Supported by EveryCat Health Foundation
Oral Abstract Presentations
Join us Friday, September 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm in Atlantic Ballroom D for fast-paced presentations highlighting some of the most impactful and promising new research in feline medicine. Selected through a rigorous peer-review process, these concise presentations showcase emerging findings, innovative approaches, and clinically relevant discoveries that are advancing the field. This is an excellent opportunity to gain insights into cutting-edge work and hear directly from researchers shaping the future of feline care.
2:00 pm
Streptococcus Equi Var. Zooepidemicus as a Cause of Rapidly Progressive Respiratory Disease in a Feline Sanctuary
Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Colorado State University
Abstract: Attendees will learn how to diagnose and manage cats with clinical illness from Streptococcus equi var. zooepidemicus.
2:12 pm
Clinical Findings of EIDD-2801 in Cats with Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis
Jean Carlos Alvarado Colon, MS; Colorado State University
Abstract: Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a painful inflammatory syndrome in which the main recommended treatment is full mouth extractions (FME). This study evaluates the effect of EIDD-2801 on clinical remission and calicivirus shedding in cats diagnosed with FCGS.
2:24 pm
The Impact of a Change in Primary Caretaker on Senior Cat Attachment Style and Sociability
Allison P. McGrath, MS; Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
Abstract: Cats often form an attachment bond with human caretakers, which influences social behavior. This presentation will discuss a recent study that aimed to identify attachment styles and evaluate sociability in cats before and after a change in primary caretaker. This study provides insight into cats’ ability to form and retain attachments with human caretakers.
2:36 pm
Effect of Fasting Duration on Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in Cats with Hyperlipidemia
Fernanda V. da Costa, DVM, MSc, PhD, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Abstract: Participants will learn how fasting duration influences serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in cats with mixed hyperlipidemia, and how these changes differ according to body condition score. The presentation will highlight that triglycerides are more affected than cholesterol and that obesity accentuates these variations, reinforcing the importance of fasting standardization for feline lipid profile interpretation.
2:48 pm
Effects of 30-Day Bezafibrate Therapy on Serum Lipid Profile in Hyperlipidemic Cats
Fernanda V. da Costa, DVM, MSc, PhD, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Abstract: Bezafibrate was evaluated as a short-term treatment for feline hyperlipidemia in 15 cats receiving 2.5 mg/kg orally every 24 hours for 30 days. Significant reductions in serum triglycerides and total cholesterol were observed, with no clinically evident adverse effects during treatment. Additional biochemical changes were detected but require cautious interpretation. These findings suggest bezafibrate may be a promising therapeutic option for feline hyperlipidemia and support further controlled studies to establish long-term efficacy and safety.
3:00 pm
Long-term Musculoskeletal Pain, Radiographic Changes, Behavior, and Nail Cortisol Concentrations in Front-Declawed versus Clawed Cats: A Preliminary Study of 24 Cats
Elena T. Contreras, DVM, MS, PhD, Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University
Abstract: Attendees will learn about increased musculoskeletal sensitivity in front-declawed cats despite similar radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease compared to clawed cats. The presentation will also highlight common behavioral patterns and the high prevalence of retained P3 fragments. Findings underscore the limitations of relying solely on imaging or physiologic biomarkers and emphasize integrating behavioral and clinical pain assessments in long-term welfare evaluation.
3:12 pm
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Circulating MicroRNA Biomarkers to Identify Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Eve Hanks, BVM&S, CertAVP(EM), PhD, FRCVS, MI:RNA
Abstract: Artificial intelligence-driven analysis of circulating microRNAs provides a novel approach to detecting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. By identifying distinct molecular patterns associated with disease, this approach moves beyond traditional diagnostics. Integration of artificial intelligence with microRNAs supports innovative strategies for recognition of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats.
3:24 pm
Association Between Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Expression and the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Feline Urothelial Carcinoma
Mao Komori, The University of Tokyo
Abstract: This presentation reveals the immune landscape of feline urothelial carcinoma (UC), a rare and poorly understood neoplasm. We demonstrate for the first time how Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) expression—a known prognostic factor in humans and dogs—correlates with the immune microenvironment in feline UC. Our findings provide pioneering insights into the immunological characteristics of this disease, offering a critical foundation for future targeted therapies.
