Chattering with iCatCare

In the June open access episode of Chattering With iCatCare, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías is joined by Mariana Lopes and Joanna Morris to explore feline oncology and the practical roadmap for using oral chemotherapy agents in general practice.  
The conversation focuses on providing realistic treatment options for patients where referral may not be accessible, highlighting how oral protocols can achieve efficacy and maintain quality of life within a primary care setting. They also discuss why cats must not be treated as small dogs regarding drug toxicity and the specific challenges of monitoring feline patients who often hide side effects.
For further reading material please visit:

Oral chemotherapy agents in cats: clinical uses, administration and side effects

Host:
Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speakers:
Mariana Lopes, DVM, MSc, MVM, MRCVS, DipECVIM-CA (Onc), European Specialist in Small Animal Oncology, University of Glasgow
Joanna Morris, BSc, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, FHEA, DipECVIM-CA (Onc), Professor of Veterinary Oncology, University of Glasgow

In the May open access episode of Chattering With iCatCare, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías is joined by feline specialist Nicki Reed to navigate the high-pressure world of feline medical emergencies. This episode focuses on the critical first seconds of triage and the stabilization of cats in respiratory and circulatory distress.
Together, they explore why the "piecemeal" exam is a vital tool for the dyspneic patient and how the latest RECOVER guidelines have updated our approach to feline CPR. Nicki highlights the specific ways cats differ from dogs in shock and explains how point-of-care tools can help you make life-saving decisions before a full workup begins.
For further reading material please visit:

Rational approach to feline medical emergencies: part 1
2024 RECOVER Guidelines
Note on Feline CPR: A quick clarification - while standard RECOVER guidelines recommend 2-minute cycles, the guest notes that the two-thumb encircling technique can be physically demanding. If you find your hands fatiguing after 1 minute, it is best to swap early to ensure high-quality, effective compressions are sustained

Host:
Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speaker:
Nicki Reed, BVM&S CertVR CertSAM DipECVIM-CA DSAM(Feline) FRCVS, Internal Medicine & Feline Specialist

In the April open access episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, Kelly St Denis is joined by Dr Amanda Coleman and Dr Bianca Lourenço to explore feline comorbidities, focusing on the relationship between cardiovascular and kidney disease.
Together, they discuss the concept of the cardiorenal axis and the challenges of recognising and managing cases where these systems interact. The conversation highlights key considerations around diagnosis, treatment decisions, and balancing fluid therapy in complex patients.
For further reading material please visit:
Feline comorbidities: cardiovascular and kidney diseases
View The Transcript Here
Host:
Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Co-editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and JFMS Open Reports & Guideline co-chair
Speaker:
Amanda Coleman, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), Professor at University of Georgia
Bianca Lourenço, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVIM, Assistant Professor at University of Georgia

In the March open access episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías is joined by Dr Mark Lowrie to discuss his recent Clinical Spotlight Review in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery on epileptic seizures in cats.

Together, they explore how signalment, careful neurological examination, and thorough metabolic screening shape the diagnostic pathway. The conversation highlights common pitfalls - including interpreting postictal changes, differentiating seizures from syncope or paroxysmal dyskinesia, and deciding when advanced imaging is warranted - offering practical guidance to help clinicians approach seizuring cats with clarity and confidence.

For further reading material please visit:

Epileptic seizures in cats: practical approaches to diagnosis

View The Transcript Here

Host:
Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speaker:
Mark Lowrie, MA, VetMB, MVM, DipECVN, MRCVS, Director at Movement Referrals and Specialist in Veterinary Neurology

In the February open access episode of Chattering With International Cat Care, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías is joined by Sandra Guillén to discuss her latest JFMS article entitled ’Cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes in cats: a comparative clinical review.’
Together, they explore how certain feline skin presentations can act as early warning signs of internal disease, discussing key clinical patterns, diagnostic reasoning, and why these cases are so easy to miss. The conversation highlights practical take-home messages for recognising when a dermatological problem may be signalling something far more serious beneath the surface.

For further reading material please visit:

Cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes in cats: a comparative clinical review.

View The Transcript Here

Host:
Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator

Speaker:
Sandra (Alexandra) Guillén, DVM DipECVIM-CA (Oncology) PGCert (VetEd) FHEA MRCVS, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Oncology