iCatCare and ANZCVS 2025 abstracts

iCatCare World Feline Congress 2025 abstracts

Feline neutering: what do we do? how good are we?

Hannah Doit, Luke Cottis, Caroline Scobie, Louise Mallinson, Jenny Stavisky, Rachel Dean VetPartners, Spitfire House, Aviator Court, York, UK Email: rachel.dean@vetpartnersgroup.com

Clinical quality improvement is a method of examining current practice and looking for opportunities for progressing care. For routine elective surgeries, it is critical we understand the outcomes for our patients and continuously reflect on our practice. Neutering cats is commonplace in the UK, but the impact of early neutering campaigns on general practice is largely unknown.

After consultation with clinical teams, a large-scale quality improvement project was established within VetPartners, a large corporate group. The teams wanted to know what the clinical outcomes for their feline patients undergoing surgery were, where there is opportunity to improve quality of care and what our current neutering practice was.

No cost billings codes (post-op codes) were placed in the practice management system (PMS) to enable clinical team members to easily record the outcome of neutering surgeries at the time of postoperative consultation (in person or virtual). Data from 2021 to 2024 (February to July each year) were extracted from a single PMS (Robovet) from between 55 and 68 practices, depending on the year. The cats that had undergone neutering during this period that also received a post-op code were analysed.

During this period, 29,333 cats were neutered and 9097 (32%) received a post-op code, which represented 6307 spays and 2790 castrations. The mean and median age of spaying were 12 months and 8 months, respectively (interquartile range [IQR] 6–13). The mean and median age of castration were 11 months and 7 months, respectively (IQR 6–12). Across all 4 years, 93.7% of cats had no complications, 4.6% had minor complications and only 1.6% had significant complications; 92.6% of spays and 96.2% of castrations had no complications.

Excellent outcomes are achieved for cats being neutered in this large group of practices. There seems to be limited implementation of early neutering.

A critical look at critically important antibiotic use in cats

Natalie Robinson, Caroline Scobie, Susan Farr, Louise Mallinson, Kathryn Wareham, Branwen Davies, Laura Edwards, Rachel Dean

VetPartners, Spitfire House, Aviator Court, York, UK

Email: Caroline.Scobie@westwayvets.com

Critically important antibiotics (CIAs) need to be used responsibly to protect the health of animals, people and our planet. There is a wealth of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance but few practical implementation tools to enable clinicians to change their CIA usage and no clear measures to monitor the effects of changes made. This quality improvement project aimed to create implementation tools that would enable clinicians to monitor, change and audit their use of cefovecin.

There were three stages to the project. The first involved repeated iterative discussions with feline clinicians across a large corporate group of practices (VetPartners) to identify which CIAs were of concern. Cefovecin usage was identified as a key area where people wished to progress their practice. Initial work was undertaken to establish which conditions cefovecin was used for and what evidence was available for its efficacy in these conditions.

The second stage of this study involved collating cefovecin purchasing data and people team data from across the whole group. This enabled a baseline measure of grams of cefovecin used per full-time equivalent vet (g/FTE[vet]) to be developed and followed by monthly tracking from 2021 to 2024.

The third stage involved the development of tools to refine, reduce and replace the use of cefovecin in practice, and support practices to undertake a practice-level audit.

The most common conditions for which cefovecin was used in cats across the group were cat bite abscesses, feline lower urinary tract disease and cat flu. Twelve clinical decision-making tools were developed to help practices reflect on their use during multiple iterative meetings and plan appropriate changes to their use. The total grams cefovecin/FTE[vet] in 2021 was 2.36 g/FTE[vet]; this had reduced to 1.40 g/FTE[vet] by 2024. This is a total reduction of 40.7%.

This project shows that with the right tools, clinicians can significantly reduce their use of CIAs with no detriment to cats.

Periureteral and perinephric abscesses secondary to right ureteral rupture in a 6-month-old kitten

Ioana Ion¹, Anna Kiss¹, Razvan Codea², Cosmina Hornar¹, Romelia Ionica², Cristiana Novac²

¹Feline Focus, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Email: felinefocusvet@gmail.com

A 6-month-old intact domestic shorthair kitten was diagnosed with several intra-abdominal anechoic masses on abdominal ultrasound. At exploratory laparotomy, three masses were identified and surgically removed: a perinephric abscess, the right kidney and a periureteral abscess (see table for further details).

The kitten presented with hyperthermia (40.1°C), polyuria (white, milky urine) and a large swelling on the right side of the abdomen.

On ultrasound, a large anechoic cyst was visible in the right renal fossa. The right kidney was not identified. Several intra-abdominal anechoic masses surrounded by isoechoic tissue were also visible.

An abscess of the right kidney, pyonephrosis and feline infectious peritonitis were among the differential diagnoses considered initially. Diagnosis was based on exploratory laparotomy, histopathology and microbiology.

The rupture of the right ureter, due to severe urinary tract infection, urinary tract obstruction or trauma, had led to the development of two intraabdominal abscesses, which prevented urosepsis.

At the time of writing, the kitten was showing normal left kidney function.

Details of the three masses identified and surgically removed
Mass description	Intra-abdominal location	Histopathology	Microbiology	Conclusion
Bean-shaped, diameter of 4.5–5 cm	Right retroperitoneal space	Thick, fibrous capsule with an inflammatory infiltrate and containing a milky, green fluid	Fluid culture: Escherichia coli (haemolytic strain)	Perinephric abscess
Small, grey, diameter of 2–2.5 cm	Situated between the two large masses and connected to both of them through adhesions	Right kidney with 98% of its structure replaced by fibrous tissue, severe atrophy and a few glomeruli	–	Right kidney
Granulomatous, large mass, diameter of 5 cm	Situated in the middle region of the abdomen, above the caudal vena cava	Encapsulates part of the right ureter, part of the mesentery and a mesenteric lymph node, all containing an inflammatory infiltrate. Thick, fibrous capsule containing a milky, green fluid	Fluid culture: Escherichia coli (haemolytic strain)	Periureteral abscess

Retrospective study of feline ‘dermatofibromas’ based on histopathology submissions to a diagnostic laboratory

Melanie J Dobromylskyj^1,2 and Petra Černá³

¹Histopathology Department, Finn Pathologists, Diss, UK

²Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK

³Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

Email: Melanie.Dobromylskyj@finnpathologists.com

Dermatofibromas are a benign, uncommon tumour in cats for which there are little published data. These masses mostly affect animals under 5 years of age and have a predilection for the head. Complete excision is curative, but there are several differential diagnoses, including some malignant tumours. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise a cohort of cats diagnosed with dermatofibromas via histopathology.

A search was performed of a diagnostic laboratory database for reports containing the keyword ‘dermatofibroma’ for feline samples received between January 2018 and September 2024. The resulting ‘hits’ were screened for cases with dermatofibroma as the definitive or most favoured diagnosis; 26 cases were histologically reviewed and nine subsequently excluded as more likely to reflect a mass of different histological origin.

For the remaining 17 cases, histological features included plump spindle cells with medium-sized, ovoid to slightly elongated nuclei, which whorled around pre-existing collagen bundles. Some masses contained foci of mineralisation (n = 4), but all had a low mitotic count (0–4 per 10 high-power fields, × 400, 2.37 mm²). The majority were submitted from domestic shorthair cats (n = 9), but Ragdoll cats were well represented (n = 6) and there was one each from the Asian and Devon Rex breeds. Eight cases were from males and nine from females, and ages ranged from 6 months to 15 years. All masses were from the head or neck regions.

There appears to be a distinct but poorly characterised histological entity arising on the dorsal head of sometimes quite young cats, which is often diagnosed as a dermatofibroma. However, there is little information about the precise histological origin, and further study is needed to understand the cell origin and clinical behaviour of these masses, especially as some may be misdiagnosed as soft tissue sarcomas.

Are feline inflammatory liver, kidney and heart diseases associated with intracellular bacteria? a retrospective assessment of histopathological sections using fluorescence in situ hybridisation

Matthew J Rolph, Pompei Bolfa, Sarah M Cavanaugh, Kerry E Rolph

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts

Email: mjrolph@gmail.com

Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) has facilitated visualisation of intracellular bacteria in companion animals, predominantly for investigation of gastrointestinal and hepatic disease. There is a paucity of research looking at the role of intracellular bacteria in inflammatory disease within feline medicine.

Our objectives were to ascertain the involvement of intracellular bacteria in feline inflammatory cardiac, hepatic and renal diseases within the feline population on St Kitts and to demonstrate an association between areas of inflammation and the presence of bacteria.

Cases were selected from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s pathology archive, between 2012 and 2022. Twenty-three cases fulfilled inclusion requirements: medical history and histopathology report suggestive of inflammation within the cardiac, hepatic and/or renal systems; and all relevant tissue samples available for testing. Samples were collected from the heart, liver and kidney of each case for use with FISH/EUB338 probes, haematoxylin and eosin staining and for FISH/NONEUB338 probes, respectively. A control group was selected from the same archive where death was trauma-related or due to anaesthetic complications; no other disease states were noted and relevant tissues were available for testing. Bacteria-positive controls were included with each batch of slides tested to confirm successful hybridisation.

Of 23 cases, 12 (52.1%) were positive for bacteria within some/all tested tissues. Of 23 cases, 18 (78.3%) demonstrated the presence of inflammatory cells (ICs) in one or more tissues. Of 18 cases, 11 (61.1%) with ICs demonstrated bacteria; IC distribution did not match bacterial distribution. Of control cases, 5/6 (83.3%) were negative for ICs; two were positive for bacteria (2/5; 40%). Pearson’s χ² test demonstrated a χ² of 0.71; P = 0.40.

Bacteria were successfully detected within historical samples of feline heart, liver and kidney. We demonstrated that bacteria may not colocate with all instances of inflammation, suggesting the need for greater vigilance for the presence of fastidious and/or low-grade infection. However, given the lack of power, further studies are needed.

Clinical signs, hematological findings and treatment success in cats with feline granulocytic anaplasmosis in europe (2022–2025)

Lena Meyer¹, Andreas Moritz^2,3, Gad Baneth⁴, Christina Strube⁵, Elisabeth Müller¹, Ingo Schäfer¹

¹Laboklin GmbH & Co KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany

²Clinic of Small Animals–Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

³Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinical Pathology, and Clinical Pathophysiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

⁴Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel

⁵Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany

Email: ta.ingo.schaefer@gmail.com

Feline granulocytic anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, with the highest prevalences in central and northern European countries linked to the distribution of Ixodes ricinus ticks as the transmitting vectors.

The database of a commercial laboratory was retrospectively screened for A phagocytophilum PCR results amplified from EDTA-blood submitted by European veterinarians from January 2022 to February 2025. Questionnaires were sent if cats tested positive, asking for clinical signs, hematology and biochemistry results, treatment and outcome.

Of 525 cats, 37 (7.0%) tested positive by A phagocytophilum PCR in Europe (North: 9/29 [31.0%], Central: 26/413 [6.3%], South: 1/26 [3.8%], East: 1/54 [1.9%], West: 0/3 [0%]). Mild to moderate thrombocytopenia (9/15, 60.0%), lymphopenia (8/15, 53.3%) and eosinopenia (7/15, 46.7%) were the most remarkable hematological findings; 4/15 cats (26.7%) were mildly anemic.

Questionnaires were available for 12/37 cats (32.4%), with anorexia reported in all cats, lethargy in 11/12 (91.7%) and fever in 6/11 (54.5%) cats. All 12 cats were free-roaming, and tick attachment was observed in 3/11 cats (27.3%). All 12 cats were treated with doxycycline for 4–30 days with an uncomplicated course of disease. One cat with no other underlying diseases was treated for 10 days only due to fast recovery and showed another positive A phagocytophilum PCR result 2 months later.

The highest numbers of infections were recognized in northern and central Europe, with anorexia, lethargy, fever and thrombocytopenia as the most remarkable findings. Infected cats usually respond well to doxycycline. Treatment for 21–28 days to clear the pathogen, and PCR monitoring after finishing treatment, is recommended.

