International Cat Care has announced the winners of four new ‘Easy to Give’ awards and three ‘Cat Friendly’ awards.

The Easy to Give award was created to reward pharmaceutical companies whose products are easy to administer to cats. Previous examples have included drugs in a highly palatable form, smaller tablets, longer lasting preparations or those with an easier mode of administration.

Easy to Give winners this year are Virbac's Prinovox (ectoparasiticide), Norbrook'sLoxicom (NSAID), and Ceva's Vectra Felis (ectoparasticide) and Zodon (antibiotic).

These latest winners bring the total number of Easy to Give awards presented, since their inception in 2005, to 35.

International Cat Care CEO, Claire Bessant, said: ‘It is so important that cats receive treatments prescribed for them, whether it is for preventive care or to treat a problem. If a drug is too difficult to get into the cat, owners often fail to complete the course, leaving the cat inadequately treated – as we worry about antibiotic resistance, this is particularly important beyond the individual animal too. Struggling with a cat to medicate can put a tension into the owner/cat relationship at a time when owners feel they want to be more supportive rather than seen as something to fear. This year we asked those trying the products if the act of medication had a negative effect on their relationship with their cat, as many people find that in the struggle to medicate, often the cat becomes fearful or aggressive towards them which owners also find very distressing. This kind of innovation by pharmaceutical companies is essential to feline health.’

Easy to Give awards are confined to prescription only medicines (POMs) or methods of delivering POMs. International Cat Care also recognises other products which have made a difference to cat wellbeing and welfare, with its Cat Friendly Awards.

The Cat Friendly Awards go to the SoftE Smart Collar from MDC, the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder from SureFlap and the Cat Carrier Tree from Royal Canin.

For more details on the work of the charity go to www.icatcare.org.

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