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

H1N1 Influenza Virus Infection in a Cat

The H1N1 influenza virus has been isolated from a household pet cat showing signs of respiratory disease. Information about H1N1 and answers to FAQs about cats and infection with this virus can be found at the AVMA website

Testing for the H1N1 virus can be performed at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Phone 607-253-3900 or go to the Animal Health Diagnostic Centers website.

Injured Bobcat Treated at Cornell

Elusive and stealth, bobcats are nocturnal predators, so daytime sightings are infrequent, according to Dr. Noha Abou-Madi, lecturer in wildlife and exotic animal medicine. When they do show themselves, she added, it is most definitely a treat -- as these creatures are powerful and agile athletes. Doctors at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine were recently given the chance to restore a bobcat's ability to walk, let alone run, when an area wildlife rehabilitator brought an injured bobcat to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center. < more >

2008 Annual Report

The 2008 Annual Report gives a glimpse of the Feline Health Center's activities during the past year. It covers information on current research projects, student scholarships, resources for cat people, special gifts, Elizabeth's Wish List and the Honor Roll acknowledging donor support.

Ithaca Receives Honorable Mention as Cat-Friendly City

CATalyst Council, a coalition of the veterinary community, academia, nonprofits, industry and animal welfare organizations, performed a review of the top 25 metropolitan areas to produce a list of the Top 10 Cat-Friendly cities. The council noted Ithaca, New York, for honorable mention as it is home to the Cornell Feline Health Center.

"Cats: Born to Survive" on Animal Planet

On the April 10th broadcast of Animal Cops on Animal Planet, Dr. Fred Scott, Interim Director, and Drs. Christine Bellezza and Paul Maza, Feline Consultants, had special appearances. The show's theme centered on how instinct and anatomy help a cat to survive extreme conditions.

Dr. Carolyn McDaniel Receives Teaching Excellence Award

During the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's Class of 2010 White Coat Ceremony, Dr. Carolyn McDaniel was presented with the Teaching Excellence Award in Basic Sciences, in recognition of her skillful ability to facilitate discussion and encourage interaction with students. Dr. McDaniel always strives to make herself available to students, whether it is by staying a few minutes to help students after labs, assisting with student-run vaccination clinics, or supporting student extracurricular events.

In addition to her teaching responsibilites, Dr. McDaniel serves as a feline consultant for the Dr. Louis J. Camuti Memorial Feline Consultation Service.

Honoring Dr. James R. Richards, Jr.

The James R. Richards, Jr. Memorial Feline Lectures were established to honor the outstanding contributions that the late Dr. James R. Richards, Jr., made to the field of feline medicine to improve the health and well being of cats everywhere.  A series of state-of-the-art lectures on various areas of feline medicine will be held (1) periodically at the College of Veterinary Medicine, (2) at the annual New York State Veterinary Conference, and (3) at the annual Fred Scott Feline Symposium.  The first of these lectures will be given by Dr. Michael Lappin of Colorado State University during the 21st Fred Scott Feline Symposium at Cornell University on July 24-26, 2009.  The second lecture will be given by Dr. John August of Texas A&M University during the annual New York State Veterinary Conference at Cornell University on October 1-4, 2009.

Dr. Richards was Director of the Cornell Feline Health Center (1997-2007), and was Past President of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.  Funds contributed to the James R. Richards, Jr. Memorial Fund for Feline Health by his many friends and colleagues are being placed in an endowment fund at Cornell University, and the income from this fund will support these memorial lectures in perpetuity.

We can think of no finer way to support Dr. Richards' passion for cats and for education than by making it possible, through these memorial lectures, for the leaders in feline medicine to share their newest and most pertinent knowledge directly with those veterinarians (and future veterinarians) working each day to improve the lives of cats everywhere.

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

Dr. Jean Holzworth Bequest

The Cornell Feline Health Center is the recipient of an approximately $2.8 million bequest from the estate of the late Dr. Jean Holzworth, Cornell DVM class of 1950. This gift establishes the Holzworth Fund to support "clinical study and treatment of naturally occurring diseases of domestic cats." Read more of the article.