Domestic Shorthair Research Articles

Hyperthyroidism in the Domestic Cat (Felis Catus): Informed Treatment Choice Based on Survival Analysis

Abstract Hyperthyroidism is the most frequently diagnosed endocrine disorder in cats. Therapy may include pharmacological, surgical (thyroidectomy), radioactive (iodine), and dietary treatment. The choice of treatment is believed to be strongly influenced by the veterinarian’s experience, level of education, and knowledge of the current scientific literature. The history of survival rates can affect the decision for treatment by both the veterinarian and the owner. This study aimed to explore the longevity in cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and to identify significant variables which affect survival rates by using retrospective data from the practice. A multivariate Cox regression was applied with the following results: surgical thyroidectomy and methimazole medication produced similar longevity (median 23.5 months, P>0.05); Domestic Short Hair cats survived longer than pure breeds (median 27.2 vs 9.4 months, P<0.05); as do cats without chronic renal disease (median 28.1 vs 6.2 months, P<0.001); and those with low activities of alanine aminotransferase (median 27.1 vs 17.0 months, P<0.01). Hyperthyroidism is comorbid with renal diseases, but no cumulative effect was found on survivability. There was no difference in survival rates between surgical and pharmaceutical treatment, therefore the discussion of treatment options with owners can focus on other factors (e.g., cost, owners’ compliance, cats’ tolerance to medication, presence of comorbidities). We propose that surgery may be the preferred treatment when the survival rates are expected to be higher than one year. This would avoid high costs and potential side effects of medication.

Bronchial Stent Placement for Palliative Treatment of Pulmonary Carcinoma with Bronchial Obstruction in a Cat.

A feral, domestic shorthair was evaluated for palliative treatment of a pulmonary mass with secondary pneumonia. Because of the patient's temperament and extent of the mass, tracheobronchoscopy, bronchial stenting, and biopsy were elected, followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Stent placement across the malignantly obstructed bronchus permitted drainage and recruitment of the infected lung lobe. Uncomplicated radiation therapy, stent extension, and debulking due to tissue ingrowth were subsequently performed. Successful palliation was achieved for 323 days with subsequent progressive pulmonary and liver metastases.

The Brief Case: Corynebacterium amycolatum in a Relapsing Urinary Tract Infection of a Feline Patient.

Over an 11-month period, seven isolates of Corynebacterium amycolatum were cultured from urine collected via cystocentesis from a feline patient with relapsing urinary tract infection (UTI). The 11-year-old, castrated male, domestic short-haired cat presented with a history of chronic kidney disease, episodic vomiting and diarrhea, hypercalcemia, obstructive urolithiasis, and grade III parasternal systolic heart murmur. In addition to placing a left-sided subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB), we performed a perineal urethrostomy to treat the urinary tract obstruction. Urine sampled 10 months after SUB placement yielded growth of Trueperella abortisuis (>105 CFU/mL) and C. amycolatum (200 CFU/mL; this isolate was not saved). The patient was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate (62.5 mg PO q12h; 21 days). The urine sampled on days 13 and 26 post treatment (pt) yielded no bacterial growth.

Budd–Chiari syndrome secondary to caudal vena cava obstruction by vascularly invasive lymphoma in a cat

AbstractA 2‐year‐old female neutered domestic shorthair cat presented with ascites following a 2‐week history of hyporexia and moderate weight loss. Sonographic assessment of the abdominal cavity identified a hepatic mass in close association with the caudal vena cava that contained an intraluminal structure. Computed tomography confirmed the hepatic mass in the right craniodorsal aspect of the liver with invasion of the posthepatic caudal vena cava and consequent vessel occlusion. This congestion caused transudation of fluid from the vasculature, resulting in the observed ascites (Budd–Chiari syndrome). Cytology from fine‐needle aspirates of the mass confirmed a diagnosis of high‐grade lymphoma. The patient was started on a high‐dose COP chemotherapy protocol, consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone. The patient showed a dramatic improvement in its clinical signs, with resolution of the ascites within 1 week of starting treatment. After a 12‐month period, chemotherapy was stopped, and 2.5 years after first diagnosis the patient has excellent quality of life with no current health problems related to its atypical lymphoma presentation.

