ABSTRACT
The most notable change in the companion animal population over the last few decades has been the steady rise in popularity of the cat. Cats now outnumber dogs as domestic pets in many developed countries; it is estimated that there are now at least 70 million domestic cats in North America alone. As a consequence the small animal practitioner is confronted with cats suffering from a variety of orthopedic disorders on a daily basis. Existing orthopedic texts are heavily biased in favour of the dog with cats receiving little or no mention, yet there are many minor and a few major differences between the musculoskeletal systems of dogs and cats.
