Annual Cat Owners and Breeders Symposium planned for March

The UF College of Veterinary Medicine's third annual Cat Owners and Breeders Symposium will take place all day March 3 at the Reitz Student Union in Gainesville, followed by an Entrees in Expertise dinner.

Beginning at 8 a.m., participants will hear a variety of presentations by UF veterinary experts on a wide range of cat maladies, including hypertension, hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure. Information on the latest trends in kidney transplantation also will be presented.

A parade of breeds will take place during the lunch break, followed by additional lectures on vaccine-associated cancers, inflammatory bowel disease and innovations in feral cat control.

Other afternoon programs include a feline behavior clinic and practical first-aid tips to help your cat.

Tours of the college’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital will be offered at 5 p.m., followed by an Entrees in Expertise reception at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner provides an opportunity for conference participants to mingle and dine with UF faculty and other specialists in various feline topics.

Associated events include an ultrasound screening clinic for polycystic kidney disease on Friday, March 2. The cost is $30 per cat with a limit of 50 cats. Advanced registration is required. Operation Catnip’s clinic for feral cats will be held on Sunday, March 4, for all who are interested. Operation Catnip is a non-profit organization whose goal is to reduce the stray cat population through sterilization.

For more information about the program, fees or registration, contact the Office of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at (352) 392-4700, Ext. 5700, or the UF department of conferences at (352) 392-4700, ext 243. Registration also may be completed online at www.doce.ufl.edu/conferences/cat/