Association of age and body condition with physical activity of domestic cats (Felis catus)

Physical activity contributes up to 30% of the total daily energy expenditure of domestic cats (Felis catus) and, therefore, can play an important role in the prevention and reduction of obesity and may impact macronutrient digestibility. An age-related decline in physical activity in domestic cats has been observed, however, scientific data is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity, cat age and body condition score. A secondary aim was to determine whether physical activity level influenced apparent macronutrient digestibility. Using accelerometers, the physical activity of 138 domestic shorthair cats grouped-housed in identical outdoor pens was measured. Cats were divided into five age groups: kitten (n = 10), junior (n = 37), prime (n = 30), mature (n = 33) or senior (n = 27), and physical activity data was collected from each cat for seven consecutive days. One cat was randomly chosen from each age group as a control and its physical activity was measured for the entire 11-week period. Body condition score of the cats was assessed in the same week that physical activity data was collected. A decline in physical activity with age was found, although this decline was not linear. Cats in the kitten and junior age groups had the highest physical activity. Compared with the younger age groups cats in the prime age group showed a significant reduction physical activity, which then remained constant in the mature and senior age groups. An overall decline in physical activity with an increasing body condition score was found. To investigate whether physical activity influenced apparent macronutrient digestibility, a subset of six cats from the junior and prime age groups were selected at the end of the activity assessment period. Cats were individually housed, fed a commercially available wet canned diet, and had ad libitum access to water. No effect of physical activity on apparent macronutrient digestibility was found.

Evaluation of different types of feline blood groups in cats of Isfahan, Iran

There is a high demand for pet veterinary care due to the increasing tendency to keep pets in Iranian households. These include blood transfusions because incompatible blood groups can lead to some negative effects such as isoerythrolysis in cats. This study was the first attempt to evaluate the distribution of blood type of cats in Iran. Blood samples were collected from 63 domestic short hair cats in Isfahan, Iran and blood groups were determined by the kit card agglutination method (Rapid Vet-H IC Feline kits, Agrolabo, Scarmagno, Italy). According to the results, the frequency of blood types of A, B, and AB were 96.8%, 3.2%, and 0%, respectively. Card agglutination method is a fast method with high validity. Therefore, it is recommended for determining blood types in donor and recipient in veterinary hospitals and breeding centers.

Surgical correction of feline uterine prolapse

AbstractA female domestic shorthair cat of unknown age, weighing 2.9 kg, was presented with a single horn of the uterus protruding through the vulva. The cat had a history of recent parturition, delivering four kittens, and was mildly dehydrated and generally stable. The exposed uterine tissue was congested and oedematous, with areas of devitalization and necrosis. Manual reduction of the prolapsed uterus was unsuccessful because of severe oedema. The protruding uterus was amputated, and a midline laparotomy was performed for staged ovariohysterectomy. Postoperatively, the cat appeared healthy with no vulval discharge and no recurrence of clinical signs. This case report demonstrates the different methods involved in the correction of a uterine prolapse.

Incidence of Clinical Signs in Poisoned Pets of Thailand: A Retrospective Study

Clinical signs appear immediately or gradually in poisoned pets. Poisonous agents in pets, especially dogs and cats, have been reported to include human medications (acetaminophen), pesticides (organophosphate and carbamate), insecticides for veterinary use (ivermectin), and food (methylxanthines). The current study investigated the incidence of poisoning in dogs and cats residing in Rayong and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces as well as Bangkok, Thailand, during 2016-2020. The study found a total of 102 poisoned cases of dog and cat, including 58 dogs (56.86%) and 44 cats (43.14%). The poisoned dogs included 39 males (67.24%) and 19 females (32.26%), while poisoned cats consisted of 29 males (65.91%) and 15 females (34.09%). Poisoning was highly diagnosed in mixed breed dogs and domestic short-haired cats. The average age of poisoned dogs and cats was reported as 3.67 ± 1.92 and 3.02 ± 1.72 years, respectively. The most common poisonous agents found in dogs and cats were organophosphate-carbamate groups and acetaminophen. Tachycardia, hypersalivation, dyspnea, and facial swelling were the most common clinical signs observed in poisoned dogs and cats.

