The International Fund for Cat Welfare (IFCW) will be holding a half-day symposium in the Hilton Vienna on June 23 prior to the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) European Congress.

Anyone registered for the main ISFM Vienna congress (June 23–26) is entitled to free registration for this IFCW event. Those delegates wishing to take up their place need to confirm the booking on the ISFM congress registration form or, if they have already registered, contact Amanda Dennant (see below). For anyone not attending the ISFM symposium, registration costs £30/€35.

The IFCW symposium will cover a number of issues affecting feral and rescue cats.
• Feral cats and the veterinary practice (Ian MacFarlaine, Cats Protection)
• Practicalities of early neutering (David Yates, hospital director, RSPCA)
• Update on infectious diseases in the shelter situation (Jenny Stavisky, University of Nottingham Veterinary School)
• Stress and the rescue cat (Vicky Halls, cat behaviour counsellor).

IFCW is a charitable fund set up by ISFM, the veterinary division of the Feline Advisory Bureau. Its aim is to bring together and share skills, knowledge, resources and enthusiasm to tackle the issues of cat welfare worldwide.

The IFCW is striving to:
• Improve the welfare of cats, owned and unowned
• Improve veterinary treatment of all cats
• Improve humane control of feral cats
• Improve prospects for rescue cats.

‘Cats suffer because feline welfare is often not a priority and in many places adequate veterinary resources are not available. With ISFM behind it, the International Fund for Cat Welfare is in a unique position to make a real improvement to the lives of many cats – but we will need your support. Please help us make a difference for cats.’
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive ISFM/FAB

Full details of the ISFM Congress and all its satellite meetings can be found at www.isfm.net/congress. If you are not attending the ISFM Congress and would like to make a booking for the IFCW event, call Amanda Dennant on 01747 871 872 or email Amanda@isfm.net.

Ends April 15, 2011

For further details contact Karen Bessant, FAB/ISFM press officer, on telephone+44(0)1747 87187, email karen@isfm.net