I recently had the privilege of attending the first-ever CATalyst Summit for the benefit of cats in Palm Springs, Calif., with 46 of the most influential individuals in the cat community. Officers and veterinarians from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), along with animal welfare representatives, industry executives and journalists, attended the event sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health and the AAFP.

Recent trends reveal that even though cats rank as the most popular pet in America with an estimated 82 million in the United States, they are half as likely to receive veterinary care than dogs. Plus, studies to benefit canine health far outnumber studies to benefit feline health. We were brought together to come up with a plan to reverse this trend and ensure that all cats receive the health care and public respect they deserve.

**Get the May 2008 issue of CAT FANCY to read the full article.**