The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA) supports the study and development of new strategies and tools to assess and improve feline welfare in animal shelters. This includes the following:
- Setting well-being standards based on current research and shelter medicine expert consensus;
- Advocating for the welfare of shelter-housed cats based on the Five Domains derived from the Five Freedoms (including: Nutrition, Environment, Health, Opportunity, and Mental State)[1], as well as the 5 Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment (safe space, separation of food, water, resting areas and litter box, providing options for play and predatory behavior, desirable cat-friendly human interactions, and respecting the feline senses)[2],[3];
- The successful rehoming of shelter cats;
- Providing alternatives to unnecessary shelter intake of cats and kittens via a myriad of public and veterinary services, as well as public education;4
- Performing spay/neuter5 and microchipping services prior to adoption or ensuring after adoption;
- Providing public communication and education programs;
- And supporting shelter medicine veterinarians in a leadership role.
Further, the FelineVMA endorses the June 2024 Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Position Statement regarding Community Cat management, which supports community cat programs that provide effective and humane alternatives to shelter intake.6, 7
REFERENCES
[1] 2022 Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, Second Edition – https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/42/19
2 2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines – https://catvets.com/resource/isfm-aafp-cat-friendly-veterinary-environment-guidelines/
3 2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques – https://catvets.com/resource/aafp-isfm-cat-friendly-veterinary-interaction-guidelines/
4 Alternatives to Intake – https://www.millioncatchallenge.org/resources/alternatives-to-intake
5 2022 Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, Second Edition – https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/42/19
6 Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Community Cat Management – https://www.sheltervet.org/resources/position-stmts
7Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Shelter Terminology – https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/ASV/fa11b6a5-ea22-45cc-9b33-416a24d44499/UploadedImages/Policy_Stmts/Shelter_Terminology.pdf
Additional Resources:
2022 Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, Second Edition – https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/42/19
Association of Shelter Veterinarians Position Statements – https://www.sheltervet.org/resources/position-stmts
2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines – https://catvets.com/resource/aaha-aafp-feline-vaccination-guidelines/
2016 Association of Shelter Veterinarian’ Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs – https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/249/2/javma.249.2.165.xml
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program – https://www.sheltermedicine.com/
Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine – https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/
ASPCA Position Statement on Responsibilities of Animal Shelters – https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-responsibilities-animal-shelters#:~:text=The%20ASPCA%20believes%20that%20while,quality%20care%20to%20the%20animals
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Shelter Medicine Program – https://sheltermedicine.wisc.edu/
2013 AAFP/ISFM Environmental Needs Guidelines – https://catvets.com/resource/aafp-isfm-environmental-needs-guidelines/
2018 JFMS Shelter Housing for Cats – Principles of design for health, welfare, and rehoming – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612X18781388
This Position Statement updates and replaces: 2020 Welfare of Shelter Cats
Download Position Statement© Feline Veterinary Medical Association, 2026