From time to time Feline Practitioners will respond to emerging new knowledge or issues that are of concern to veterinary professionals caring for cats. These position statements represent the view of our association. Position Statements are below (click on title to read full statement)

these 12 principles guide our association's approach to position statements that address feline welfare...

The American Association of Feline Practitioners supports neutering early in life as a safe and effective method of decreasing cat overpopulation, and confers long-term medical and behavioral benefits to the individual cat. (pdf 2 pages)

Palliative or hospice care is a relationship-centered philosophy all veterinarians can use in practice. Hospice care provides a loving alternative to prolonged suffering either in the isolation of an intensive care setting or without treatment at home. (pdf 7pages)

It is the ethical and moral responsibility of every veterinarian to advocate the welfare of the patient. This is the veterinarian’s primary responsibility.
full statement pdf 3 pages 24KB

To create pleasant veterinary visits and keep cats calm, the veterinary team must understand normal cat behavior, body postures associated with fear in cats, how cats learn, training cats to carriers, and respectful and effective patient handling.
full statement pdf 7 pages

Special note: The following AAFP Position Statement is meant to represent ideal goals in shelter environments. The AAFP recognizes many shelters will be unable to achieve all of these recommendations due to resource limitations.
full statement pdf 2 pages

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) opposes the deliberate breeding of nondomestic cats to domestic cats with the purpose of producing exotic looking or novel hybrid cats.
full statement pdf 2 pages

By definition, non-domestic felids are wild, exotic and untamed. Wild and exotic cats are dangerous animals and only trained, regulated, and qualified professionals with facilities to meet the welfare needs of these cats should keep them.
full statement pdf 2 pages...

The American Association of Feline Practitioners strongly believes that cats should carry both visible and permanent identification so that they may be returned to their owners if they become lost or stolen...click on title for complete statement

This AVMA (AAFP) policy statement strongly encourages owners of domestic cats in urban and suburban areas to maintain them indoors, or allowed outdoors only if strictly supervised or in a properly constructed and maintained outdoor enclosure...click on title for complete statement

The American Association of Feline Practitioners strongly believes it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with complete education about and alternatives to feline onychectomy. Declawing is highly controversial and client education about all options often provides clients with good alternatives...click on title for complete statement

The Feline Welfare Committee of the American Association of Feline Practitioners was formed to better address feline-only welfare issues important to the AAFP membership, and to formulate Position Statements on relevant welfare issues. 

Why the Use of Ciprofloxacin in Companion Animals is a Bad Idea.