Associations between age, hindlimb muscle scores and pain on extension of the hip joints in pet cats

Melanie Chapman², Mimi PR Mayer Payne¹, Christine Pye¹, Eithne J Comerford^1,2, Delphine Moniot³, Alexander J German^1,2

¹Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

²Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

³Royal Canin Research Center, Aimargues, France

Email: Melanie.Chapman@liverpool.ac.uk

The coxofemoral (hip) joint is frequently affected by osteoarthritis (OA) and can be difficult to assess in cats. Evidence of hip pain and changes in muscle mass (identifiable by physical examination) can provide indirect evidence of coxofemoral OA. This study aimed to determine associations between the presence of hip pain and clinical findings, including muscle condition.

Cats enrolled on the University of Liverpool Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare study (CatPAWS) between 2017 and 2024 were eligible for inclusion, provided that they were amenable to palpation of the hips. Data gathered included cat age and physical examination findings, including hip pain (scored from none [0] to severe [3]) and regional muscle condition scores (MCSs; assessed from normal [3] to severe atrophy [0]).

The final data set comprised information from 863 visits involving 181 cats, median visits per cat being 5 (range 1–11). In total, 91 cats (~50%) had a hip pain score of ⩾2 on at least one occasion, while the median pain score was 1 (range 0–3). The cumulative odds of a greater pain score (odds ratio [OR] per pain score unit) increased with increasing age (OR 3.60 per year, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.66, 4.81, P <0.001). Furthermore, compared with an MCS of 3, the cumulative odds of having a greater pain score increased with decreasing MCS, both for the gluteal (MCS 2: OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.80–2.55, P = 0.230; MCS 0–1: OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.31–13.12, P = 0.016) and caudal thigh (MCS 2: OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.22–3.90, P = 0.0.09; MCS 0–1: OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.08–10.68, P = 0.037) regions (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Forest plot displaying odds ratios of greater pain score and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for age, gluteal muscle (GM) and caudal thigh muscle (CTM) scores tested using a cumulative link mixed-effects model in R

This study has demonstrated that both age and muscle condition are independently associated with hip pain in senior cats. However, further work is required to determine the reasons for these associations and to consider other variables such as body condition score.

Transient myocardial thickening and congestive heart failure in a 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat after excison of a mast cell tumour

Rafaela Gregorio, Victoria Travail, Tobias Wagner Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, Ringwood, UK

Email: rafaelagreg@hotmail.com

A 3-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2-week history of progressive lethargy, hyporexia, tachypnoea and dyspnoea. These clinical signs were noted after removal of a low-grade mast cell tumour (MCT) from the base of the right ear, performed 10 days prior to presentation. Echocardiography revealed significant left atrial enlargement, with decreased function, and spontaneous echo-contrast, along with severe left ventricular thickening. A small volume of pleural effusion was also noted, and thoracic radiographs confirmed pulmonary oedema. These findings were consistent with myocardial disease and congestive heart failure (CHF). Marked elevation of troponin I levels and negative serology for Bartonella, Toxoplasma and Borrelia species were also found. The cat was treated with oxygen, intravenous furosemide and later oral furosemide, clopidogrel and spironolactone. After 36 h, due to significant clinical improvement, the patient was discharged.

Three months later, the cat remained stable with no signs of CHF. Follow-up radiography and echocardiography showed resolution of pulmonary oedema, normalisation of cardiac dimensions and no left ventricular thickening. Troponin I levels also normalised, and the cardiovascular medications were discontinued. A year later, the heart remained structurally normal, with no CHF signs.

The case suggests transient myocardial thickening (TMT), a condition associated with left ventricular thickening and CHF, often linked to myocardial inflammation. In humans, TMT can be related to acute myocarditis, and studies have shown that mast cell degranulation in vascular tissues may release prothrombotic and vasoactive factors, which can trigger inflammation and fibroproliferative responses, contributing to the development of myocarditis, CHF and cardiac remodelling. Although this has not been reported in veterinary medicine, it is plausible that the cat’s condition might be related to the excision of the MCT and mast cell degranulation, given the immediate onset of clinical signs following surgery and tumour manipulation.

Global survey of attitudes and practices of veterinarians about pain management in cats

Paulo V Steagall^1–3, Sabrine Marangoni³, Syed Saad UI Hassan Bukhari^1,2, Angel F Almendros¹

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

²Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

³Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Canada

Email: pmortens@cityu.edu.hk

This study investigated the attitudes and practices of veterinarians regarding feline pain management and how these could be influenced by demographics, knowledge, drug availability, types/severity of pain and medical/surgical conditions.

An online survey in English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and German was disseminated worldwide through veterinary organizations. Recruitment was through convenience sampling. The survey was divided by demographic data, drug availability and administration in acute and chronic pain, and analgesic use in medical/surgical conditions. Data were analysed using multiple correspondence analysis.

A total of 2194 answers were received from 88 countries, mainly from Europe (38%) and Asia (23.4%). Respondents rated their knowledge of acute (49.3%) and chronic (40.7%) pain assessment as good. The Feline Grimace Scale (43.6%) was the most used acute pain assessment instrument. A total of 40.8% of respondents did not use any chronic pain assessment instrument. Meloxicam (76.4%) and buprenorphine (48.1%) were the most used analgesics in acute pain and associated with respondents who considered availability of injectable formulations as important. Meloxicam (62.6%) and robenacoxib (25.2%) were the most used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in chronic pain. Limited knowledge of pain assessment was commonly reported in Asia, Africa and South America. Preoperative and postoperative administration of NSAIDs/opioids was associated with Europe and North America, and Asia, South America and Africa, respectively. A lack of NSAID/opioid administration in cats undergoing surgery was associated with Asia. The uncommon administration of meloxicam was associated with respondents who did not consider drug palatability and degree of perioperative pain as important. Recommendations for NSAIDs, lifestyle changes and non-pharmacologic interventions were associated with mild chronic pain, while gabapentinoids and anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibodies were associated with severe chronic pain.

This study identified geographic areas with limited knowledge and drug availability, which may influence analgesic practices based on type/severity of pain and conditions.

✜ This study was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. The authors thank the organizations that contributed to survey distribution, including International Cat Care Veterinary Society, the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, AnimalsAsia, Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations, CAPdouleur, Zero Pain Philosophy, Sociedad Española de Anestesia y Analgesia Veterinaria, Groupe de réflexion et d’intérêt félin and the German Cat Group, and Manuel Vizcaino for the Spanish translation.

✜ This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee for Human Research at City University of Hong Kong (HU-STA-00000325).

Biodegradable ureteral stents for cats: an in vitro study on polymer degradation in artificial feline urine

Daiana R Cardoso^1–4, Alexandre Barros⁵, André Meneses^1,2, Margarida Pacheco⁵, Joăo F Requicha^3,4,6

¹I-MVET Research in Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University – Lisbon University Centre, Lisbon, Portugal

²Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University – Lisbon University Centre, Lisbon, Portugal

³Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Portugal

⁴Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

⁵Hydrumedical SA, Guimarăes, Portugal

⁶Animal and Veterinary Research Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

Email: daianarcardoso@gmail.com

To aid the design of a new biodegradable ureteral stent for cats, this study aimed to assess the degradation kinetics and mechanical properties of three absorbable polymers: polyglycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone (PGC), poly-p-dioxanone (PDO) and polyglycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate-co-epsilon-caprolactone (PGTC), using an artificial feline urine (AFU) in vitro model.

An experimental set-up was developed to replicate the dynamic conditions of the ureter. Three samples of each polymer were immersed in AFU and subjected to continuous flow through the experimental set-up at 38°C for 8 weeks. Mass loss, structural integrity, tensile strength and stiffness were assessed at multiple time points. Macroscopic and microscopic changes and polymer fragmentation behavior were also analyzed.

With 100% mass loss by week 6 and a rapid decrease in tensile strength, PGC showed the fastest degradation. PDO showed minimal degradation over the study period and became increasingly brittle with only 5.6% of mass loss. PGTC displayed gradual degradation, maintaining elasticity and stable mechanical properties up to week 7 with 40.8% of mass loss. Inside the experimental set-up, PGC and PGTC fragmented in the distal portion and the fragments migrated within the circuit without accumulating debris or clogging.

The degradation profiles suggest that PGC could be investigated as an option for short-term use stents, such as cases where there is no ureteral trauma and the primary goal is to ensure patency for a short period. PDO, due to its slow degradation, is a candidate for cases requiring long-term mechanical support, such as in malignant obstructions. PGTC, with its balanced mechanical properties and controlled degradation, could be explored as an option for cases requiring support over an extended period. Its degradation surpasses the ureteral healing period, making it suitable for cases involving ureter wall trauma. Further ex vivo and in vivo studies are required to confirm these findings and establish optimal clinical applications.

Utilising the feline home stress score to compare the impact of four enrichment methods on the stress levels of indoor cats

Amy L Wilson¹, Sarah MA Caney², Darren J Shaw¹, Danièlle A Gunn-Moore¹

¹Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK

²Vet Professionals, Edinburgh, UK Email: A.Wilson-42@sms.ed.ac.uk

Stress can increase the frequency and severity of clinical disease in cats, including idiopathic cystitis (also known as stress cystitis) and respiratory disease. Stress can be associated with decreased mental stimulation, a common occurrence in indoor cats. Our aim was to investigate the impact that four interventions had on indoor cat stress over a 14-day period. The four interventions were active play, Cat TV, Feliway Optimum and stimulation feeding.

Figure 1.

Changes in Feline Home Stress Score after 14 days of intervention. 95% confidence interval for the mean

This study utilised a modified version of the Feline Home Stress Score (FHSS) developed by feline experts to quantify stress. The FHSS asks owners to estimate the frequency of five behaviours linked to stress using a modified 5-point Likert scale (never–always), generating a ranked representation of a cat’s stress levels.

Recruited through Veterinary Professionals and International Cat Care, 890 cats were enrolled and their owners completed an initial survey regarding their current enrichment methods. Owners were assigned a 14-day intervention before completing a second survey.

Of the 317 cats that completed the study, 15.1% were assigned active play, 40.6% Cat TV, 17.1% Feliway Optimum and 27.1% stimulation feeding. Each group reduced their baseline FHSS (P <0.001), but there were no statistically significant variations in this decrease between active play, Cat TV, Feliway Optimum and stimulation feeding (Figure 1). The mean baseline FHSS for all groups was 6.18.

iCatCare World Feline Congress poster session

These clinical/research abstracts were accepted for presentation at the poster session held during the World Feline Congress 2025, 27–29 June. The poster session continues to be available to iCatCare Veterinary Society members as part of the iCatCare Veterinary Society Virtual Congress until 31 May 2026 by signing in at portal.icatcare.org and clicking on the Events & Webinars tab.

Owners self-reported the number of days of successful intervention; there were significant differences in compliance (P <0.001) between Feliway Optimum (13.9/14 days) and the other three interventions. The other three interventions were not statistically differentiable (P >0.225: 11.7–12.2/14 days).

Overall, all four interventions were effective at decreasing the FHSS of indoor cats. There were no significant changes in this decrease when comparing the four interventions. Further investigation is required to ascertain if these results are attributable to the interventions or increased owner attentiveness.

Epistaxis and skin fragility associated with iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism in a cat

Jihyun Han, Jinhwa Chang, Seontae Lee Korea Animal Medical Center, Cheongju, South Korea

Email: han04h@naver.com

Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (IHAC) in cats is a rare adrenal disorder that occurs due to prolonged administration of glucocorticoids, leading to clinical manifestations such as dermatologic fragility, delayed wound healing, lethargy, polydipsia and polyuria. Although cats are usually more resistant to IHAC than dogs, it is one of the side effects to keep in mind with long-term glucocorticoid use. This report describes a case of feline IHAC secondary to prolonged oral prednisolone treatment, highlighting the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and resolution of the condition.

Figure 1.

Tearing of the skin over the back and left flank, forming a large flap

A 2-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented with a right-sided nasal hemorrhage. The cat had been previously diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and had received oral prednisolone for 2 months. The treatment was discontinued 1 week before presentation as the platelet count remained within the normal range. A complete blood count at the time of presentation also revealed platelet counts within normal limits (220,000/µl). During clinical handling, the patient developed extensive skin tearing on the back and left flank (Figure 1), and petechiae were observed on the abdominal skin. An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was performed and IHAC was diagnosed (see table). The epistaxis was attributed to increased vascular fragility associated with IHAC, as other potential causes were ruled out. After 7 months, a follow-up ACTH stimulation test showed normalization of post-ACTH plasma cortisol levels (see table). The skin lesions healed by secondary intention, and the epistaxis resolved completely. This case underscores the importance of recognizing IHAC as a potential complication of glucocorticoid therapy in cats, which can be treated by discontinuing the glucocorticoids.