Use of human intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia in two cats

AbstractA 2‐year‐old male neutered Maine Coon cat (Cat 1) presented to a referral centre with a 1‐day history of lethargy. A 3‐year‐old male neutered domestic shorthair cat (Cat 2) presented with a 1‐week history of inappetence and lethargy. Complete blood count revealed a severe, mildly regenerative, normocytic, normochromic anaemia for Cat 1, and a severe, non‐regenerative normocytic normochromic anaemia for Cat 2. Following further investigations, a diagnosis of non‐associative immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia was made. Treatment with immunosuppressive dosages of glucocorticoids was started; however, given the lack of response and severity of disease in both cases, it was decided to administer human intravenous immunoglobulin. There was improvement of haematocrit 2 days following the infusion for Cat 1, and 5 days after for Cat 2. Both cats were discharged from the hospital. Cat 1 remained in remission 6 months following the diagnosis, and Cat 2 was lost to follow‐up.

Closure times of neurocranial sutures and synchondroses in Persian compared to Domestic Shorthair cats

Human-directed selective breeding has modified the phenotype of the modern Persian cat towards an extreme brachycephalic phenotype (‘peke-face’ Persian), which originates from a spontaneous mutation that first appeared in the 1950s in traditional Persian types. It was suggested that the peke-face phenotype results from pathologic skull development and might represent a craniosynostosis of the coronal sutures. We followed this hypothesis and investigated the time dependent status of the neurocranial sutures and synchondroses in an ontogenetic series of doll-faced and peke-faced Persian cats compared to Domestic Shorthair cats (DSHs). Cranial suture closure was assessed by examining an ontogenetic series of formalin-fixed head specimens (n = 55) and dry skulls (n = 32) using micro-computed tomography. Sagittal, metopic, coronal and lambdoid sutures as well as intersphenoidal, spheno-occipital and spheno-ethmoid synchondroses were examined. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the global effect of age on suture closure within a group of peke-face Persians, doll-face Persians and DSHs and the 50% probability of having a closed suture was calculated and compared between groups. Age was a perfect predictor for the condition of the coronal sutures in peke-face Persians. Coronal sutures were found to be closed at 0–0.3 months. In doll-face and DSHs, coronal sutures were open throughout the lifetime with the exception of a few very old cats. Results of this study confirmed a coronal craniosynostosis that likely causes the extreme brachycephalic skull morphology in the peke-face Persian.

Cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism resulting in tetraplegia in a cat

AbstractA 4‐year‐old male neutered domestic shorthaired cat was presented for acute onset tetraplegia and respiratory signs. No pulses were palpable in any limb, and nociception was absent–all limbs were cold, and digital, metacarpal and metatarsal pads were cyanotic. Point‐of‐care ultrasound of the heart revealed severe left atrial enlargement, containing several large thrombi. Due to concerns for quality of life, euthanasia was elected. Postmortem findings revealed marked left atrial enlargement with thrombi filling the entire atrium, as well as emboli in both subclavian arteries and the abdominal aorta.

Multifocal cryptococcosis diagnosis by peripheral lymph node aspirates in a cat

AbstractA 4‐year‐old, female, neutered, domestic shorthair cat presented with a 5‐day history of progressive inappetence, obtundation, vestibular ataxia and tetraparesis. Neurological examination findings on presentation were consistent with a multifocal localisation (central vestibular with cerebellar involvement). Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed diffuse brain parenchymal swelling, foramen magnum herniation, diffuse meningeal contrast enhancement and lymphadenopathy (enlargement and marked contrast enhancement of the parotid, mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes). Fine‐needle aspirates of the retropharyngeal and prescapular lymph nodes showed macrophagic and eosinophilic inflammation with multiple yeast organisms on cytology, consistent with Cryptococcus spp. The cat suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest following diagnosis, suspected secondary to severe brainstem compression. The findings emphasise that systemic cryptococcosis can cause severe clinical signs, including presumptive central nervous system dysfunction, as in this cat. Furthermore, this case adds to the limited descriptions of neurological presentations and imaging findings associated with cryptococcosis in companion animals in the United Kingdom.

