When Cats Worry: The Hidden Impact on Feline Health with Dr Sarah Heath

This presentation will consider how protective emotions such as fear-anxiety impact on the overall health of feline patients, taking into account the physical, emotional and cognitive domains of health. The relationship between emotional health, physiological stress and allostatic load will be discussed. The potential reasons for cats to “worry” when living in a domestic environment will be explored as well as the range of potential behavioural responses that can occur when protective emotions are triggered. In addition, the potential impact of emotional compromise on common physical health presentations in feline practice will be considered. The importance of addressing contributions from all three parts of the health triad when managing and treating feline patients will be discussed.