Retrospective evaluation of the use of budesonide vs prednisolone in the treatment of cats with chronic enteropathy

Madeleine E Murray, C Autumn McBride, Bianca N Lourenço, Jiazhang Cai, Jonathan P Mochel, Karin Allenspach

University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA

Email: drmcbride@classiccitykitty.com

Feline chronic enteropathy (FCE) is a prevalent disorder in senior cats. The mainstay of therapy is corticosteroid administration, typically prednisolone, which can cause side effects including insulin resistance and consequent hyperglycemia. Budesonide presents a potential alternative corticosteroid that, in humans, undergoes significant first-pass hepatic metabolism, allowing localized anti-inflammatory activity within the small intestine while minimizing systemic effects. Anecdotal reports suggest a similar profile in cats, although no controlled studies have been conducted to validate these claims.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical efficacy of budesonide vs prednisolone in cats diagnosed with FCE and to determine the relative incidence of hyperglycemia associated with each treatment.

A single-center retrospective study was conducted at a feline-exclusive veterinary hospital. Medical records of cats diagnosed with FCE between 14 September 2015 and 11 July 2023 were reviewed.

Biochemical data and owner-reported clinical signs were extracted from medical records corresponding to pretreatment and follow-up visits (follow-up range 35–2064 days after initiating therapy). Statistical analyses were performed using the Z-test to compare the proportion of binary variables and the Wilcoxon test for numerical variables. In subsequent analyses, P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Seventy-two (48 budesonide-treated and 24 prednisolone-treated) cats were included, of which 45 and 27 had a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma, respectively. Owner-reported clinical improvement was observed in 87.5% of cats in both treatment groups. Hyperglycemia at any time point during therapy was documented in 39.6% of budesonide-treated cats and 41.7% of prednisolone-treated cats. Mean peak blood glucose concentrations during therapy were 187.67 mg/dl in budesonide-treated cats and 188.83 mg/dl in prednisolone-treated cats (P = 0.90).

These findings suggest that budesonide and prednisolone have similar therapeutic efficacy and metabolic effects in the management of FCE. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Effectiveness of a combination of dry and wet high-fat high-protein dietetic foods in cats with chronic gastrointestinal disorders

Isabelle Leriche, Marion Rose, Isabelle Mougeot Virbac Nutrition, Vauvert, France

Email: isabelle.leriche@virbac.fr

Dietary therapy plays a major role in the management of most gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. This non-controlled study assessed the efficacy of the combination of a dry commercially available diet and a new wet diet, both intended for the management of chronic maldigestion–malabsorption in cats.

Forty-two client-owned adult cats with chronic or recurrent GI disorders were followed up for 6 weeks. After a 1-week diet transition (W1), they were fed exclusively the dry and wet test diets for 3 weeks (W2–W4) (Table 1). Half of their energy requirement was covered by each diet. During W5 and W6, cats were again fed their usual diets. Six digestive parameters were assessed five times (inclusion, W2, W3, W4, W6) to describe the cats’ clinical status: frequency of defecation, fecal score, smell and volume of feces, flatulence and halitosis. To be included in the study, cats had to show at least three abnormal criteria among defecation frequency, fecal score, fecal smell and flatulence. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to compare each parameter at different times, with a significance threshold of 5%.

Table 1.

Description of the two test diets

	Dry	Wet
ME (kcal/kg as fed)	4180	1360
ME from protein (%)	39	40
ME from fat (%)	45	54
ME from carbohydrate (%)	16	6
Protein apparent digestibility (%)	86	87
Fat apparent digestibility (%)	95	97

ME = metabolizable energy

Table 2.

Cats (%) with normal parameters at different time points

		Cats (%) with ‘normal’ parameter
Digestive parameter	Considered ‘normal’ when:	Inclusion	W4	W6
Frequency of defecation	<2 times/day	19	71*	43*
Fecal score	<3	38	95*	76*
Fecal smell	<Slightly odorous (acceptable)	12	88*	64*
Fecal volume	<Medium	67	95*	76*
Flatulence	Never	19	86*	62*
Halitosis	Never	31	93*	81

^*P <0.05. W = week

The combination of the two diets resulted in clinical improvement as attested by comparison of the percentage of cats with normal digestive parameters at different times of the study (W4 vs inclusion, and W6 vs W4) (Table 2). At W4, 22 (53%) cats were completely cured (all parameters normal), 19 (45%) were improved and one (2%) was unchanged. Regarding the 41 cured or improved cats, improvement occurred within the first 2 weeks for 93% of them, and 68% had a minimum of one of their digestive parameters degraded at W6 when fed their usual diets again.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test results on the day of presentation and 7 months later
	Pre-ACTH cortisol (µg/dl)	30 mins post-ACTH cortisol (µg/dl)	60 mins post-ACTH cortisol (µg/dl)
On the day of presentation	1.2	2.1	2.3
7 months later	4.0	5.3	5.7

Normal post-ACTH cortisol concentration ranges from 5 µg/dl to 15 µg/dl. A post-ACTH cortisol level below 5 µg/dl confirms iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism

This study shows the benefit of a combination of dry and wet high-fat, high-protein diets for chronic GI disorder management and recurrence prevention in cats.

Detection of cannabis intoxication in a cat by the measurement of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography/mass spectometry

Angelika Drensler, Alexandra Dreßel, Andrea Hildebrand, Ruth Klein, Elisabeth Müller

Laboklin GmbH & Co KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany

Email: drensler@laboklin.com

The legalization of cannabis in Germany in 2024 has led to an increased risk of cannabinoid intoxication in pets in this country. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most psychoactive alkaloid in cannabis, quickly passes into tissue and also crosses the blood–brain barrier. It enters the body of animals via various routes, such as smoke inhalation or ingestion of food containing cannabis. In veterinary medicine, the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of reported cannabis exposure in combination with clinical signs. In cats, signs such as increased aggressiveness, disorientation and coordination disorders are observed. Other signs can include mydriasis, polyphagia, polydipsia and signs of circulatory suppression.

In humans, drug detection is performed using the high-pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method. An LC–MS/MS method for the determination of THC and its metabolites for commercial use in dogs and cats is introduced. The case description of a THC intoxication adds information about signs and outcomes in feline patients.

A 17-year-old female spayed domestic longhair cat was presented. The owners reported that she had drank from their cannabis cocoa the day before. A few hours after drinking, she showed swaying, disorientation, trembling, inappropriate elimination (feces and urine) and diarrhea. The initial blood test (T0) showed significantly elevated liver values (glutamate dehydrogenase [GLDH], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST]).

At T0, cannabinoids could be detected (THC positive; 11-OH THC >50 ng/ml; THC-COOH 1.7 ng/ml; cannabidiol 2.2 ng/ml). A second blood profile taken on day 8 showed reduction of liver enzyme concentrations, with GLDH and AST within reference intervals and ALT being mildly elevated, while cannabinoids were weakly positive (THC positive; 11-OH THC 0.5 ng/ml; THC-COOH <1.0 ng/ml; CBD <1.0 ng/ml).

This case report is in concordance with previous findings of THC intoxication in cats that showed neurologic and behavioral signs. The outcome was favorable. Measurement of cannabinoids with LC– MS/MS is feasible and offers a tool for proving THC intoxication. In addition, it makes monitoring possible.

Evaluation of clinicopathological features, e-cadherin and c-kit expression in cats with exocrine pancreatic carcinoma

Kara Kropp¹, Alexandra Guillén², Alexandros Hardas¹, Andrew D Yale², Gabriella Hetesy², Jérémy Béguin^3,4, Kerstin Erles⁵, Simon L Priestnall¹, Edouard Reyes-Gomez^6,7, Francesco Rogato²

¹Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK

²Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK

³Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, CHUVA, Service de Médecine Interne, Maisons-Alfort, France

⁴UMR1161 Virologie, INRAE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France

⁵VPG Histology, Bristol, UK

⁶Université Paris-Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France

⁷Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Unité d’Histologie et d’Anatomie Pathologique, Maisons-Alfort, France

Email: kkropp20@rvc.ac.uk

Exocrine pancreatic carcinomas (PCs) are rare tumours in cats generally associated with a poor prognosis. Despite their high metastatic potential, a small subset of cases achieves prolonged survival. A better understanding of the biological drivers of PC progression is essential to improving prognostic accuracy and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

The objectives of this study were to analyse the clinical features, histological characteristics, and E-cadherin and c-KIT immunohistochemical labelling, and to determine their prognostic significance in feline PCs.

Medical records and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from cats diagnosed with PC between 2001 and 2021 across three pathology laboratories were reviewed. E-cadherin and c-KIT immunolabelling was assessed using an overall immunohistochemical score (OIS), calculated as the product of staining intensity and percentage of positive cells.

A total of 40 cases were included. Of the 21 cats with available staging information, nine had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Acinar carcinoma (n = 16) was the most common histological subtype, followed by ductal (n = 12) and undifferentiated (n = 9). Vascular invasion and necrosis were present in 21 and 23 PCs, respectively. The median survival time (MST) for the 29 cats with a reported outcome was 7 days (95% CI 0–20), with only nine cats living ⩾45 days. A mitotic count >10/high-power field (HPF) (P = 0.045) and presence of vascular invasion (P = 0.030) were significantly associated with increased risk of metastasis. Additionally, neutrophilia (P = 0.009), vascular invasion (P = 0.007) and a mitotic count >10/HPF (P = 0.035) correlated with shorter survival time.

E-cadherin and c-KIT labelling was expressed in 21 and 14 cats, respectively, but neither marker was significantly associated with metastasis or risk of survival.

Our study highlights key clinical and histological features associated with outcome in feline PC. Further validation of the significance of these factors in a larger cohort of cats is needed.

Double-blind study: effect of cannabidiol on parasympathetic activity tone in cats under anesthesia during sterilization

Amairani Hernández-Gallegos^1,2, Saúl Martínez-García¹, Óscar O Olivas-Silva¹, Carolina Palacios-Ayala¹, César V Elizondo Solís², Andrea Martínez-Domínguez¹, Rocio L Cantú-Guerrero¹, Valeria Galván-Cantú¹, Carlos Martínez-Garza¹

¹Sierra Madre Hospital Veterinario para Gatos, San Pedro Garza García, NL, Mexico

²Facultad de Medicina, UANL Monterrey, NL, Mexico

Email: amairani_9416@hotmail.com

This double-blind, randomized study evaluated the influence of oral cannabidiol (CBD) on parasympathetic tone activity (PTA) in cats undergoing sterilization. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a CBD or placebo group, with physiologic parameters recorded throughout surgery. Results demonstrated significantly higher PTA values in the CBD group, suggesting enhanced comfort under anesthesia.

CBD has gained interest in veterinary medicine for its analgesic and anxiolytic effects, suggesting potential benefits for improving comfort during surgical procedures by modulating autonomic responses. PTA is a continuous, electrocardiogram-derived measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity calculated from variations in RR intervals related to respiratory cycles. Higher PTA values typically indicate increased parasympathetic dominance, reflecting greater comfort and reduced nociception under anesthesia. This study aimed to assess CBD’s potential to modulate parasympathetic activity and improve anesthetic stability and comfort in cats.

Figure 1.

Parasympathetic tone activity (PTA) in 58 cats during surgery. CBD = cannabidiol; O/T = ovary/testicle; L = left; R = right

Fifty-eight cats (18 males and 40 females, 31 feral and 27 domestic) were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: oral CBD formulation (Hempet’s; n = 30) or placebo (n = 28). Randomization was performed by simple allocation with blinded labeling. Subjects received standard preoperative care and anesthesia, maintained with isoflurane. PTA and vital parameters were continuously recorded. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, with statistical significance set at P <0.05.

Cats treated with CBD showed significantly higher PTA scores both at baseline (48.66 vs 39.67; P = 0.022) and during celiotomy (53 vs 43.75; P = 0.0058), compared with placebo (Figure 1). Heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation remained similar between groups.

Higher PTA values observed in the CBD-treated group indicate enhanced parasympathetic activity, associated with improved patient comfort and potentially reduced nociception. CBD thus emerges as a promising adjunctive therapy for enhancing feline welfare in anesthetic and surgical contexts.