3:36 pm
Identifying Barriers to Use of Prescribable Antiviral Therapy for FIP: an International Retrospective Caregiver Survey
Julia F. McConachie, Colorado State University
Abstract: This presentation highlights global survey data on treatment access, sourcing patterns, and outcomes of FIP antiviral therapy. Attendees will learn how caregiver-reported barriers (cost, information gaps, and limited veterinary support) drive the use of unlicensed antiviral therapies for FIP. Implications include improving veterinary education, communication, and regulatory pathways to support safe, effective, and accessible FIP treatment.
3:48 pm
Clinical Trial Evaluating Combination GS-441524 and GC376 Antiviral Therapy for Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Julia F. McConachie, Colorado State University
Abstract: This presentation discusses preliminary findings from an ongoing multicenter clinical trial evaluating short-duration oral combination antiviral therapy (GC376 + GS-441524) for feline infectious peritonitis. Attendees will learn about the study design, a novel diagnostic scoring system guiding enrollment and treatment monitoring, and early outcomes suggesting combination therapy may substantially reduce total treatment duration. Findings will inform evidence-based approaches to optimizing antiviral protocols across the spectrum of FIP presentations.
Poster Presentations
Discover the latest developments in feline medicine through our poster presentations, featuring innovative research, practical clinical insights, and emerging topics from across the profession. Posters will be on display in the Exhibit Hall, and authors will be available to answer questions from 3:55-4:40 pm on Friday, September 25. You will have the opportunity to vote for your favorite poster to receive the “Purr-fect Pick Award.”
Selected from a highly competitive pool, this year’s poster presentations include:
A Case of Diabetes Mellitus Secondary to Feline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia in a Cat
Victoria P. Cavalcante, MSc
The Cat Doctor Clinic, São Paulo, Brazil
Accuracy of an Immunochromatographic Assay for Feline AB Blood Typing in Cats with Retroviral Infection
Eva Spada, DVM, PhD
University of Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Caregiver Perceptions of Veterinary Communication Following Feline Leukemia Virus Diagnosis
Bailey J. Willis, BSc, DVM Candidate 2029
St. George University, Grenada
Detection of Leptospira DNA in Vaginal and Urine Samples of Cats Using Nested PCR: Evidence for a Novel Site of Infection
Mahbod Kazemarab
Garmsar Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Effect of Fasting Duration on Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in Cats with Hyperlipidemia
Fernanda V. da Costa, DVM, MSc, PhD
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Effects of 30-Day Bezafibrate Therapy on Serum Lipid Profile in Hyperlipidemic Cats
Fernanda V. da Costa, DVM, MSc, PhD
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Fatal Retrobulbar Abscess and Meningoencephalitis 7 Days Following Dental Extractions in a Senior Cat
Elena T. Contreras, DVM, MS, PhD
Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University, New Jersey
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Circulating MicroRNA Biomarkers to Identify Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Eve Hanks, BVM&S, CertAVP(EM), PhD, FRCVS
MI:RNA, Scotland
Methocarbamol Effect on Urethral Tone of Healthy Male Cats
Fallon C. Hiltz
Colorado State University, Colorado
Serum Proteomic Alterations and Clinicopathological Findings in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Eva Spada, DVM, PhD
University of Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Streptococcus Equi Var. Zooepidemicus as a Cause of Rapidly Progressive Respiratory Disease in a Feline Sanctuary
Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Colorado State University, Colorado
The Impact of Trap-Neuter-Return on the Feral Cat Populations of St Kitts
Emily Hunt
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts
Treatment of Calicivirus-Associated Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Molnupiravir Antiviral
Sanisa Foungthong
University of Georgia, Georgia
Understanding Caregiving Burdens in Caregivers of an Ill Cat
Jennifer Sexsmith, DVM
Zoetis, New Jersey
Upper Airway Obstruction and Aerophagia-Associated Gastrointestinal Gas Distension in a Brachycephalic Cat: A Case Report
Fernanda V. da Costa, DVM
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Questions should be directed to conference@catvets.com.
Conference Sponsors
Conference Partners
Qualifications
We invite veterinary professionals, academics, and researchers who are passionate about advancing feline medicine to apply to present a poster and/or abstract to the FelineVMA by the date listed above. Applicants may submit for a poster presentation, an oral abstract presentation, or both.
