Thinking Cat https://www.thinkingcat.ca/home/ Decoding feline health one meow at a time Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:41:00 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://www.thinkingcat.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/THINKING_CAT_FINAL-LOGO-FAVICON-150x150.png Thinking Cat https://www.thinkingcat.ca/home/ 32 32 Parasitology psychology https://www.thinkingcat.ca/parasitology-psychology/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:06:36 +0000 /?p=2044 PARASITOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY Using behaviour change theory to help improve regular parasite treatment compliance in cat owners Globally, there is inadequate and insufficient protection against both ectoparasites and endoparasites in cats(1) due to a lack of cat owner compliance. You may find this frustrating as a vet, especially as it can impact client satisfaction and animal […]

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PARASITOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY

Using behaviour change theory to help improve regular parasite treatment compliance in cat owners

Globally, there is inadequate and insufficient protection against both ectoparasites and endoparasites in cats(1) due to a lack of cat owner compliance. You may find this frustrating as a vet, especially as it can impact client satisfaction and animal well-being.

How does behaviour change theory fit into feline parasite prevention?

Behaviour change interventions can be defined as “coordinated sets of activities designed to change specified behaviour patterns.”(2) They may be one of the most effective avenues to improve animal well-being alongside clinical excellence by helping owners to adopt new behaviours.

Getting to the bottom of why owners aren’t compliant is critical to their pet’s well-being. A parasite risk assessment tool can support a proactive approach and help owners understand protocol recommendations from you and your team.

Matching identified barriers with interventions

The behaviour change model we focused on is COM-B.2
In this model, the likelihood of a behaviour (B) being performed is determined by the capability (C), opportunity (O) and motivation (M) of the individual performing the behaviour.

We looked at the psychological abilities (C), physical environment (O) and levels of confidence and risk-aversion (M) of cat owners that prevent them from complying with parasite control plans (B).
To support you in encouraging owner compliance with parasite control plans, we identified key barriers you may face in practice and potential behavioural approaches to address them.

TIP: Ensure you and your team align on your parasite treatment protocols and related advice. A clear, consistent message across clinic team members will help your clients remember and trust the guidance provided.

There’s a unique space for each parasiticide product, and by ensuring the right deworming for the right cat, you’ll enhance parasite control significantly.
You and your team are ideally placed to champion and promote parasite control protocols to cat owners. By actively listening to your clients’ concerns and tailoring your conversations and treatment plans accordingly, you can help bring them on board for long-term, ongoing compliance.
References:
1. McNamara, J., Drake, J., Wiseman, S. et al. Survey of European pet owners quantifying endoparasitic infection risk and implications for deworming recommendations. Parasites Vectors. 2018 Nov; 11:571.
2. Michie S., van Stralen M.M., West R. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Sci. 2011 April; 6:42.
3. Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides.

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]]> Cats are not small dogs https://www.thinkingcat.ca/lets-get-fluent-in-cats-2/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 19:15:46 +0000 /?p=1965 CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS As cat ownership worldwide increases and human-feline relationships evolve, we must stop extrapolating from our canine knowledge and recognize that cats are not “small dogs”.         Nearly two-thirds of cat owners describe themselves as a cat person and speak of their cats […]

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CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS

CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS

As cat ownership worldwide increases and human-feline relationships evolve, we must stop extrapolating from our canine knowledge and recognize that cats are not “small dogs”.

 

 

 

 

Nearly two-thirds of cat owners describe themselves as a cat person and speak of their cats as family members. (1)

 

Our understanding of feline parasites and current approaches are based on our knowledge of dogs; it’s vital that we recognise that cats are not small dogs; this comparison is outdated.

Dr Barbara Kohn
Dr.med.vet. DipECVIM-CA
Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine and Director of the
Small Animal Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Germany

 
 

Unique cat behaviours contribute to parasite risk

Unlike dogs, cats are often asymptomatic, posing an under recognized epidemiological challenge (2)

Cat lifestyle factors can also elevate the risk of parasite infection:

Spending time outside the home can increase exposure to parasites, while also potentially contributing to spreading parasitic infections

In contrast to dogs, independence is the cat’s middle name. Free-roaming adventures are the feline way.

Destroying the evidence

Fastidious grooming nature of cats reduces the visibility of parasitic infections.

Predatory behaviour increases their risk of endoparasite infestations

Cat’s natural predatory behaviour increase their chances to interact with rodents and wildlife creating opportunities for the transmission of pathogens.

