Evaluation of factors associated with development of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats

Abstract

Objective— To evaluate dietary and environmental factors as potential risk factors for calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats. Design— Case-control study. Animals— 84 cats with uroliths composed of at least 90% calcium oxalate and 258 age- and gender-matched control cats. Procedure— Owners of cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis and control cats were surveyed between November 1990 and August 1992. Owners completed a standard questionnaire administered during a single telephone interview. Data collected included information regarding signalment, environment, urination and defecation, diet, and medical history. Results— Calcium oxalate uroliths tended to develop in middle- to older-aged, domestic shorthair cats of typical weight. A gender predilection was not detected. Factors associated with an increase in the risk of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats were feeding urine-acidifying diets, feeding a single brand of cat food without providing additional foods or table scraps, maintaining cats in an indoor-only environment, and being of the Persian breed. Clinical Implications— Control of diet and environment may help prevent calcium oxalate urolithiasis.