Feline Health Researcher Honored

Dr. Tony Buffington has devoted his career to helping understand cat-health issues such as urinary tract disease.

A renowned researcher has been recognized for his contributions to feline health with the 2009 Mark L. Morris Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award.

C.A. Tony Buffington, DVM, MS, Ph.D, DACVN, an award-winning professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University, was honored with this award for his work in helping understand the causes of urinary tract disease in cats and in identifying the role played by environment in the health of indoor cats.

The award was presented at the opening ceremony of the North American Veterinary Conference, which took place Jan. 17-21 in Orlando, Fla.

For more than 25 years, Buffington committed his career to advancing the level of knowledge on pet health and nutrition, while simultaneously striving to educate future veterinarians on the connection between the two. He has been responsible for hundreds of editor- and peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, book chapters and video autotutorial presentations.

He most recently published the Manual of Veterinary Dietetics, a major resource for veterinary students and technicians worldwide.

Buffington initiated an investigation into the role of indoor environments on disease risk in cats which led him to develop the Indoor Cat Initiative. The goal is to educate pet owners and veterinary clinicians that enrichment of an indoor cat's surroundings plays as important a role to health and well-being as proper diet and health care.

In the past seven years, Buffington received more than $2.4 million in grants to fund his research projects. He has also received numerous awards, including the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Bourgelat Award and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Hill's Award for Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare and Promotion of Human-Animal Bond.