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The Feline Health Center

is a veterinary medical specialty center devoted to improving the health and well-being of cats everywhere. < more >

Behavior Consultations Now Available
Is your cat scratching your carpets, urinating on your bed or otherwise driving you crazy? The Feline Health Center is pleased to offer phone consultations with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. 

Managing Destructive Scratching Behavior
Introducing the latest addition to our online video series Managing Destructive Scratching Behavior has been created to help cat owners understand their cat’s instinctive behavior. The video covers ways to manage the behavior without the need for painful declawing surgical procedures.  This video was made possible through a gift from the estate of Rhoda Hogan.

Powells Contribute for Website Development

Dr. Donald Powell, DVM Class of 1969 and his wife, Rita, have made a generous contribution that will help the Feline Health Center expand its website with new feline health content.  The Powells’ generosity is greatly appreciated and will help the Center to advance its mission to improve care for cats everywhere.

2009 Annual Report

James R. Richards Memorial Lecture
As part of the ongoing James R. Richards Memorial Lecture Series, Dr. Dennis Chew, a renowned veterinary urologist/nephrologist from Ohio State University, presented Feline Idiopathic Hypercalcemia. The lecture took place during the 22nd annual Fred Scott Feline Symposium at Cornell on July 23-25, 2010.  Dr. Chew discussed diagnosis and treatment strategies, new information on biophosphonate treatment, and possible causes of idiopathic hypercalcemia in cats. 

The James Richards Memorial Lecture Series was established with the outpouring of contributions received in memory of Dr. Richards following his untimely death in 2007.  Dr. Richards’ served as Director of the Feline Health Center from 1997-2007 and made many contributions to feline medicine.  We are pleased to honor Dr. Richards by continuing his passion for cats and for  education through these lectures. 

Addressing the Feral Cat Overpopulation
Forty-three feral or barn cats were spayed or neutered during the inaugural feral cat spay/neuter clinic sponsored by the Feline Health Center (FHC) in conjunction with Ithaca's Shelter Outreach Services (SOS).  

The clinic was held in memory of Dr. Jim Richards, former FHC Director killed in a motorcycle accident while trying to avoid a feral cat. Eight veterinary students from the Feline Club at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, FHC Co-Directors Drs. Paul Maza and Christine Bellezza, Dr. Kim Snedden of SOS, and a team of volunteers from the Central NY Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (CNY SNAP) participated in the clinic.

An estimated 87 million free-roaming cats exist in the US. More than 6 million of these animals end up in shelters where most are euthanized. In addition to being in poor health generally, free-roaming cats also negatively impact wildlife and public health.

"Free-roaming cats can spread diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses to domestic cats and rabies and ringworm to humans," said Bellezza. "They also prey upon songbirds and small mammals. Tragically, free-roaming cats live tough and often short lives, punctuated with illness, fear of abuse, and a constant search for food and shelter.”  

Few agencies have comprehensive programs designed to decrease the number of feral cats in their communities. Trap-Neuter-Return projects have emerged as useful tools for control of feral cat populations. With continued funding, the Feline Health Center plans to offer additional clinics.

“We’re happy to have played a role in making sure that at least 43 cats will no longer contribute to the feral cat overpopulation problem," said Mazza. "It was a long but fulfilling day for all of us, and a way for us to honor Jim’s memory.”

For more information, contact the Feline Health Center at 607.253.3001.

Elizabeth’s Wish List
Our mascot, Elizabeth, has been delightedly purring with your responses to her list of wishes for the Feline Health Center and Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA).  Through the generosity of several donors, we are purchasing the dental scaler, Bair Hugger, petMAP blood pressure monitor, and miniature 24-hr electrocardiographic monitor.  Elizabeth is thrilled to report that the Center has helped CUHA even more by purchasing a specialty fiberscope, an ophthalmic laser system, and an echocardiography probe.  This sophisticated equipment allows our veterinarians to provide care to cats that previously has not been possible.

In addition, we have received gifts toward the Feline Scholarship Funds, which provide support for deserving veterinary students specializing in feline medicine, helping to educate the next generation of feline practitioners and researchers.

Feline Health Videos
The Cornell Feline Health Center and Cornell Partners in Animal Health are proud to offer free, simple to use videos on topics of cat health and home care. The videos contain segmented step-by-step instructions and feature live-action video and animation.

The video entitled, Gastointestinal Diseases in Cats, includes helpful information on a variety of common gastrointestinal problems in cats including food allergies, dietary intolerance, gastrointestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotic-induced diarrhea, and diarrhea associated with diet changes.

Pet Owner's Guide to Cancer, was made possible with a gift from The Clara L.D. Jeffery Charitable Trust. < more >