✜ This abstract won the Delegates’ Choice Best Poster Award.

Factors affecting hair cortisol levels in privately owned cats

Veronika Vojtkovská, Monika Šebánková, Naďa Konečná, Simona Kovaříková, Karla Štěpánková Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic

Email: VOJTKOVSKAV@VFU.cz

Chronic stress can significantly impact the overall welfare of companion cats, necessitating the development of objective methods for its assessment. This study aimed to analyze cortisol levels in feline hair to identify potential influencing factors.

Hair samples were collected from 66 cats (44 females and 22 males, aged 2 months to 8 years) by shaving the abdominal region (in females) or the scrotal area (in males) under general anesthesia before elective neutering. Cortisol extraction and quantification were performed using a commercially available ELISA kit. Owners provided information about their cats through a questionnaire covering basic characteristics, lifestyle and husbandry practices.

The findings indicated that sex, breed, hair type and hair color did not significantly affect cortisol levels (P >0.05). However, age was identified as a significant factor, with the highest cortisol concentrations observed in cats younger than 6 months. The lifestyle of the cats (exclusively indoor lifestyle, exclusively outdoor lifestyle or a combination of both) did not significantly affect hair cortisol levels (P >0.05). Similarly, the presence of other animals or children in the household had no significant impact, although mean cortisol values were higher in cats cohabiting with other animals or children.

No significant difference in cortisol levels was found between cats reported to exhibit or not exhibit problem behaviors (P >0.05). However, cats displaying problem behaviors had higher mean cortisol concentrations. The number of available environmental resources in the household (litter boxes, hiding places and scratching posts) and the degree of willingness of cats to interact with humans showed no significant correlation with cortisol levels.

Retrospective analysis of a southern european feline travel profile in 661 cats living in germany

Lena Meyer¹, Andreas Moritz^2,3, Gad Baneth⁴, Christina Strube⁵, Elisabeth Müller¹, Ingo Schäfer¹

¹Laboklin GmbH & Co KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany

²Clinic of Small Animals–Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

³Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinical Pathology, and Clinical Pathophysiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

⁴Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel

⁵Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany

Email: ta.ingo.schaefer@gmail.com

Vector-borne infections are gaining significance due to climate change, expansion of vector habitats and increased import and travel activities. Knowledge of clinical and epidemiological data on feline vector-borne infections is limited. The aim of the study was to assess the significance of vector-borne infections in German cats tested by a feline southern European travel profile (SETP).

The database of a commercial laboratory was retrospectively screened for an SETP on samples submitted by German veterinarians from July 2022 to February 2025 (see table).

Results of a feline southern European travel profile
Pathogen	n tested positive/ n total	%
PCR 1
Hepatozoon species	27/661	4.1
Piroplasms	1/661	0.2 (Babesia felis) 2
Microfilaria	0/661	0
Antigen testing1,3
Feline leukemia virus	29/661	4.4
Antibody testing 4
Bartonella species 5	163/661	24.7
Rickettsia species 5	80/661	12.1
Leishmania infantum 6	30/661	4.5
Feline immunodeficiency virus 6	58/661	8.8

¹EDTA-blood; ²based on DNA sequencing; ³antigen ELISA; ⁴serum; ⁵immunofluorescence antibody test; ⁶antibody ELISA

Of 661 cats, 298 (45.1%) tested positive for at least one pathogen (one pathogen: 216/298 [72.5%], two pathogens: 74/298 [24.8%], three pathogens: 6/298 [2.0%], four pathogens: 2/298 [1.3%]). Positive PCR results were detected in 28/661 cats (4.2%) and positive serology in 286/661 cats (43.2%).

The performance of a SETP test reflects previous import or travel of the tested animals in Germany from or to southern European countries. Of the tested cats, 4% tested PCR positive, suggesting active infections, and 43% tested serologically positive, indicating pathogen exposure. Both results demonstrate the need for awareness about import/travel activities and vector-borne infections in cats. In such cats, feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus should be tested for, as both pathogens may complicate the course of disease and impact the prognosis.

Does the welfare of cats at shows deserve more of our attention?

Veronika Vojtkovská¹, Dana Lobová²

¹Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic

²Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic

Email: VOJTKOVSKAV@VFU.cz

Cat exhibitions are prestigious events where breeders network, showcase their animals and assess breeding outcomes. While the impact of selective breeding on feline welfare is well documented, the potential risks associated with show participation remain less explored. Despite breeding organisations’ regulations aimed at safeguarding welfare, cats are still exposed to various stressors, including confined spaces, noise, unfamiliar stimuli, handling by strangers and disrupted care routines. Health risks, such as disease transmission, also warrant attention.

This pilot study investigated whether show cats’ welfare requires greater focus. We assessed the acute stress response of cats at the show using the Cat Stress Score (CSS) tool and infrared thermography. Additionally, we examined the potential transmission of feline coronavirus among cats through real-time PCR on rectal swabs.

The mean CSS representing the overall stress level of 140 show cats corresponded to a score of 3, indicating a state of tension characterised by alertness, crouched posture and dilated pupils. Cats assessed during judging (n = 70) exhibited significantly higher stress (P <0.01) than those housed in their enclosures (n = 70). Most cats displayed tense (score 3; 38.6%) or anxious (score 4; 35.7%) behaviour during judging. Additionally, we observed a significant increase (P <0.05) in body temperature (mean 37.95°C) at the inner corner of the eye in 14 randomly selected cats compared with healthy cats’ temperature reference values.

To assess the threat of pathogen transmission at cat shows, we tested 19 randomly selected cats for feline coronavirus shedding. Six cats (31.6%) shed the virus, with all positive cases originating from multi-cat households that attended shows regularly (more than five times per year).

Our findings indicate that the welfare of show cats requires attention due to the potential for deterioration. Further research is necessary to explore the topic in greater detail and examine contributing factors.

✜ This study was supported by the ITA VETUNI (project no. 2025ITA25).

Can the 15% mortality rate for feline infectious peritonitis treated with gs-441524 be reduced? the use of therapeutic drug monitoring to identify cats requiring dose modifications

Stephen W Cooke¹, Rachael Hammond², Danièlle A Gunn-Moore²

¹The Microsampling Laboratory, Oxford, UK

²Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK

Email: cookievet@me.com

The treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) with oral GS-441524 and injectable remdesivir has an accepted survival rate of approximately 85%. Cases are reported as either recovered or in remission (and at risk of relapse) after treatment has ceased. Dosing regimens are based on clinical consensus rather than targeted experimental data due to FIP’s complex range of phenotypes.

This study investigated whether the 15% treatment failure rate was an inevitable aspect of FIP disease or the result of insufficient GS-441524 dosing.

Cats enrolled in an ethically approved study provided blood samples from which GS-441524 concentrations were quantified using a highperformance liquid chromatography method developed and validated specifically for the study. Published pharmacokinetic data from healthy cats administered GS-441524 were used to generate concentration–time curves as reference intervals.

Of 482 study samples from 190 cats (Figure 1), 96 (20%) exhibited low GS-441524 concentrations; of these, 46 received low dosages and 50 had poor drug absorption. In addition, 63 (13%) samples exhibited high concentrations; of these, 31 received high dosages and 32 had increased drug absorption. Dosage advice was offered to the attending clinicians based on these results.

Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that optimal dosages should aim to produce an area under the concentration vs time curve of >120 μm*h, with concentrations >3 μm for 24 of every 24 h, and >10 μm for at least 8 of 24 h. A dosage of ⩾10 mg/kg q12h with modifications informed by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data is suggested.

Of 177 cats with survival data, 167 (94.3%) survived, suggesting that with informed dose selection, 17 more (9.6%) survived FIP that may otherwise have not.

The variability of GS-441524 metabolism among FIP cases precludes recommending a single dosage regimen. TDM can identify individuals requiring dosage adjustments ensuring individualised, precision-based therapy and improving treatment outcomes.

✜ This abstract won the Scientific Committee Best Abstract Award.

Figure 1.

Plasma GS-441524 concentration (μm) vs time after dose administered (h). Dotted lines indicate pharmacokinetic data for healthy cats extracted from published sources. Study sample results are designated low (red circles), optimal (green stars) and high (blue diamonds)

Unveiling the dual burden: assessment of the physical and emotional impact of molnupiravir treatment for feline infectious peritonitis on cats and their caregivers in indonesia

Lady K Chintari¹, Sonya Budiarto², Christophorus A Bayu², Tiara P Sajuthi², Danièlle A Gunn-Moore³

¹Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

²PDHB drh Cucu K Sajuthi, Sunter, Jakarta, Indonesia

³Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Email: lady2297@gmail.com

The emergence of oral antiviral treatments to treat feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), such as molnupiravir, has offered an alternative to the previously used GS-441524 (available mostly as an injectable drug in many countries, including Indonesia) and an injectable form of remdesivir. While it may be effective, molnupiravir treatment involves long-term administration, potentially leading to cumulative stress for cats and their caregivers. This study aimed to assess the burden of treating FIP with oral molnupiravir, focusing on observed stress and discomfort in cats and the emotional and physical strain on caregivers during long-term administration.

Thirty-one responses were analysed out of 50 collected via an online questionnaire from consenting caregivers at one animal clinic. The questionnaire gathered basic details about the cats (age, breed, FIP type), molnupiravir treatment specifics (the administration process, frequency, ease of administration), observed discomfort in the cats and the caregivers’ experiences, focusing on their emotional and physical wellbeing during the treatment period. Both open- and closed-ended questions were used. Data were analysed using RStudio, Minitab 22 and NVivo 14.

The study found that the ease of administering molnupiravir contributed to low physical and emotional burdens on caregivers and low observed stress in cats, with a strong correlation showing that when cats’ stress levels after drug administration were low, caregivers’ overall wellbeing tended to improve (r = -0.512, P <0.05). The most commonly reported emotion during the treatment period was ‘hopeful’ (80%), classified as a positive emotion. Some reports (25.8%) also highlighted reduced stress levels compared with previously used injectable medication.

Oral molnupiravir offers a less stressful treatment option for FIP, potentially improving the welfare of both cats and their caregivers. However, this study does not assess the efficacy or medical safety of molnupiravir in FIP treatment, and further research is needed to evaluate these aspects.

Mapping feline lymphocytes: flow cytometric characterization in healthy animals

Rafael S Lopes^1–3, Pedro P Carvalho^2,4, Maria dos Anjos Pires^1,3, Paulo Rodrigues-Santos^5–10, Eduardo Costa^2,11,12, Joăo F Requicha^1,3

¹Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal

²Vasco da Gama Research Center, University School Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal

³Animal and Veterinary Research Center, UTAD – Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science, Vila Real, Portugal

⁵Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal

⁴Vetherapy, California, USA

⁶Laboratory of Immunology and Oncology, Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

⁷Center for Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

⁸Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, University of Coimbra, Portugal

⁹Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

¹⁰Clinical and Academic Center of Coimbra, Portugal

¹¹Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal

¹²CQC-IMS, Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Email: rafael.lopes@euvg.pt

There is a paucity of studies on immunophenotyping peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy cats, with limited databases on their immune systems due to species-specific differences. This study aimed to characterise the peripheral blood lymphocytes in healthy cats and to relate them to sex, immunisation against herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia, and life stages.

Animals were recruited upon admission for elective surgery at the University Veterinary Hospital of Coimbra. The study included 31 cats without clinical signs of disease or abnormalities in the pre-anaesthetic blood analysis, and that were seronegative for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.

The most represented breed was domestic shorthair (81.3%) followed by Persian, Siamese and domestic longhair (6.25% each); 15 were kittens (<1 year) and 17 were young adults (1–6 years).

Leukocytes were labelled with mouse anti-dog CD18, mouse anti-dog CD21, rat anti-mouse CD45R and mouse anti-cat CD4, CD5 and CD8, and analysed using flow cytometry. This technique uses fluorescently labelled antibodies to tag specific surface markers on cells, allowing identification and quantification of lymphocyte subpopulations by their expression profiles. Comparative analysis of total leukocyte counts and differential blood cell counts revealed no significant variations related to vaccination status, sex and age.

These findings suggest that the immune response exhibits minimal variation based on the studied variables, with minor differences observed in both B and T lymphocyte subsets (P >0.05), indicating no evidence of immunosenescence.

