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"At the CATalyst Summit, the entire feline industry came together and inone voice declared the current situation as unacceptable while painting a veryoptimistic path to making a positive difference. The CATalyst Council issimply the next step in putting these plans into action. I am very proud ofthe many companies, organizations and individuals who have been so proactivein their desire to make a difference, and we welcome everyone who has aninterest in the outcome to join us in a broad-based initiative to raise thestandard of care for all cats," said Kramer.
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The full board of directors of the CATalyst Council includes: Dan Kramer,senior marketing manager, Pfizer Animal Health as chair, Robert Rohde,president of Dumb Friends League as vice chair; Dr. Jane Brunt, CATalystSummit chair and past-president of the American Association of FelinePractitioners as corporate secretary and Cal Morgan, president, Society ofAnimal Welfare Administrators as treasurer. Other board members include: Dr.John Albers, American Animal Hospital Association; Dr. Christine Jenkins,Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.; Dr. Jack Stephens, Pets Best Insurance; Dr. AlexisNahama, VCA Animal Hospitals; Dr. Patricia N. Olson, Morris Animal Foundation;and Steve Dale, nationally syndicated pet columnist and radio show host. TheAmerican Veterinary Medical Association is in the process of naming the AVMArepresentative to the CATalyst Council board.
"I am pleased to continue forward with this initiative that is soimportant to the lives of cats. As CATalyst Summit chair and now as secretaryof the newly formed CATalyst Council, I believe that by working together, wecan all make a difference. It truly is all about the cat," said Dr. Brunt.
Feline health is a prominent concern in the animal health industry. The2007 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook revealed an owned catpopulation of 81.7 million, almost 10 million more than domesticated dogs. In2006, 36 percent of those 81.7 million cats did not visit a veterinariancompared to only 17 percent of dogs. Cats are twice as likely as dogs to notto see a veterinarian, leaving many undiagnosed and untreated for illness,disease, pain and discomfort.
"The statistics regarding feline health can't be ignored, and it isclearly time for allied animal health organizations to come together for thiscause. Our mission is to improve health care for our feline companions,encourage responsible pet ownership, enhance the stature of cats and enrichlives," said Robert Rohde, president of the Dumb Friends League and vice chairof CATalyst Council.
More information on the CATalyst Council will be available athttp://www.catalystsummit.org.
About CATalyst:
CATalyst is a national initiative to champion the cat in light oftroubling statistics released by the American Veterinary Medical Associationthat show an increase in the cat population coupled with a decline inveterinary visits for cats. At the CATalyst Summit in February 2008, held bythe American Association of Feline Practitioners with underwriting from PfizerAnimal Health, key influentials from more than 30 leading organizations andcompanies gathered to discuss how to improve health care for felines, increaseresponsible pet ownership, enhance the stature of cats and enrich lives.During the summit, attendees responded to the issues raised in feline healthand well-being, and created an action plan to continue to collaborate acrossall channels, develop feline life-stage guidelines (for veterinarians and petowners), c
