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Osteoarthritis is a painful condition which affects the majority of older cats but is often not recognised because of differences in the ways that affected cats exhibit the signs of chronic joint pain compared to dogs. There are also inherent challenges to the physical examination of cats which add to the difficulty of reaching a diagnosis, including the small size of their appendicular joints and a reluctance to allow manipulation and palpation of painful joints. Furthermore, even when osteoarthritis is identified, it is frequently not treated or is not treated effectively, in part as a result of concerns regarding adverse effects and costs of treatment as well as the practical difficulties of daily dosing with medication. Understanding the gait and behaviour changes that are characteristic of osteoarthritis is a key part of the diagnostic process and is more sensitive than radiography in identifying the presence of the disease. Once the condition has been diagnosed, a wide range of well-tolerated treatment options exist, allowing a multi-modal treatment approach to be adopted and tailored to the needs of the cat and the owner, which will deliver effective pain management in an affordable way and will not become a daily stressor to either party.

Background: Chronic nasal discharge and sneezing are common problems in cats and can be among the most frustrating conditions we have to deal with. While conditions that cause unilateral signs can usually be diagnosed and often effectively treated, the most common cause of bilateral nasal discharge is chronic rhinosinusitis, a lifelong condition that can be managed with varying degrees of success but will rarely resolve. Aim of the article: This article, the second in a two‐part series, reviews the treatment options and current approaches to managing common causes of feline respiratory disease. The first article, published in last month's In Practice, covered the common causes of nasal discharge in the UK cat population and the diagnostic investigations that can assist in reaching a definitive diagnosis.

Background:Chronic nasal discharge and sneezing are common presenting signs in cats and can be caused by a number of underlying disorders, some of which can be effectively treated but others of which are among the most frustrating conditions we have to deal with. Secondary bacterial infections are a common complication whatever the primary aetiology, so there is often improvement in response to a course of antibiotics, but it is frequently only a temporary fix. Reaching a definitive diagnosis at an early stage identifies those conditions that can be treated effectively and leads to a better understanding of the prognosis for those that can't. Given the similarity in clinical signs for all underlying causes, reaching a diagnosis will require investigation under anaesthesia in most cases, but investigations can often be undertaken in first‐opinion practice without the need for referral. Aim of the article:This article, the first in a two‐part series, will review common causes of nasal discharge in the UK cat population and the diagnostic investigations that can assist in reaching a definitive diagnosis. The second article, to be published in a subsequent issue of In Practice, will review current approaches to managing these conditions.

Many factors influence the success of a course of treatment prescribed by a veterinary surgeon. Even if the correct diagnosis is made and the most effective treatment prescribed, the therapeutic outcome may not be optimal if the owner does not administer the medication as prescribed. Some pet owners will give all the medication prescribed for their pets at the correct time intervals. Others may miss doses, give doses at the wrong time, and/or stop treatment prematurely. There is much in the human literature relevant to medication compliance (also termed adherence and occasionally concordance) but much less in the veterinary literature. There are various problems that arise if medication is not administered as prescribed — not the least of which is suboptimal response to treatment. It is therefore important that veterinarians are aware that owners may not follow their directions, the reasons why this may be the case and the potential consequences. By understanding more about these factors we can work to put in place strategies to improve compliance/adherence. The purpose of this roundtable was to discuss many of these aspects including what term is most appropriate to use in the veterinary context.

Diabetes mellitus is commonly diagnosed in cats, but with early recognition and treatment, it is a potentially reversible condition. This article describes the principles of management of diabetes in cats, emphasising the importance of diet and insulin treatment in achieving good glycaemic control. The role of owners in monitoring their cat's blood glucose levels is discussed, as is the management of more complex cases of feline diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common condition encountered in both dogs and cats. In many cases it can be managed well, but there are cases that are problematic initially, or which become unstable. This roundtable aims to provide brief, practical guidance to assist veterinary surgeons in first opinion practice to treat and monitor straightforward cases of DM, in order to provide good quality of life for both the diabetic pet and the owner; and to recognise when a case is more complicated and further testing, specialist input or referral may be needed. The initial summary of diabetes essentials outlines ‘need to know’ definitions and pathogenesis; owner considerations and engagement; successful treatment; and monitoring and instability. This is followed by the roundtable presentations and discussions, which provide a brief review of the pathophysiology of diabetes in dogs and cats; discuss the goals of treatment; consider both monitoring and diagnostic errors; and look at the role of nurse-led clinics.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disorder of cats, particularly those in middle to old age. This article describes a practical approach to the diagnosis of CKD in cats and the additional investigations that will then allow an effective treatment plan to be developed, tailored to the needs of the individual cat. A second article in this supplement covers the approaches to treatment of CKD and its associated complications.

Feline chronic gingiviostomatitis is a common, painful problem in cats, which can be frustrating to manage. It is an idiopathic condition, thought to occur when affected cats raise an inappropriate immune response against one of a range of oral antigens, some of which are a normal part of the oral environment while others are potential pathogens in their own right. As yet there is no management strategy that will reliably eliminate all signs of inflammation in every case, but with a combination of good oral hygiene, tooth extractions and adjunctive medical treatment, good improvement can be achieved for the majority of cats.

Female rats fed practical diets containing 18 or 25% protein produced and weaned a few more young than those fed 30 or 35%. Females fed purified diets containing 14, 17 and 20% soybean protein in different periods of the reproductive cycle produced as many young as the control group which consumed 25% soybean protein. With 10% protein throughout the cycle, the number of young and weaning weight were reduced to less than those of the controls. With 10% protein during mating and gestation period, the number weaned and their weight was essentially equal to that of the control group. With 14% protein during 2 or more periods, the weight was less than that of the young in the control group. The number of young weaned by females fed a practical diet containing 3 to 18% fat was essentially the same but the number weaned was less with 25% fat. With a purified diet reproduction by females consuming 3 or 20% fat was superior to those fed 36 and 50%. When the protein-metabolizable energy was adjusted to a constant ratio (0.074 to 0.070) the effect of a high fat diet on the number of young weaned and the weaning weight was very small.