A new generic feline quality of life (FelQoL) questionnaire: part 2 - initial evaluation of clinical utility.

The FelQoL questionnaire demonstrates clinical validity for monitoring feline wellbeing and guiding proactive veterinary consultations.

This study presents the clinical validation of the Feline Quality of Life (FelQoL) questionnaire, a generic instrument designed to measure and track wellbeing in domestic cats. Data were collected from 1,324 cat owners across the USA and UK, drawn from Banfield Pet Hospital clients, Bristol Cat Study participants, and Mars employees. The study examined how demographic factors (breed, age, sex, neuter status), health status, and environmental variables (access to environmental features, owner emotional state, weather) influence FelQoL-derived wellbeing dimension scores. Statistical analyses confirmed that FelQoL scores varied in clinically meaningful and expected directions across these variables. For example, health status, sex, age, and environmental enrichment all demonstrated measurable effects on feline wellbeing consistent with existing literature and clinical expectations. Importantly, the study produced reference intervals stratified by key variables, enabling clinicians and owners to contextualize individual cat scores against normative data. The authors propose that FelQoL can serve as both a home-monitoring tool for owners and a clinical screening instrument, potentially prompting earlier veterinary consultations even in the absence of overt disease signs. Limitations acknowledged include the cross-sectional design and the need for longitudinal validation within individual cats over time. Future research targeting specific disease populations and monitoring treatment responses will be critical to fully establish FelQoL's screening and prognostic utility.

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