A need for better cat-specific preventative healthcare

Veterinarians see cats less often than dogs in clinics and compliance with preventative treatments can be challenging.(3)

 

 

”Because we see fewer cats in the clinic, feline parasite prevention compliance is challenging, and we are still behind in our understanding”

Dr Barbara Kohn
Dr.med.vet. DipECVIM-CA
 

This could leave them and their owners vulnerable to infection, highlighting a need for more feline-specific treatment and prevention strategies and products.

References: 1.Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides. 2.Global Experts Take a Fresh Look at Companion Animal Parasites, with the Cat inMind. (2022). International Animal Health Journal. Vol.9
(Issue 3). 6-8. 3.Vetoquinol 2021. Data on file. Study of 1416 cat owners in UK, Germany, France and Italy. Conducted by Sapio Research in August 2021.

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]]> Taking a Cat-Centric Approach https://www.thinkingcat.ca/taking-a-cat-centric-approach/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:20:34 +0000 /?p=2066 TAKING A CAT-CENTRIC APPROACH Cats are less likely to be brought to the clinic than their dog counterparts, which impacts the sort of state we end up seeing them in and then limits our treatment options. – Dr Rachel Korman,BVSc GPCertFelP FANZCVSc MRCVS Making some simple changes that focus on maximizing the in-and out-of-clinic experience […]

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TAKING A CAT-CENTRIC APPROACH

Cats are less likely to be brought to the clinic than their dog counterparts, which impacts the sort of state we end up seeing them in and then limits our treatment options.

– Dr Rachel Korman,
BVSc GPCertFelP FANZCVSc MRCVS

Making some simple changes that focus on maximizing the in-and out-of-clinic experience for cat and their owner can boost opportunities for improving preventative health. Dr Korman, BVSc GPCertFelP FANZCVSc MRCVS.
She shares her top practical tips on how to take a cat-centric approach, which has helped her teams as well as both cats and their owners within the clinic.

Insights from Dr Rachel Korman

Globally,

1. Get everyone ‘cat confident’ in your clinic

  • Boost cat handling expertise
  • Consider training sessions or a ‘buddy-system,’ pairing colleagues confident handling cats with those who need more support.

 

2. Preparing for a cat visit

  • Get to know the cat – identify cat- and owner-specific needs ahead of time and provide appropriate advice.
  • Help with transporting cats – offer advice on how to help cats feel more comfortable and recommend carriers which can help cats feel secure
  • Explore sedation – we find sedation can really help get cats into the clinic more calmly and that owners are very receptive.

 

3. Creating a calm clinic experience

  • Give cats places to hide – provide owners with a towel to cover their cage in the waiting area.
  • Get creative with bribery – for example, cat food on a towel to distract cats during procedures.

 

4. Minimise owner anxiety too

  • Actively listen – give owners time to ask questions and show them that you understand their struggles.
  • Tailor your recommendations – talk about which products and formulations could help owners medicate cats more easily.

 

Our aim is to strengthen the owner-cat bond as well as provide excellent clinical care. We as vets are well placed to facilitate that by focusing on what works for an individual cat and owner.”

Dr Rachel Korman,
BVSc GPCertFelP FANZCVSc MRCVS

Dr Korman is the head of the feline medicine service and cat friendly clinic at Veterinary Specialist Services in Brisbane with over 20 years of experience. She provides her expertise to the Feline Expert Panel, Journal of Feline


Medicine and Surgery, British Small Animal Veterinary Association of Feline Practice, Australian Heartworm Advisory Panel and she holds lectures across the globe.

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]]> Understanding cat owners and their attitudes towards parasite control https://www.thinkingcat.ca/understanding-cat-owners-and-their-attitudes-towards-parasite-control/ Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:22:02 +0000 /?p=2101 UNDERSTANDING CAT OWNERS AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS PARASITE CONTROL We surveyed cat owners worldwide to better understand how they relate to their pets and how that influences their approach to parasite protection. From our research, we created seven distinct owner personas. Each personality type represents a certain type of owner based on their traits, behaviours […]

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UNDERSTANDING CAT OWNERS AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS PARASITE CONTROL

We surveyed cat owners worldwide to better understand how they relate to their pets and how that influences their approach to parasite protection. From our research, we created seven distinct owner personas. Each personality type represents a certain type of owner based on their traits, behaviours and motivations. Grouping owners in this way allows us to tailor our communications effectively.

