IACUC Learning Module - Cats

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INTRODUCTION

Cats used for research and teaching are protected by Federal law and university policy. Training is required for all persons either using cats for research, or providing them care. This take-home module is designed to meet these requirements.

The cat was one of the first domestic animals that scientists observed. Early research studies involved the falling reflex and integration of the mechanisms of balance. Researchers commonly use the cat in psychological, socialization, and learning studies. The occurrence of blood cancers and solid tumors such as lymphomas, leukemia, and adenocarcinoma and endocrine tumors comparable to those of humans makes the cat valuable to cancer research.

Cats are useful models for studies of the brain, genetics, head-eye-ears, pharmacology, nutrition, virology, and surgical techniques development.

The brain of the cat is of particular interest, because it represents a stage of development between lower forms of life and primates. It is this feature which makes the cat a desirable specimen in physiological laboratories in studying the evolution of life.

Cats and humans have several similar infectious diseases: hemolytic anemia of the cat is similar to Oroya fever of man; toxoplasmosis occurs among both species; chlamydia, cholera, sporotrichosis, and filariasis infect both cats and humans. Cats are, therefore, noteworthy models for the development of effective treatments and preventative measures of infectious diseases.

The Specific Pathogen Free-cat (SPF) provides an opportunity to examine infectious diseases in a more controlled animal. Researchers have found that SPF-cats have greater survivability and improved pulmonary and cardiac response following surgery.

Legal Requirements

Cats must be housed at facilities operated by University Animal Care (UAC). The regulations to be followed are published in the National Research Councils’ Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Animal Welfare Act, and the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations written to implement the Animal Welfare Act.

There are several specific requirements that must be observed by research and animal care staff:

  • Cats must be identified at all times with a unique number: at UAC facilities cats are assigned a number, starting with the year, then the letter "C" and then an individual number. For example, 02C1 would be the first cat arriving in UAC in 2002.
  • Cats must wear this number, written either on their collar, tattooed in their ear, or on a tag placed on a collar. IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT to simply have a cagecard, upon which the number is written.
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  • Every cat, on which survival, experimental procedures are conducted, must have a separate procedural/surgical record. Consult the facility veterinarian for specific requirements, but in general, a person should be able to tell exactly when and what was done to a particular cat by reading this record. Items such as drug dosage, time of drug administration, description of surgery or procedure, and the cat’s physiologic measurements must be listed in this record. It is very similar to the chart which accompanies a human patient from the time of admission through discharge.
  • Cats must be given pain relieving drugs for any procedure which causes more pain than that associated with a needle prick, that is, an injection. The only exception to this rule is when the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee decides there is adequate scientific justification for withholding pain relieving drugs.
  • Cats undergoing survival surgery must have care provided before, during and after the surgery, at a similar level afforded to a human patient. All surgical procedures must be performed in an UAC surgical suite. Arrangements to use the surgical suites are made by calling 626-7304. Additional requirements are:
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    • examination to ensure cat is suitable candidate for surgery
    • a dedicated surgical suite must be used for procedure
    • aseptic techniques must be observed

    - surgeons must scrub and be dressed in sterile garb

    - sterile instruments are used and field is kept sterile

    - one person is assigned to monitor and assist with anesthesia

    - all persons performing or assisting with surgery are properly trained and have expertise to do the procedure
    • anesthesia and pain relieving drugs must be given, just as though the patient were human
    • a qualified person will be with the cat, as it recovers from surgery; this person will provide needed support such as intravenous fluids, supplemental oxygen and auxiliary heat.
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    Last updated: 06/12/2008 gea