This study corroborates the available literature by showing a T-cell subpopulation with low CD8 expression (CD8lo, data not shown). In healthy animals, CD8lo cells may represent regulatory CD8⁺ T cells (Tregs) with immunosuppressive functions, immature CD8⁺ T cells from the thymus, exhausted CD8⁺ T cells with chronic activation markers or memory CD8⁺ T cells with lower CD8 expression than naive or effector cells.

Further research is needed to understand how ageing affects the immune system, involving more animals and life stages.

Feline splenic myelolipoma presenting as acute abdominal pain successfully treated by splenectomy

Ildiko Plaganyi

Gippsland Veterinary Group, Victoria, Australia

Email: ildikop@gippsvet.com.au

Splenic myelolipoma is an uncommon condition in cats, with very few reported clinical cases in the current literature. This case report describes the clinical signs, diagnostic investigation and treatment of a cat with a confirmed splenic myelolipoma. This case is unusual due to acute presentation as well as the lack of any laboratory abnormalities.

A 10-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat presented with acute-onset abdominal discomfort and abnormal behaviour. The cat exhibited a swishing tail and episodes where he laid down suddenly and was reluctant to be handled, which was unusual. The cat had gained weight recently but had not shown any other signs of being unwell. Clinical examination revealed a painful abdomen and palpation of a large cranial/ mid-abdominal mass. Routine blood screening, including complete haematology, biochemistry screening and blood gases, was within normal ranges.

Initial diagnostic imaging involved abdominal radiographs, where a large cranial abdominal mass was visible. Thoracic radiographs did not identify any evidence of metastatic lesions. CT imaging confirmed a large splenic mass (5.6 × 5.3 × 4.6 cm), as well as a smaller lesion in the tail of the spleen.

Exploratory laparotomy and total splenectomy were undertaken as well as biopsy of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of splenic myelolipoma.

Recovery was uneventful and the cat’s demeanour improved after surgery, with no further signs of abdominal discomfort, presumed to be caused by distension of the splenic capsule by the large splenic mass. The cat survived a total of 944 days post-surgery before he died of cardiomyopathy. Clinicians should include benign splenic masses in their differential list for large, painful abdominal masses in the cat. Surgical splenectomy was curative in this case.

Results of roux-en-y loop cholecystojejunostomy in cats with extrahepatic biliary obstruction

Reginaldo P Sousa-Filho^1,2, Keytyanne de Oliveira Sampaio², Taiani Torquato², Vitoria Caldas²

¹University Unichristus, Ceará, Brazil

²Catus Feline Medicine, Ceará, Brazil

Email: reginaldo.pereira@unichristus.edu.br

Cholestasis is commonly observed in cats, and biliary drainage can be hindered by obstructions caused by intra- or extrahepatic factors, known as extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). Surgical intervention for EHBO is indicated when imaging suggests obstruction, combined with a rapid increase in bilirubin levels without clinical improvement through medical treatment. The most commonly described surgical techniques for resolving EHBO include cholecystoduodenostomy and cholecystojejunostomy. These techniques, however, may lead to complications such as excessive intraoperative blood loss, hypotension, peritonitis and reflux-related neutrophilic cholangitis. Roux-en-Y loop cholecystojejunostomy (Figure 1) offers potential advantages over conventional techniques, including reduced intraoperative blood loss due to the elimination of the need to dissect the gallbladder from the hepatic fossa, absence of enterobiliary reflux and the use of an intestinal segment less impacted by EHBO. The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of the Roux-en-Y loop cholecystojejunostomy technique in cases of EHBO.

Figure 1.

Roux-en-Y loop cholecystojejunostomy technique. (a) Anatomical configuration of the gallbladder and intestine. (b) Enterotomy incision in the jejunum (denoted by parallel red lines) approximately 5 cm distal to the duodenojejunal junction. Arrows indicate the directional movement of the two-loop termini. (c) Anastomosis of the proximal and distal portions of the jejunal resection, with subsequent suturing of the jejunal loop terminus to form a conduit. (d) Anastomosis of the jejunal loop with the gallbladder, establishing a biliary drainage conduit. 1 = ligament of Treitz

Ten cats were included in this study, all exhibiting clinical signs, complementary examinations and ultrasonographic findings consistent with EHBO. All patients required a biliodigestive diversion as the common bile duct was no longer patent. The anastomosis between the gallbladder and jejunum was performed on the portion 5 cm distal to the duodenojejunal junction. The technique involves isolating and using a segment of the jejunum to create a conduit for the anastomosis with the gallbladder.

In all cases, a rapid decrease in hyperbilirubinemia and an improvement in clinical condition were observed. However, prognoses varied, with neoplastic causes associated with short survival times (10–30 days) while inflammatory causes showed survival exceeding 3 years.

Roux-en-Y loop cholecystojejunostomy proved effective in resolving cases of EHBO in cats and may be considered an alternative to other described techniques.

Agreement, reliability and responsiveness of the feline grimace scale in brachycephalic cats

Sabrine Marangoni^1,2, Derek Chow^2–4, Marta Garbin¹, Kelly St Denis⁵, Tim Bosmans⁶, Syed Saad UI Hassan Bukhari^2,3, Paulo V Steagall^1–3

¹Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Canada

²Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

³Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

⁴Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Hong Kong, China

⁵St Denis Veterinary Professional Corporation, Powassan, ON, Canada

⁶Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium

Email: sabrine.marangoni@umontreal.ca

This study investigated the inter-rater reliability, agreement and responsiveness of Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) scores in brachycephalic cats.

Twenty-eight brachycephalic cats (6.6 ± 4.4 years; 4.2 ± 1.0 kg) undergoing ocular surgery were included in a prospective, randomized, blinded study. Ninety-five cat face images collected from video recordings pre- and postoperatively (before/after analgesia) were scored by four raters using the FGS and compared with real-time scores during pain assessment. Limits of agreement (LoAs) and bias were evaluated using the Bland–Altman method (good or poor agreement if bias <0.1 or >0.1, respectively). Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): <0.50 = poor; 0.50-0.75 = moderate; 0.76-0.90 = good; and >0.90 = excellent reliability. Generalized linear mixed models evaluated FGS responsiveness (P <0.05).

Inter-rater reliability (ICC single; 95% confidence intervals) was poor for the muzzle (0.47; 0.36–0.58) and whiskers (0.34; 0.22–0.46), good for ears (0.81; 0.74–0.86) and eyes (0.84; 0.79–0.88), moderate for head position (0.71; 0.59–0.79) and excellent for FGS total ratio scores (0.92; 0.89–0.94). LoAs ranged from –0.37 to 0.22 with a bias of –0.08, suggesting that some cats could have their scores affected in comparison with real-time scores. FGS total scores decreased after analgesia pre- (0.56 ± 0.10 vs 0.38 ± 0.15, P = 0.005) and postoperatively (0.60 ± 0.18 vs 0.36 ± 0.15, P <0.001).

The FGS is a responsive pain-scoring instrument in brachycephalic cats, with good agreement among raters and excellent inter-rater reliability for total ratio scores. Pain may be overestimated when using image assessment in brachycephalic cats.

Improved quality of life in diabetic cats receiving senvelgo: first results of a global user experience survey

Agathe Besson¹, Alice H Watson², Tanja M Zimmering³, Pavel Orlov³

¹Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Lyon, France

²Rugby, UK

³Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Animal Health, Ingelheim, Germany

Email: agathe.besson@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common feline endocrinopathy, historically resulting in euthanasia in approximately one-third of cats due to management difficulties. In 2023, SENVELGO Oral Solution for Cats (velagliflozin), a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, was approved in the USA and Europe for the reduction of hyperglycaemia associated with DM.

This survey aimed to investigate clinician and owner experiences of using SENVELGO. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire relating to their experiences. Responses were collected from November 2024 to February 2025. In total, 325 completed questionnaires were received from 175 clinicians from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and from 150 pet owners from the USA.

Of clinicians, 96.0% either agreed or strongly agreed that SENVELGO improved cats’ and owners’ quality of life. Additionally, 93.1% of clinicians reported that owners, and 86.7% of owners reported that they, were satisfied or very satisfied with SENVELGO, while, 83.4% of clinicians and 57.9% of owners reported SENVELGO as well or extremely well accepted; further, 84.5% of clinicians and 76.6% of owners agreed or strongly agreed that SENVELGO was easy to give.

Of clinicians, 94.3% either agreed or strongly agreed that SENVELGO has provided a paradigm shift in the treatment of feline diabetes, and 88.0% of clinicians would prescribe SENVELGO over insulin again, with a mean score of 8.7 for recommending SENVELGO to another veterinarian (rated 0–10, from not at all likely to extremely likely). Clinicians reported that 97.1% of owners either agreed or strongly agreed that they preferred to treat their cat with once-daily liquid vs twice-daily injection.

Improving quality of life is a key factor in ensuring successful management of DM. These results indicate that SENVELGO provides a paradigm shift in the management of feline DM, improving quality of life in most cats with this condition. SENVELGO may therefore increase the number of diabetic cats being treated rather than euthanased.

Potential beneficial effects of telmisartan in reducing the clinical signs of feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (aka feline dementia)

Lorena Sordo¹*, Collett Angel²*, Jennifer Ellis³, Camilla Tørnqvist-Johnsen⁴, Darren Shaw⁵, Fiona Houston⁵, Danièlle A Gunn-Moore⁵

¹RSPCA, Parkside, Horsham, UK

²University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, USA

³Western Australia Veterinary Emergency and Specialty, Success, Australia

⁴AniCura Animal Hospital Oslo, Norway

⁵R(D)SVS and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK

*Authors contributed equally

Email: Danielle.Gunn-Moore@ed.ac.uk

Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (FCDS; also known as feline dementia) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disease seen in over 50% of cats over 15 years of age. It currently has no licensed treatments. Telmisartan has been shown to have a beneficial effect on cognition, provide neuroprotection and reduce neuroinflammation in humans and rodents. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of telmisartan in reducing the clinical signs of FCDS. The most common behavioural changes seen with FCDS are described by the acronym VISHDAAL; excessive vocalisation (especially at night), change in the interaction with owners (eg, increased affection), alterations in sleep–wake cycles, housesoiling, spatial and/or temporal disorientation, aimless activity (eg, spending time staring into space), anxiety and learning or memory deficits.

FCDS is a diagnosis of exclusion; after undertaking this, 34 cats with FCDS were randomly allocated to receive either telmisartan (1 mg/kg/day PO) or a placebo (PO), with both being given for 3 months, followed by a 1-month post-treatment wash-out period. Behavioural changes were assessed monthly using owner-reported questionnaires throughout the treatment and post-treatment periods.

Figure 1.

Changes in vocalisation at night during the treatment and post-treatment periods in the telmisartan group. During treatment the cats vocalised less at night, but this behaviour increased significantly once the treatment stopped (P = 0.021); in contrast, there was no significant change in the placebo group. –2 = significantly decreased; –1 = mildly decreased; 0 = no change; 1 = mildly increased; 2 = significantly increased (2). Bars represent 95% confidence interval

Significant increases in night vocalisation (Figure 1) and repetitive/compulsive behaviours were found in the post-treatment period in cats previously receiving telmisartan. Possible limitations include the small sample size, questionnaire structure that lacked the granularity to detect subtle changes, low telmisartan dose and the length of the treatment period.

Withdrawal of telmisartan resulted in increased night vocalisation and repetitive/compulsive behaviours, suggesting that telmisartan has potential benefits for the treatment of FCDS.

Establishment and morphological characterization of feline pancreatic organoids derived from healthy tissue

Andre MC Meneses^1–3, Lona Pamela¹, Braga Jorge¹, Maria C Caldeira¹, Sabrina Legatti¹, Sónia Campos^1–3, Joana T Oliveira^1,2

¹University Lusófona, University Centre of Lisbon, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Cell Culture and Organoids, Lisbon, Portugal

²Research in Veterinary Medicine (I-MVET), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University – Lisbon University Centre, Portugal

³Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal

Email: p6498@ulusofona.pt

Three-dimensional pancreatic organoids represent an emerging in vitro model for studying endocrine and exocrine function, disease pathogenesis and regenerative approaches in feline medicine. This study describes the isolation and culture of feline pancreatic organoids from post-mortem tissue.