We surveyed cat owners worldwide to better understand how they relate to their pets and how that influences their approach to parasite protection. From our research, we created seven distinct owner personas. Each personality type represents a certain type of owner based on their traits, behaviours and motivations. Grouping owners in this way allows us to tailor our communications effectively.

Dr Gad Baneth,
DVM PhD Dip ECVP
Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and Infectious Diseases,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

How we created the owner personas

 

1,400 owners surveyed – in the US, Brazil, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia (n=200 cat owners per market).(1)

 

Insights gained – included owner attitudes towards parasite protection and their cat’s general health and well-being. We also included the role veterinary professionals, online resources and social media play in influencing attitudes and behaviour.

Owner types identified/ personas created – according to the patterns in their responses to our questionnaire. We aimed to find clusters of respondents who are as similar as possible to everyone within their cluster but as different as possible to all the other
clusters.

Personas explored – regarding attitudes, perceptions, purchase patterns, health regimes, usage, and demographics. This helped us understand each persona’s spending habits, the size of each persona group, and the key communication channels for successful client discussion.

The seven cat owner personas

In our research, we identified the following cat owner types:

Cat Whisperer

“I am 100% confident that my veterinary care team knows what is best for my cat when it comes to parasiticides. In my experience, they’ve always been supportive and knowledgeable and prioritize my cat’s welfare.”

Gentle guardian

 

“My veterinary team care about helping me keep my cat happy and healthy. While my cat is like a family member, I know they’re descendants of wildcats, so I treat and care for them accordingly”.

Extra-confident Carer

 

“I know what is best for my cat — keeping things as natural as possible. I’m the one who lives with them and spends time reading about diagnoses, conditions, and remedies for them.”

Pet pamperer

 

“My cat is my baby, best friend, and soulmate — I like to spoil them! I care about them and will browse the internet and take my cat to the clinic whenever I notice something’s wrong.”

Peacekeeper

 

“I will do anything it takes to maintain the special bond I have with my cat, and sometimes it means I’ll avoid anything that stresses them out, including giving them tablets, trimming their claws, etc.”

Practical provider

 

“I will always find the cheapest option for my cat. To save money on veterinary costs, I only take my cat to the veterinarian if it’s necessary.”

Feline fashionista

 

“My cat has 17k followers on Instagram — my baby is a celebrity! Yes, they are spoilt, and I’ll do anything to make their lives stress-free, like avoiding monthly tablets if possible.”

While some owners will follow your guidance to a
tee, others are more reluctant. In those cases, it is
crucial to demonstrate that their cat’s well-being
is also in our best interest, and we explore ways
we can work with them.

Dr Gad Baneth,
DVM PhD Dip ECVP
Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and Infectious Diseases,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Irrespective of their owner persona, it’s clear that each of our survey respondents loves their cat. Yet, gaining a nuanced understanding of different types of cat
owners and their attitudes towards parasite control will empower you and your team to adapt the conversations you have with them accordingly and ultimately improve the well-being of cats.

References:

1.Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides.

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]]> What cat owners think about parasite protection https://www.thinkingcat.ca/what-cat-owners-think-about-parasite-protection/ Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:35:01 +0000 /?p=2204 WHAT CAT OWNERS THINK ABOUT PARASITE PROTECTION Are cat owners aware of the risks parasites carry? At kittenhood, most owners are well attuned to protecting kittens from parasites. At this time, many recognize the importance of protecting the vulnerable immune systems of younger animals. This is also when they are most likely to attend the […]

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WHAT CAT OWNERS THINK ABOUT PARASITE PROTECTION

Are cat owners aware of the risks parasites carry?

At kittenhood, most owners are well attuned to protecting kittens from parasites. At this time, many recognize the importance of protecting the vulnerable immune systems of younger animals. This is also when they are most likely to attend the veterinary clinic and get their kitten vaccinated.(1)

However, it appears owners are less likely to engage in preventative measures when a cat reaches adulthood. According to our survey, 17% of owners believe cats only need parasite treatment when they are kittens, while 22% believe cats only need parasite treatment when they show symptoms.(2) Overall, a significant percentage of cat owners do not engage in preventative measures, which highlights a need for more awareness of parasite risks.(2)

Owners are now interacting more closely than ever with their cats(2)

Without adequate parasite protection, these interactions can put cat owners’ health at risk.