Presenter Benefits
All accepted poster and abstract presentations will enjoy the following benefits:
- Publication of the research abstract in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS). The process of submitting an application for consideration will be taken as confirmation that all authors have approved the research abstract to be published in the JFMS.
- The primary presenter will receive a 30% discount on Conference registration.
- Poster Presentation: Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite poster presentation, and the poster with the most votes will win the “Purr-fect Pick Award.” The primary presenter of the poster with the most attendee votes will receive free FelineVMA membership for the 2027 membership year.
Research Standards
- All submissions should contain original research or case reports/series, and original information that has not been previously published.
- If research has been presented elsewhere, but not published, you may provide a “reprinted with permission” statement in the application. Please note that research will not be accepted if it has previously been presented at an iCatCare Congress, as it will already have been published in the JFMS.
- The research does not have to correlate with the theme of the Conference.
- All research must conform to the JFMS clinical and research ethics and informed consent guidelines.
- By applying, the applicant agrees that, should it be accepted, at least one of the authors must register and attend the Conference to present the poster and/or abstract. The author attending the Conference to show the poster or present an oral abstract presentation is considered the “primary presenter.”
- If unforeseen circumstances or emergencies prevent you from attending the Conference to present, your abstract will not be published in the JFMS.
Submission Requirements
- All applications for poster and abstract presentations must be submitted through the FelineVMA online system. The form will allow you to save your application and come back to it later, but those left in “draft” format and not submitted prior to the deadline will not be considered. Submissions via email will not be accepted.
- The applicant is required to ensure that all co-authors are aware of the content in the abstract and agree to its submission before submitting the abstract.
- Abstracts must be submitted in English. All abstracts should be submitted and presented in clear English with accurate grammar and spelling of a quality suitable for publication. If you need help, please arrange for the review of your abstract by a colleague who is a native English speaker, by a university-specific publications office (or other similar facilities), or by a copy editor, prior to submission.
- One of the following preferences must be selected:
- “Poster Presentation,” indicating review ONLY as a poster presentation.“Poster AND Abstract Presentation,” indicating the applicant would like to present both a poster and abstract.“Abstract OR Poster Presentation,” indicating the applicant would prefer ONLY an abstract presentation, BUT would be willing to present a poster if their abstract presentation is not selected.
- “Abstract Presentation,” indicating review ONLY as an abstract presentation. These will not be considered for Poster Presentation.
- The applicant is required to complete and submit the Disclosure Statement for all authors before submission. Please note that submissions will not be considered without the Disclosure Statement, even if there are no disclosures to be made.
- The same person may serve as the primary presenter on up to 2 posters and/or abstracts.
Selection
All applications will be reviewed by an independent Task Force that will be blinded to the presenters. Applications will be selected based on scientific merit, study design and methodology, data quality and interpretation, clinical or practical impact and relevance, and clarity of presentation. The primary contact for each application will be notified of selection (and assigned speaking time, if applicable) by May 15, 2026.
Questions should be directed to conference@catvets.com.
POSTER PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
- All presenters must check in at the Registration Desk and tell the staff they are a poster presenter to get information about where to display the poster onsite.
- All posters must be on display in the Exhibit Hall by Friday, September 25, at 3:30 PM and cannot be removed until Sunday, September 2,7 after 2:00 PM. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly.
- No early breakdown of the poster will be allowed. If a poster board is not claimed by 3:00 pm on Sunday, it will be discarded.
- Poster presenters must be at their poster during the afternoon coffee break and reception on Friday, September 25. Presenters are strongly encouraged to be at their poster during breaks on the other days of the Conference, but are not required.
POSTER CREATION
- It is the presenter’s responsibility to design, print, and provide a hard copy poster. A foamboard stand and thumb tacks will be provided onsite.
- Your poster must be portrait/vertical orientation and no more than 36 inches wide and x 48 inches tall to fit the space available. Make sure to use at least a font size 24pt and above so the content can be easily read from a distance.
- We strongly recommend that your posters be produced by a printer for a professional look.
- Title, author(s), and institution/organization(s) must be placed at the top of your poster in large lettering (at least 2 inches high).
- The design and layout should be concise, including clear headings (i.e., Background/objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions) and should also include the abstract summary.
- The use of color, images, and graphs is strongly encouraged. Be sure graphs and charts can be easily read at a distance of 6-8 feet.
- All poster presenters must disclose any conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest on the poster.
- For tutorials on creating scientific posters, click here.