Pancreatic fragments were rinsed in phosphate-buffered saline and mechanically minced into ~1 cm pieces. Tissue dissociation was achieved through enzymatic digestion using collagenase IV (0.5 mg/ml), dispase (1 mg/ml) and DNase I (0.1 mg/ml) in DMEM at 37°C for 30–60 mins under gentle agitation. After removing macroscopic debris, cell suspensions were centrifuged at 300 g for 5 mins, washed and resuspended in Matrigel. Droplets were plated into 24-well plates and incubated at 37°C for 15 mins to solidify. A specialized pancreatic organoid medium was then added, containing advanced DMEM/F12, Glutamax, HEPES, B27, N2, nicotinamide, N-acetyl cysteine, Wnt-conditioned medium, R-spondin, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, Noggin, CHIR99021, SB202190, gentamicin, primocin and rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor (only used during the first week post-isolation).

Organoids appeared within 3–5 days and presented a spherical to branched morphology under brightfield microscopy, consistent with pancreatic epithelium. They were expanded over multiple passages and cryopreserved at passage three in December 2024. Organoids retained structure and viability post-thawing. The method described establishes a reliable model for feline pancreatic tissue, with applications in diabetes research, oncology, drug testing and future cell therapy development.

Tenectomy for suspected volkmann ischaemic contracture of the digital flexor tendons following feline aortic thromboembolism

Alice Machado, Ricardo Felisberto, Tobias Wagner, Daniele Serrani

Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, Forest Corner Farm, Hangersley, Ringwood, UK

Email: acvm.cardio@gmail.com

An 8-year-old entire male cat presented with paraparesis, absent femoral pulses, pale digital pads and poikilothermy due to an aortic thromboembolism of the terminal aorta. After 2 weeks of medical treatment and gradual recovery, cardiology assessment diagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left-sided congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Persistent gastrocnemius muscle firmness, right hindlimb knuckling and proprioceptive deficits indicated ischaemic damage and suspected Volkmann ischaemic contracture.

Despite 8 months of physiotherapy, digital flexor tendon contracture led to restricted metatarsophalangeal joint movement, knuckling and excoriations (Figure 1a). Due to the failure of conservative management, surgical intervention was performed under sedation and local interdigital blockade. A plantar approach was used for superficial digital flexor tenectomies on digits II–V and deep digital flexor tenectomies on digits III–V.

Figure 1.

(a) Right hind paw contracture and knuckling prior to surgical intervention; (b) intraoperative photograph of tenectomy of the digit V deep flexor tendon; and (c) patient hindlimb stance at 8-month follow-up

The former tendons were accessed via the distal third of the metatarsus, while the latter were released through the interphalangeal region, achieving intraoperative digit extension (Figure 1b).

Two weeks post-surgery, the patient exhibited a plantigrade stance with full digit extension. By 4 and 8 months postoperatively, hindlimb stance, paw placement and range of motion had normalised (Figure 1c). This case represents the first successful use of tenectomy to treat suspected Volkmann ischaemic contracture following aortic thromboembolism in a cat, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex cases.

Candida species balanoposthitis in two feline immunodeficiency virus-positive cats

Llibertat Real^1,2, Alberto Barneto^1,2, María Amparo Ortuńez³, Maite Verde⁴

¹Hospital Veterinario Menes, Gijón, Spain

²CV Ayavet, Madrid, Spain

³La Ribera Veterinaris IVC Evidensia, Mallorca, Spain

⁴Facultad de Veterinaria de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Email: llibertatreal@hotmail.com

Balanoposthitis is the inflammation of the glans penis and preputial mucosa. It is an uncommon condition in the cat, and scarcely described in the veterinary literature. Chronic prostatitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis and balanoposthitis with an undetermined infectious cause in a cat has been described.

The genus Candida are budding yeasts, class Saccharomycetes. They are normal inhabitants of the feline genital mucosa. Pathogenicity is likely due to a disruption of systemic or local host defences and expression of virulence factors by the host’s yeast microflora. In humans, Candida albicans balanitis is a condition linked to mature or advanced age and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Case 1 was a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive 12-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat, diagnosed 6 months prior with DM, that was presented with a history of preputial inflammation without other clinical signs. Swelling, erythema and small crusting of the prepuce were detected. The preputial orifice was distended and filled with a whitish thick material. Cytology samples revealed budding yeast. Culture was positive for Candida species. Urine culture was negative. Clinical signs resolved with gentle cleaning of the area 48 h apart and did not recur.

Case 2 was an FIV-positive 4-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat, diagnosed 2 months prior with iatrogenic DM, that was presented with a 24 h history of dysuria and pollakiuria. The cat constantly licked its perineal area. The prepuce was swollen and ulcerated, and the preputial orifice was distended and blocked with whitish thick material. Cytology revealed budding yeast. Culture was positive for Candida species. Pathology examination of preputial mucosa samples showed pyogranulomatous, lymphoplasmacytic ulcerative posthitis. Urine culture was negative. The area was gently cleaned; clinical signs persisted. Fluconazole was administered at 10 mg/kg PO q24h for 21 days. No recurrence was observed.

To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of Candida species balanoposthitis in two diabetic FIV-positive cats.

Associations between feeding a senior diet and signalment, behavioural and quality-of-life variables in pet cats

Mimi PR Mayer Payne¹, Eithne J Comerford¹, Gemma Walmsley¹, Gina Pinchbeck², Delphine Moniot³, Lesley Wiseman-Orr⁴, Marian Scott⁵, Jacky Reid⁶, Alexander J German²

¹Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK

²Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, UK

³Royal Canin Research Center, Aimargues, France

⁴School of Education, University of Glasgow, UK

⁵School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, UK

⁶School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, UK

Email: m.mayer-payne@liverpool.ac.uk

Some maintenance diets are formulated for cats in their senior life stage, with data from the University of Liverpool Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare study (CatPAWS) revealing that ~16% of cats in this age group are eating such a diet. This study assessed variables associated with owners’ decisions to feed their cat a senior diet.

Cats enrolled on CatPAWS between 2017 and 2025 were eligible for inclusion, provided sufficient clinical information was available, including owners having completed a behavioural questionnaire, a quality-of-life (QoL) instrument (VetMetrica) or both. Type of diet fed was recorded, including whether this was a senior food (based on manufacturers’ information). Data were analysed with mixed-effects logistic regression in R.

The final data set included information from 1467 visits involving 240 cats (median visits per cat = 5, range 1–16). The probability of a cat being fed a senior diet increased in a non-linear fashion with increasing age (P <0.001), remaining low until ~10 years, but increasing steeply thereafter (Figure 1). In a model containing behavioural variables, increased ‘confusion’ (odds ratio [OR] 4.26, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.16–15.62, P = 0.029), ‘forgetfulness’ (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.01–12.86, P = 0.047) and ‘meowing during the day’ (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.35–5.09, P = 0.004) were associated with an owner deciding to feed a senior diet. In a model containing three QoL domains, only ‘comfort’ was negatively associated with senior diet feeding (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.99, P = 0.023). When age was added to both models, no behaviour or QoL variables remained significant.

This study provides insights into variables associated with owners’ decisions to feed their cat a senior diet. The strongest association was with cat age, and this explained the other observed (behavioural and QoL) associations. Further work is required through longitudinal studies to explore reasons for these associations, as well as possible effects of feeding senior diets.

Figure 1.

Predicted probabilities of receiving a senior diet with increasing age from 1467 visits involving 240 cats enrolled on the Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study. Results of mixed effects logistic regression analysis, with the predictor variable (age) fitted with natural cubic splines. Shaded area represents 95% confidence intervals of the prediction, while individual points represent probabilities for the individual data points

Epidemiology of feline hyperaesthesia syndrome

Heidi B Thatcher¹, Samantha Taylor^1,2, Sarah E Heath³, Jenny Fraser⁴, Clare Rusbridge²

¹Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, Selbourne Road, Alton, Hampshire, UK

²School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

³Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice, Chester, UK

⁴Burghfield Veterinary Centre, Burghfield Common, Reading, UK

Email: c.rusbridge@surrey.ac.uk

Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome (FHS) is a poorly understood condition characterised by behavioural changes suggesting discomfort, especially of the caudal spinal column and tail. A questionnaire was shared through social media and completed by 212 caregivers of cats with suspected or confirmed FHS. The survey included a total of 124 questions, based on signalment, lifestyle, diagnostic tests, treatment and response.

This study included 212 cats (112 castrated males, 99 spayed females and one entire female). Multi-pet households accounted for 70% (149) of participants, specifically with 123/212 (58%) having multi-cat households (with a range of 1–7 other cats present). Geographically, 58% of cats resided in urban, 26% semi-rural and 16% rural locations, where 15% had unrestricted outdoor access, 38% restricted access and 47% were indoor only. Participants were asked to list the clinical signs their cats exhibited, with most cats exhibiting multiple clinical signs. Most reported was lower-back sensitivity causing skin rippling (87%), followed by rapid unpredictable movements (82%), twitching/tail jerking (74%), anxious/restless/confrontational behaviour (65%), lower back sensitivity causing biting/vocalising/ moving away (59%), and attacking or chasing the tail without causing damage (56%). Forty participants (19%) attended a specialist neurology consultation prior to making a final diagnosis. The most frequent medical treatment reported as either sole or combined therapy involved gabapentin (34%), pregabalin (10%), fluoxetine (14%), phenobarbital (5%) and amitriptyline (3%). Of treated cats, 8% of respondents reported complete control of FHS signs, 42% showed great improvement, 12% moderate improvement, 20% mild improvement and 9% no improvement.

FHS is a complex condition and, while medication is used in its management, consideration of environmental and emotional welfare is important. The five pillars of feline environmental needs can provide a framework for the approach to these cases, with further understanding of the emotional and cognitive contributions to the development of FHS being essential.

Palatability assessment of a commercial wet renal diet: in-home testing in healthy adult cats

Tomás Rodrigues Magalhăes^1–3, Ronald Jan Corbee⁴, Felisbina Luísa Queiroga^1–3, Ana Luísa Lourenço^2,3,5

¹Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal

²Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

³Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal

⁴Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

⁵Department of Animal Science, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

Email: tomas.rodrigues.magalhaes@gmail.com

The overall acceptance rate of feline renal diets is suboptimal as many caregivers complain about palatability. An in-home trial was carried out to assess the palatability of a commercial wet renal diet (Table 1) in a group of healthy adult cats, consisting of three 6-day phases, in which the test diet only (phase 1), the cat’s usual wet food only (phase 2) or both simultaneously (phase 3) were offered.

Table 1.

Composition of the commercial wet renal food used

Crude protein: 8.6 g/100 kcal

Crude fat: 56.6 g/100 kcal

Phosphorus: 0.11 g/100 kcal

Moisture: 80.5 g/100 kcal

Metabolizable energy (ME): 497.0 kcal of ME/100 g of dry matter

Table 2.

Caregivers’ perception about their cat’s diet acceptance and food preference

Frequency
Renal diet acceptance (phase 1) Good/very good Normal Bad/very bad	29 (69.0%) 3 (7.1%) 10 (23.8%)
Dietary preference (phase 3) Renal diet Usual food No particular preference	19 (45.2%) 20 (47.6%) 3 (7.1%)
Likelihood of choosing this renal diet if needed Likely/very likely Neutral Unlikely/very unlikely	33 (78.6%) 1 (2.4%) 8 (19.0%)

n (%) = number of caregivers (and its relative percentage)

Forty-two cats were enrolled (age range: 1–16 years). Overall, renal diet acceptance was defined as good/very good in 69.0% (n = 29) after it was provided exclusively. In 26.2% (n = 11) of the cases, food intake differed significantly between phase 1 and phase 2, with two cats consuming more food in phase 1 and nine cats consuming more food in phase 2. During phase 3, 22 cats showed different food intake ratios, with half eating significantly more renal diet. In 79.3% of the times the cats approached the renal diet first, they ate it. Based on the caregivers’ opinion, no clear preference for the usual food was identified in 52.4% (n = 22) of cats. Furthermore, if needed, this renal diet would likely or very likely be provided again to 78.6% (n = 33) of cats, as stated by their respective caregivers (Table 2).