 

At kittenhood, most owners are well attuned to protecting kittens from parasites. At this time, many recognize the importance of protecting the vulnerable immune systems of younger animals. This is also when they are most likely to attend the veterinary clinic and get their kitten vaccinated.(1)

However, it appears owners are less likely to engage in preventative measures when a cat reaches adulthood. According to our survey, 17% of owners believe cats only need parasite treatment when they are kittens, while 22% believe cats only need parasite treatment when they show symptoms.(2) Overall, a significant percentage of cat owners do not engage in preventative measures, which highlights a need for more awareness of parasite risks.(2)

While cat ownership has risen and even outnumbered their canine counterparts in many countries, the awareness and understanding of feline parasites among cat owners is still behind.(2)

 

  • Many cat owners fail to adequately control parasites, with dogs appearing to be more effectively protected than cats (2)
  • Cat owners who also own a dog are 16% more likely to administer parasite protection to their cats routinely compared with cat-only owners (2)
    While not always easy in a busy clinic, it’s clear that making the time to discuss parasite prevention and the value of routine control with cat owners is essential.

Changing the conversation

 

Our research found that veterinary professionals are a highly trusted source of advice, knowledge, and information for cat owners.(2) This means that your conversations can make a huge difference to their attitude towards parasite control.
Assessing owners’ understanding of the potential health risks of parasites and explaining the variety of available treatments can be hugely beneficial for pets and owners.
For instance, owners of indoor cats are often unaware that their pet still requires a prevention protocol.(2) Meanwhile, other owners need clarification about how to properly apply treatment.(2) In both cases, you can provide a step-by-step demonstration or resources to support administering treatment and discuss treatment reminders that the practice can offer.

Cat owners with a greater focus on human health are more likely to prioritize parasite control in their cats (2):

 

When looking at attitudes towards health behaviours, we can see that those who are less focused on their own health (grouped as ‘Not Health Focused’) are also significantly more likely to forget regular dosing of parasiticides.

In our experience, real-world examples, supported by statistics and reliable resources, can be powerful tools in conversations with pet owners. By sharing this information, we can effectively highlight the true risks of parasites—not just to their cat or other pets, but to the entire family.

 

Small animal vet from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

REFERENCES:
1.Banfield Pet Hospital®. Data shows increase in care for pets in 2020 despite pandemic. Published January 11, 2021. Available from: https://
www.banfield.com/en/about-banfield/newsroom/press-releases/2021/banfield-pet-hospital-data-shows-increase-in-care-for-pets-in-2020-
despite-pandemic. [Accessed March 2024]
2.Vetoquinol 2023. Data on file. Research report: Cat owners’ segmentation with a focus on parasiticides.

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]]> Thinking Cat! https://www.thinkingcat.ca/lets-get-fluent-in-cats/ Sun, 12 May 2024 14:20:52 +0000 /?p=1 THINKING CAT! It’s time to put cats centre stage in parasite prevention. Here at Vetoquinol, we are Thinking Cat. Like you, we know what it takes for cats to live a happy, healthy life because we understand their needs and aim to amplify their voices so that together, we can ensure their needs are consistently […]

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THINKING CAT!

It’s time to put cats centre stage in parasite prevention.

Here at Vetoquinol, we are Thinking Cat. Like you, we know what it takes for cats to live a happy, healthy life because we understand their needs and aim to amplify their voices so that together, we can ensure their needs are consistently heard and met.

Why adopting a cat-centric approach

Cats need specialized care and attention when it comes to parasite prevention. While there has been a sharp rise in cat ownership across the globe, there is still a need for more cat-focused research and understanding of feline parasites.(1)


Historically, these knowledge gaps have been filled by extrapolating data from dogs — despite cats having distinct evolutionary, physiological, and behavioural differences.(1)


As a result, adequate parasite protection strategies can be somewhat overlooked in cats, which can negatively impact human and animal health(1)

For 90 years and counting, we have been working closely with veterinary professionals – like you – across the globe to go above and beyond developing innovative solutions and improving animal health.

Helping you keep cats in tip-top health

Through our Thinking Cat initiative, we are passing on the feline-focused knowledge gathered in our latest research within the parasitology space. We aim to equip you with valuable evidence, resources, and conversation starters. These can help you and
your teams make your clinic more cat-centric and empower owners to protect their cats from parasites.


To support you in helping owners protect their cats from parasites, we surveyed 1,400 cat owners across the world.(2) This has helped us gain real-world, quantitative insight into owners’ attitudes towards parasite protection and their cat’s general health. Based on our findings, we have developed a series of blog posts and infographics to help you better understand common cat owner personality types you may meet in the clinic and what they may know about parasite protection.

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