ABSTRACT SPECIFICATIONS
An abstract summarizing the poster content must be submitted on a single page in Microsoft Word, single-spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font and a 1-inch margin on all sides. All text should be left justified. It should not exceed 300 words (not including abstract title, author(s), affiliations). Up to 3 tables, graphs, or photographs may be included in the application upload (they may be scaled from the original size for print). It is generally discouraged to submit images in color as they will be printed in the JFMS in black and white. References should not be included. Standard abbreviations may be used for common terms only (see the JFMS Style Guide for more information). Use generic names of drugs. The research must be balanced and contain no commercial promotional content. Submissions may not contain identifying information on patients, institutions, etc. The beginning of the abstract must be constructed as follows:
- Title: The title should be brief (25 words maximum) and should clearly and objectively describe the study. Abbreviations may not be used in titles.
- Author(s)*: Include all authors (first name, middle initial if applicable, last name. Do not include titles or degrees. The presenting author should be underlined.
- Institution or Organization/Address*: This should appear immediately below the author(s) and include both city, state, and country. If there is no institute/organization, just include the city, state, and country. If there is more than one address, superscript numbers should be used for author(s) and institute(s). Do not include zip codes.
Abstracts that do not meet these specifications will not be reviewed. Please proofread your work. Accepted abstracts will be printed in the JFMS as originally submitted.
*All identifying information will be removed by the FelineVMA team before the abstract is sent to reviewers.
Oral abstract presentations can include pearls of practice, novel approaches, highlight innovative work or techniques, include video demonstrations, or consist of other significant contributions or findings to practicing feline medicine that would be useful and interesting to attendees.
ORAL PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
- Up to twenty (20) presenters will be selected to share their work during the afternoon of Friday, September 25 or morning of Saturday, September 26. You will have the opportunity to indicate your preference for speaking time in the application, but preferences are not guaranteed.
- Presentation slides (PPT format) must be submitted to FelineVMA via the link provided after selection by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, September 15. Once submitted, no changes will be allowed. Failure to submit by the deadline will result in forfeiture of your presentation slot.
- All presenters must check in at the Registration Desk no later than 30 minutes prior to their assigned speaking time and let the staff know they are an oral abstract presenter. You will receive instructions from there.
- Each oral presentation is scheduled for 10 minutes (8 minutes to present, 2 minutes for answering questions). It is critical that your presentation stick to the allotted time. There will be a moderator in the room ensuring all presentations stick to the allotted time. If you go over the allotted time, you will be cut off.
PRESENTATION SLIDE CREATION
- Oral abstract presenters must include a slide at the beginning of the presentation disclosing potential conflicts of interest or stating there were no conflicts.
- Abstract title, author(s), and institution/organization must be placed on your first slide in large lettering (at least 38pt font size). The abstract title should then appear on the header of all additional slides.
- The design and layout should be concise, including clear headings.
ABSTRACT SPECIFICATIONS
An abstract summarizing the poster content must be submitted on a single page in Microsoft Word, single-spaced, with 12 12-point Times New Roman font and a 1-inch margin on all sides. All text should be left justified. It should not exceed 300 words (not including abstract title, author(s), affiliations). Up to 3 tables, graphs, or photographs may be included in the application upload (they may be scaled from the original size for print). It is generally discouraged to submit images in color as they will be printed in the JFMS in black and white. References should not be included. Standard abbreviations may be used for common terms only (see the JFMS Style Guide for more information). Use generic names of drugs. The research must be balanced and contain no commercial promotional content. Submissions may not contain identifying information on patients, institutions, etc. The beginning of the abstract must be constructed as follows:
- Title: The title should be brief (25 words maximum) and should clearly and objectively describe the study. Abbreviations may not be used in titles.
- Author(s)*: Include all authors (first name, middle initial if applicable, last name. Do not include titles or degrees. The presenting author should be underlined.
- Institution or Organization/Address*: This should appear immediately below the author(s) and include both city, state, and country. If there is no institute/organization, just include the city, state, and country. If there is more than one address, superscript numbers should be used for author(s) and institute(s). Do not include zip codes.
Abstracts that do not meet these specifications will not be reviewed. Please proofread your work. Accepted abstracts will be printed in the JFMS as originally submitted.
*All identifying information will be removed by the FelineVMA team before the abstract is sent to reviewers.