In conclusion, most cats did not show a significant decrease in food intake with the therapeutic option tested, with some actually preferring it, even despite the not ideal conditions in which it was introduced. Therefore, this wet diet proved to be not less palatable than the cats’ usual food, suggesting that other causes extrinsic to these diets (eg, disease-related factors) are more likely responsible for the low acceptance reported in the literature.

Managing feline chronic kidney disease at home: the experience of dutch and british caregivers

Tomás Rodrigues Magalhăes^1–3, Ronald Jan Corbee⁴, Tom Slijkhuis⁴, Samantha Taylor⁵, Ana Luísa Lourenço^2,3,6, Felisbina Luísa Queiroga^1–3

¹Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal

²Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

³Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal

⁴Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

⁵International Cat Care, Tisbury, UK

⁶Department of Animal Science, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

Email: tomas.rodrigues.magalhaes@gmail.com

A cat with chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires not only close veterinary management but also constant in-home care. To assess the caregivers’ burden, people living in the Netherlands (NL) and the UK who were caring for a cat with CKD were invited to take part in an online survey.

Overall, 358 caregivers participated (NL = 201 and UK = 157), with most having previous experience of dealing with a cat with CKD (n = 242; 67.6%) and feeling fully informed by their veterinarian (n = 239; 66.8%). Transition to a renal diet was attempted by 250 caregivers (69.8%); out of these, 33.2% (n = 83) did not respect any gradual food switch period and only 78.8% (n = 197) managed to ultimately make this therapeutic food represent ⩾75% of their cat’s daily feeding. Medications and supplements were administered by 61.7% (n = 221) and 42.5% (n = 152), respectively (see table). Of those who administered a phosphate binder (n = 79; 22.1%), 72.2% (n = 57) gave it mixed with food, but 19.0% (n = 15) gave it directly into the cat’s mouth, regardless of mealtimes. Relationship with the cat remained the same or improved after diagnosis according to 70.4% (n = 252) and 19.8% (n = 71), respectively, and in the cases in which it got worse (n = 18; 5.0%), most were due to the stress associated with giving medication. Only 6.1% (n = 22) admitted to not complying with the recommended monitoring frequency, mainly due to their cat’s stress and/or veterinary expenses. Overall, most caregivers believed that having a cat with CKD would not affect their decision to adopt another cat in the future (n = 246; 68.7%).

Although most caregivers felt fully informed and complied with the monitoring frequency, some inappropriate practices need to be refined, particularly regarding renal diet introduction and phosphate binder administration. Veterinarians must improve their communication to optimise caregivers’ management and minimise related stress.

In-home care provided by caregivers to their cats with CKD
	NL (n = 201)	UK (n = 157)
Providing renal food as ⩾75% of the cat’s daily feeding	116 (57.7%)	81 (51.6%)
Administering an antihypertensive drug	42 (20.9%)	34 (21.7%)
Administering an antiproteinuric drug	44 (21.9%)	25 (15.9%)
Administering an appetite stimulant	37 (18.4%)	31 (19.7%)
Administering a phosphate binder	39 (19.4%)	40 (25.5%)
Giving subcutaneous fluid therapy at home	24 (11.9%)	15 (9.6%)
Distributing several water bowls in different home areas	140 (69.7%)	104 (66.2%)
Changing water every day	131 (65.2%)	103 (65.6%)
Providing fountains with continuous water flow	111 (55.2%)	61 (38.9%)

CKD = chronic kidney disease; NL = Netherlands; n (%) = number of caregivers (and its relative percentage)

Decoding domestic cats: a videobased observational study on allogrooming in multicat households

Morgane JR Van Belle¹, Christel PH Moons¹, Daniel S Mills², Bart JG Broeckx³, Frank AM Tuyttens^1,4, Noema Gajdoš Kmecová⁵

¹Ethology and Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke-Melle, Belgium

²Animal Behaviour, Cognition & Welfare Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK

³Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke-Melle, Belgium

⁴Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke-Melle, Belgium

⁵Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia

Email: Morgane.VanBelle@UGent.be

In domestic cats, allogrooming is generally viewed as a sign of social bonding; however, empirical support for this is scant. We performed a videobased observational study to examine the function(s) of allogrooming in cats.

Videos of 106 cats from 53 two-cat households were collected. Two trained observers performed behavioural observations with an ethogram. Inter- and intra-observer agreement were strong (Cohen’s kappa ⩾0.78). Analysis included sequential analysis aimed at identifying patterns within the interactions. The Lag Sequential Analysis function in The Observer XT (Noldus, version 16) was used to calculate the number of transitions between behaviours (state-lag = lag order + 1). Behaviours with a low (<10) total transition sum were removed and transition probabilities for the remaining inter-subject transitions were calculated.

Transitions with a probability above 15% were retained and revealed two major patterns around allogrooming: (1) physical contact seeking (often mutual) precedes allogrooming; (2) allogrooming precedes rotation of the ears in the receiver cat, which is associated with a play-agonism-like sequence with mutual wrestling, interactive body postures, pawing and biting. Furthermore, Fisher’s exact tests with Bonferroni correction were used to test non-randomness of transitions (R version 4.3.2), indicating 13 transitions with high likelihood, of which the most significant ones (P <0.001) were physical contact behaviour to allogrooming, non-interactive body posture to sniffing and four reciprocal behaviours (ie, behaviour in one cat is followed by the same behaviour in the other cat): wrestling, displays of interactive body postures, staring and autogrooming.

Our results illustrate the complexity of cat–cat interactions and point towards multiple social functions for allogrooming. These insights are important for a better understanding of social dynamics in cats, with the potential to benefit cat welfare in multi-cat households.

Large-scale outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis associated with an animal shelter caused by fcov-1 – florida, fall 2024

Laura E Frazier¹, Naiya C Patel¹, Abigail B Schlecht¹, Ashley Gillett², Kristyn Day², Petra Černá³, Laura B Goodman^4,5, Ximena A Olarte-Castillo^1,5, Gary R Whittaker^1,5,6

¹Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

²The Humane Society of Sarasota County, Sarasota, FL, USA

³Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

⁴Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

⁵Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

⁶Cornell Feline Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Email: lef87@cornell.edu

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) causes the immune-mediated disease feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), one of the most significant problems in feline medicine. Cats can be infected with distinct viral genotypes, FCoV-1 or FCoV-2. Typically, cats are infected with a transmissible but low-pathogenicity variant (feline enteric coronavirus, or FECV) that is shed in the feces. FCoV can evolve into a highly pathogenic variant, feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), when the virus gains mutations that allow it to spread systemically and infect monocytes/macrophages. Although FIPV is typically considered non-transmissible, outbreaks still occur. FCoV-1 and FCoV-2 differ in their prevalence and likelihood of an FIP outbreak, with a novel FCoV-2 (FCoV-23) recently causing a widespread outbreak in Cyprus.

Between June and December 2024, there was a large-scale outbreak of FIP associated with an animal shelter in Florida, USA. The outbreak included at least 50 cats that were either clinically identified or suspected of succumbing to FIP. As current molecular diagnostics for FIP are limited, we used PCR and targeted nanopore sequencing to analyze clinical samples, to help manage the outbreak and to screen for the presence of novel genotypes. Samples consisted of 14 fecal samples, 16 conjunctival swabs, 12 abdominal/pleural fluid samples, 11 blood samples and five tissue samples from 21 cats suspected of having FIP. In all cases, viruses were genotyped as FCoV-1, and not FCoV-2, due to the presence of a furin cleavage site (FCS). Our data show that in most cases, FCS sequences from the outbreak supported an FIP diagnosis. Conjunctival swabs appeared to be the most predictive samples based on sequence analysis, despite having low viral load by qPCR. Whole genomes were obtained using hybrid capture, and phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple introductions of the virus into the facility. These data inform diagnostic testing for FCoV-1 and provide genomic surveillance data in an outbreak situation.

Developing data-driven health surveillance in rehoming centres: a holistic look at contextualised care

Rae Foreman-Worsley¹, Beth Skillings^1,2*, Jenni L Mcdonald¹

¹Feline Welfare Research, Cats Protection, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK

²RSPCA, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, UK

*Previous affiliation

Email: Rae.Foreman-Worsley@Cats.org.uk

Veterinary surveillance studies are increasingly common but primarily focus on owned cat populations. Shelter cat populations likely differ in demographics, background, disease prevalence, treatment and housing conditions. Consequently, veterinary data from owned cats may not be fully applicable to shelter populations. Additionally, shelter veterinarians often operate under different conditions, constrained by limited human, environmental and financial resources, necessitating a contextualised and pragmatic approach to care, diagnostics and treatment in an environment where herd health is paramount. Considering the UK’s cost-of-living crisis and the pressures facing the veterinary profession, there is potential for shelter practices to offer valuable insights for the broader veterinary field.

We discuss the development of a unique UKbased electronic shelter veterinary surveillance system, combining clinical data from a veterinary management system with additional information, such as the cat’s background, history, and where and how it is housed. The system’s development involved collaboration among veterinarians, cat carers, researchers and IT professionals, and aimed to provide critical insights into shelter cat health.

Preliminary findings from data collected across two rehoming centres between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 showed that 1341 individual cats saw a veterinarian, and 4521 veterinary examinations were conducted. Most cats were relinquished (88.4%), with common relinquishment reasons being owner health and multi-cat households, and 11.6% were strays. Admission data suggest that the shelter cat population differs from typical owned cat populations in terms of neutering rates (45.6% neutered), microchip rates (54.5% microchipped) and proven vaccination rates (3.4% vaccinated), and contains a greater proportion of ‘moggies’ (95% domestic short/medium/longhair).

Further data analysis will feed into key areas, including understanding disease distribution, identifying at-risk groups, supporting the development of welfare tools, and exploring medical, relinquishment and husbandry factors. Furthermore, the system will enable the evaluation of protocols, diagnostic interventions and facility design, ultimately improving care and outcomes for shelter cats.

Increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility in a domestic shorthair cat with recurrent anemia

Nilcéia de V Ramos¹, Rodrigo V da Motta², Ângela de O Azevedo², Daniel C Hainfellner¹, Aline D Pereira³, Iara K dos S Mendes¹

¹Faculdade de Cięncias Médicas de Maricá, Maricá, Brazil

²Niterói, Brazil

³Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Cabo Frio, Brazil

Email: nilceia.ramos@univassouras.edu.br

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) testing is a valuable tool for assessing red blood cell (RBC) membrane integrity in cats with unexplained hemolysis (Figure 1). Increased EOF has been sporadically reported in domestic shorthair (DSH) cats, primarily associated with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). This report describes a case of a 4-year-old castrated male DSH cat presented with recurrent anemia of unknown origin.

Figure 1.

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility test. (A) Affected cat, (C1) control cat 1, (C2) control cat 2. The image shows blood samples incubated in decreasing phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) concentrations (0.85–0%). Increased hemolysis is indicated by the progressive red coloration of the supernatant as the PBS concentration decreases

Clinical signs included pallor and lethargy. The cat lived indoors, with two unrelated cats, was fed a commercial diet and had no known toxin exposure. Vaccinations were limited to core and rabies vaccines during kittenhood. The cat exhibited moderate-to-severe normocytic normochromic anemia with a variable regenerative response. Hematocrit levels during anemic episodes ranged from 10% to 18.3% (reference: 24–45%).

Biochemical analysis revealed mild hyperbilirubinemia and hyperglobulinemia, while abdominal ultrasound identified hepatosplenomegaly. Direct antiglobulin test, saline agglutination tests, pyruvate kinase mutation testing and feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukemia virus screening (ELISA and bone marrow PCR) were negative. Toxoplasma gondii serology and Mycoplasma species PCR were also negative. Myelogram cytology revealed marked erythroid hyperplasia with granulocytic hypoplasia.

Figure 2.

Percentage of hemolysis at different phosphate-buffered saline concentrations in the affected cat compared with two healthy controls. A significant difference was observed between the affected cat and control cat 1 (area under the curve analysis; P <0.05; two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test). Dashed lines indicate the mean osmotic fragility at 50% hemolysis in the curves. PBS = phosphate buffered saline

EOF was assessed using anticoagulated blood from the patient and two healthy controls. Samples were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solutions (0.85–0%) at 20°C (30 mins), followed by centrifugation. Optical densities of the supernatants were measured spectrophotometrically (540 nm), and hemolysis percentage was calculated. Increased hemolysis was detected in the patient’s sample starting at 0.75% PBS, indicating heightened EOF. A right-shifted hemolysis curve, compared with controls, confirmed increased EOF to osmotic stress (Figure 2). The cat responded to prednisolone and remained stable on a tapered dose (0.5 mg/kg q48h).

