand risk factors, enhance diagnostic tests, and study new treatments to ensure options remain available for cats. This research has ignited hope worldwide, and as the treatment becomes more widely available, countless feline lives will be saved.
This research was supported by philanthropic funding from the Cat Protection Society of NSW and grants awarded by EveryCat Health Foundation. Support from our community helps explore endless possibilities and makes countless lives better.
Research shows that cats have unique needs - our facilities are designed specifically to meet them.
Transforming your cat's vet experience
At the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney (UVTHS), we know how stressful a trip to the vet can be for your cat. Picture this: at home, your cat lounges comfortably on the couch, completely at ease. But the moment the carrier comes out, their anxiety begins to rise. We understand these unique challenges and are here to change the narrative of vet visits for your feline friend.
When you and your cat arrive at UVTHS, the experience is unlike any other. Veterinarians, vet nurses, technicians, and reception staff work together seamlessly, each playing a part in creating a calm and welcoming environment.
Dr Andrea Harvey is a Small Animal and Feline Medicine Specialist and one of the developers of the now global International Society of Feline Medicine Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation scheme. She brought this scheme over to Australia when she moved here from the United Kingdom. Now, Dr Harvey works at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science to ensure that your cat’s welfare is at the forefront of everything we do at UVTHS.
The hospital environment is designed with your cat's sensory needs in mind. From quieter waiting areas to exam rooms equipped with feline-friendly features, every detail is aimed at reducing stress. Staff, experts in the art of feline communication, ensure that your cat feels safe throughout their visit.
Here are a few things the team is doing to improve care for your cats:
Professor Norris' cat, Harvey Norman, demonstrating how to achieve optimal temperature.
Getting the temperature right
Did you know that the thermoneutral zone for cats is between 30-38°C? According to the 2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines, warmed towels are a great option to ensure feline comfort. Our primary care nurses set up the feline consult rooms with warmed wheat bags and Feliway-sprayed towels on the exam tables and weighing scales to provide additional comfort to our feline patients during their consults.
Separate spaces for cats and dogs
The UVTHS is home to the Valentine Charlton Cat Centre, a unique, purpose-built facility providing veterinary services exclusively for cats. We have cat-only waiting rooms, consultation rooms, and hospital wards.
Riding in style
The UVTHS uses “pet prams” to transport cats safely and stress-free between their services in the clinic. This reduces the sensory overwhelm experienced by reducing the sights and sounds as they move through the hospital.
For Dr Cicilia Muller, a Clinical Veterinary Registrar at UVTHS, it’s about paying it forward. Educating students on how cat-friendly practice is done turns them into advocates and improves the welfare of both cats and their owners. "It’s all about making little changes - using soft voices when talking around cats, not allowing any dogs into the cat area, handling cats gently,” she says. “If you change just a few things, you can immediately see how a cat’s behaviour changes and how their stress levels improve.”
On International Cat Day, we celebrate not only the joy that cats bring into our lives but also the strides we’ve made in ensuring their well-being.
Did you know the Valentine Charlton Cat Centre at UVTHS was funded by a bequest?