Although definitive IMHA criteria were not met, the findings suggest extravascular hemolysis associated with splenomegaly. EOF testing proved valuable in detecting RBC membrane instability and should be considered in cats with unexplained hemolysis, particularly when IMHA is suspected but diagnostic criteria are inconclusive.

Predicting survival in newborn kittens using apgar and reflex scoring

Jemma Thorogood, Pompei Bolfa, Amanda Benge, Marissa Cleary, Kerry E Rolph

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts

Email: JThorogood@rossu.edu

The Apgar score (Tables 1 and 2) systematically evaluates key physiological parameters to identify at-risk neonates in multiple species. Apgar scores have been shown to identify vulnerable neonates that require medical intervention to improve survival from premature death. It assesses heart rate, respiratory rate and pattern, muscle tone, reflex irritability and colour of mucous from premature membranes, with a low score indicating the need for intervention. In kittens, pre-weaning mortality rate is reported at approximately 15.8%, underscoring the need for early health assessments. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of Apgar scoring in kittens, leaving a gap in understanding how to assess newborns.

Table 1.

Scoring guidelines

Apgar
Reflexes
Heart rate	Auscultation with stethoscope on left side of the chest (rate per minute)
Respiratory rate and effort	Observation of chest movements (movements per minute)
Muscle tone	Hands-off observation of movements
Mucous membrane colour	Check oral mucosa
Reflex irritability	Combine with a blood test. Rate the response, then a pin prick is administered for the blood sample
Sucking	Insert a gloved finger/fingertip (smallest finger) into the mouth of the kitten to assess the strength (if any) of the sucking that occurs
Rooting (search)	Place a hand close to the kitten’s face to trigger a reflex to see if the kitten searches (for the teat)
Righting	Turn the kitten onto its back and monitor the speed of its correction to a normal position

Table 2.

Modified Apgar scoring chart

Parameter	Score
	0	1	2
Heart rate	<100 bpm	<180 bpm	200–280 bpm
Respiratory rate and effort	Absent or <10 mpm	Weak/irregular <40 mpm	40–160 mpm, regular and rhythmic
Muscle tone	Flaccid	Some flexions	Active motion
Mucous membrane colour	Cyanotic	Pale	Pink
Reflex irritability	Absent	Some movement	Vigorous
Sucking	Absent	Weak intensity	Strong intensity or a vacuum with the tongue
Rooting	Absent	Slow search with the muzzle and limbs inside the evaluator’s hand	Immediate search with the muzzle and limbs inside the evaluator’s hand
Righting	Absent (continues in the initial/ supine position)	Slow body repositioning	Immediate body repositioning

bpm = beats per minute; mpm = movements per minute

The aim of this study was to assess potential predictors of survival in newborn kittens. Forty naturally born kittens were assessed within 12 h of birth. Apgar score and reflexes that can be performed in a home setting (including rooting, sucking strength and the kitten’s ability to right itself when placed on its back) were assessed. In addition, blood lactate levels, weight, SpO₂ and temperature were also recorded. Associations between mortality and potential predictors were assessed using the χ² test.

Mortality rate was 8/40 (20%). Apgar and reflex scores were significantly associated with survival outcomes, with Apgar scoring showing a correlation with mortality (P = 0.023), and reflex scores strongly correlating with survival status (P <0.001). Furthermore, Apgar and reflex scores were significantly associated (P = 0.001). Temperature, blood lactate and SpO₂ were poor predictors of survival (P >0.05), and weight showed a weak association with survival (P = 0.073). Timing did not significantly affect the overall scores of reflex scoring (0–12 h) (P = 0.130), and nor did it influence Apgar scores (P = 0.715). These findings suggest that Apgar and reflex scores are strong predictors of survival in kittens.

ANZCVS abstracts

These abstracts were presented as part of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists’ conference held 24–26 July 2025.

2025 ANZCVS College Science Week abstracts

Prevalence and demographics of australian burmese cats with diabetes mellitus

Jueun Sim, Evelyn Hall, Bianca Waud, Mary Thompson Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Australia

Email: jueun.sim@hotmail.com

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most frequently diagnosed endocrine disorders in cats. Although DM appears to be more prevalent in Burmese cats, there has been scarce research to date investigating any association between demographic characteristics and DM in this breed.

De-identified electronic patient records (EPR) stored in the VetCompass Australia database were searched to identify purebred Burmese cats diagnosed with DM by their veterinarian between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. Logistic regression analysis was employed to characterise the relationship between sex, neuter status, age at diagnosis, maximum body mass recorded in the EPR, coat colour and a diagnosis of DM.

Of 8936 Burmese cats included in the data set, 246 were diagnosed with DM, yielding a period prevalence of 2.99% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.98–3.01). Male cats had an increased risk of developing DM compared with females (RR 1.40) and neutered cats had an increased risk compared with intact cats (RR 2.51). Maximum body mass in the EPR category 4.0–4.9 kg (30.9%) and age at diagnosis category 12–14.9 years (39.8%) contained the largest proportions of diabetic cats. Coat colour was not associated with DM diagnosis.

Descriptions of prevalence and patient demographics provide valuable knowledge for veterinarians and Burmese cat owners to understand potential risk factors and monitor for early signs of DM. Further research into the impact of body condition score and/or mass on the development of DM could increase the focus on lifestyle factors to decrease DM in the Burmese cat population.

Prevalence of hypersomatotropism in diabetic cats in australia

Alexandra Kennedy, Joanna White, Amy Lam, Patrick Kenny

Small Animal Specialist Hospital, North Ryde, Australia

Email: akennedy@sashvets.com

Hypersomatotrophisim is an excessive production of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, typically secondary to a pituitary tumour that causes insulin-resistant diabetes and the clinical syndrome of acromegaly. Studies have shown a prevalence of hypersomatotropism among diabetic cats in the UK of 26% and in Switzerland and the Netherlands of 17.8%. The prevalence of hypersomatotropism in Australia is not known.

Residual serum samples from cats with increased fructosamine or increased blood glucose and a clinical history of diabetes were submitted for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) measurement. Hypersomatotropism was defined as an IGF-1 of ⩾1000. The prevalence and associated confidence interval were calculated (Jeffrey’s method). Clinicopathological features between diabetic cats with and without hypersomatotropism were compared.

Eighty-seven samples from individual cats were included in the analysis. IGF-1 was >1000 ng/ml in 14 cats. The absolute prevalence of IGF-1 was 16%, making the estimated prevalence of hypersomatotropism in an Australian population therefore between 9.5% and 24.9%. No significant difference was detected between breed (pedigree vs domestic), sex, age or location (metropolitan vs regional) in cats with and without hypersomatotropism. Glucose and fructosamine concentrations did not differ between cats with and without hypersomatropism (P = 0.9 and P = 0.57, respectively).

Hypersomatotropism is an increasingly recognised condition in the feline population as a major contributor to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. This study supports hypersomatotropism as a significant cause of diabetes mellitus in the Australian feline population.

Improving complex case outcomes through multidisciplinary collaboration

Bronwen Bollaert^1–3, Jacqui Ley², Helen Zulch³

¹Healthy Pet Behaviour Services, Brisbane, Australia

²Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre, Melbourne, Australia

³University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK

Email: info@healthypetbehaviourvet.com.au

Medical conditions and behavioural disorders are frequently inter-related. In human medicine, the multidisciplinary team approach (MDTA) is valuable in managing patients with chronic health conditions associated with complex pathologies. This case series illustrates how applying an MDTA to complex veterinary cases improves diagnosis, treatment and management for positive long-term outcomes in patient health and welfare.

The first case was a 2-year-old spayed domestic shorthair cat presented for repeated episodes of self-trauma to her face and other body regions. Detailed diagnostic work-up explored dermatological, behavioural and neurological signs. No single diagnosis explained the patient’s clinical signs or behaviour. A treatment plan involving medication, environmental and behaviour modification strategies was implemented to improve the health and welfare of the patient.

The second case was a 3-year-old spayed domestic longhair cat that presented for follow-up after a second surgery to remove a trichobezoar. The diagnostics considered dermatological, behavioural and gastrointestinal causes. A working diagnosis was made of anxiety disorder with possible compounding factors of gastrointestinal discomfort and dermatological conditions. A medical, environmental and behaviour modification treatment plan resolved the overgrooming and fur ingestion behaviours with long-term strategies to maintain health and welfare.

Without an MDTA, neither patient would have received appropriate or effective care. Using an MDTA for managing complex veterinary cases provides skilful assessment in determining aetiologies, treatment of acute and chronic conditions, and identification and management of contributing factors that may affect and predict flare-ups. The MDTA aids clinicians in treating patients effectively, providing improved outcomes for owners and, most importantly, patients.

Survival rates for feline infectious peritonitis with antiviral therapy

Imogen Franklin¹, Sally Coggins^1,2, Samantha Taylor^3,4, Kamalan Jeevaratnam⁴, Krystle Reagan⁵, Jodie Green⁶, Mary Thompson¹

¹Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Australia

²Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, Australia

³International Cat Care Veterinary Society, Tisbury, UK

⁴University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

⁵Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

⁶London Vet Specialists, Hammersmith, UK

Email: imogenfranklindvm@gmail.com

Recent availability of the antiviral drugs remdesivir and GS-441524 has made feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) treatable. This study determined treatment phase-specific survival rates in cats as they underwent treatment for the purpose of prognostication for owners.

A secondary analysis of mortality data from four published studies (n = 385) was conducted with permission. All cats received ⩾84 days of remdesivir, GS-441524 or both (5–30 mg/kg q24h). Outcomes were categorised as survival or death, with time-of-death intervals: ⩽2 days, 3–7 days, 8–14 days and 15–84 days. Kaplan–Meier analysis illustrated survival distribution, and a two-sample binomial test identified when mortality significantly declined.

The overall survival rate was 88%. For cats that survived the first 7 days of treatment, the survival rate increased to 97%. From 14 to 84 days of treatment, cats had a 98% survival rate. No difference in mortality rate was found when comparing effusive and non-effusive presentations.

Use of remdesivir and/or GS-441524 in the effective treatment of FIP is well supported. Veterinarians may consider discussing the costs and mortality risks associated with the initial phase of treatment, followed by the full treatment costs and significantly improved survival rates beyond the first week. The enhanced survival rate after the initial treatment phase can provide owners with the reassurance needed to continue treatment.

Surgical application of a customised temporary palate guard to treat bleeding palatine ulcers in three cats

Daniel Poletto^1,2, Emily Pritchard¹, David Simpson¹

¹Animal Referral Hospital, Homebus, NSW, Australia

²Queensland Veterinary Specialists, Stafford QLD, Australia

Email: daniel.poletto@qvs.com.au

Three adult cats were successfully treated for severe anaemia caused by a bleeding hard palate ulcer with a temporary palatal guard. Each cat required a blood transfusion and underwent surgical implantation of a customised temporary guard to protect the hard palate mucosa from ongoing irritation. The palatal guards were made from radiographic film in two cases and an acetate sheet in the third. Cats received varied concurrent treatments in conjunction with surgery, including amoxicillin–clavulanate or doxycycline, cyclosporine and prednisolone. Complete resolution of the hard palate ulceration and anaemia was observed in all three cases.

Excessive licking can lead to mucosal erosion of the hard palate, delayed healing and severe haemorrhage. When a palatine ulcer is refractory to medical management, or the anaemia is severe, surgical intervention may be required. Techniques previously described include electrocautery, horizontal mattress sutures and ligation of the palatine artery combined with a bipedicle mucoperiosteal flap. These techniques typically require advanced surgical skills or access to specific equipment, may involve repeat surgeries to correctly isolate the palatine artery, and may leave a secondary wound that could prolong anorexia or risk becoming a new site of haemorrhage. Placement of a temporary customised palatal guard is a novel surgical technique for the treatment of bleeding palatine ulcers that does not require isolation of the palatine artery, involves minimal tissue handling, provides immediate control of oral pain, encourages immediate return to appetence and prevents ongoing trauma to the area during healing.