Pancreatic leiomyosarcoma in a domestic shorthair cat

Case summaryA 7-year-old female neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with weight loss, abdominal distension, lethargy, pyrexia and hyporexia. Haematology and biochemistry were unremarkable. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a cystic mass within the left cranial abdominal quadrant, adjacent to the pancreas, stomach and spleen. CT revealed a 10.5 cm, rounded, well-encapsulated, hypodense mass arising from the left pancreatic lobe. The remaining organs of the abdominal and thoracic cavity were unremarkable. A partial left lobe pancreatectomy and splenic lymph node removal were performed. Histopathology of the pancreatic mass reported a proliferating population of neoplastic spindle cells most consistent with a preliminary diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma. Immunohistochemistry characteristics, together with the morphological findings, were consistent with a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. The patient recovered without any concerns after receiving routine postoperative care. Clinical examination and abdominal ultrasound 5 months postoperatively revealed no abnormalities.Relevance and novel informationTo our knowledge, this is the first report of pancreatic leiomyosarcoma in a cat. Pancreatic leiomyosarcoma should be considered as one of the possible differential diagnoses for cats presenting with a pancreatic mass.

A retrospective study on diaphragmatic hernia in cats.

Diaphragmatic rupture is introduced as one of the most common injuries occurring in small animals. In our retrospective report, 14 cats with a mean age of 12 months (male = 8, female = 6) that underwent diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy were studied. The data included the following: age, sex, breed, and clinical signs. The cause of diaphragmatic hernia, diaphragmatic rupture area, herniated organs, concomitant injuries, and survival rate after surgical treatment were detailed. The cats included 11 domestic shorthair (DSH) and three Persian. Trauma was the most common cause of rupture in these patients and one 3-month old Persian cat had peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH). The most common clinical sign was dyspnea. Concurrent disorders included fractures of pelvic, long bones and ribs and mild pneumothorax. One of the five cats survived with concurrent disorders. In this study, the frequency of rupture sites was as follows: the right-side (11 cats), left-side (2 cats), and dorsal side of diaphragm in one case. The most frequently inserted organ into the chest was liver. In our study, the survival rate after surgical treatment was 71.00%. In conclusion, we suggested that stabilization of the patient was important before herniorrhaphy. Based on our study, the concurrent damages affected the survival rate.

Coxofemoral luxation as a complication of localised tetanus in a cat

Case summaryA 9-month-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presented 2 weeks after castration with a 48 h history of acute-onset lateral recumbency and severe hindlimb rigidity. Physical examination findings included hyperthermia, tachypnoea, hindlimb rigidity and a healed orchidectomy site. Neurological examination of the head and forelimbs was normal; however, there was a spastic, non-ambulatory paraparesis of the hindlimbs, which was more severe on the left. Abnormal findings included mildly elevated serum creatine kinase levels and on electromyography there was bilateral pathological spontaneous activity of the biceps femoris muscles. A tentative diagnosis of tetanus was made based on clinical presentation. Treatment was initiated with tetanus antitoxin, diazepam, metronidazole, buprenorphine and physiotherapy of the hindlimbs. There was an improvement over the following 20 days. Twenty-five days later the cat presented with acute, painful, non-weightbearing lameness of the left hindlimb. Physical examination was suggestive of craniodorsal coxofemoral joint luxation, which was confirmed radiographically. This was treated with analgesia and rest. A marked clinical improvement was observed at the 3-month follow-up.Relevance and novel informationTo our knowledge, there have been no previously published reports of spontaneous coxofemoral joint luxation as a complication of hindlimb localised tetanus infection in cats. This report suggests that coxofemoral luxation should be considered as a possible complication in young cats with hindlimb localised tetanus.

A pilot study of patch Holter electrocardiograph recordings in healthy cats.

Background:A patch Holter electrocardiograph (P-Holter) is cordless, making it lightweight, unlike the conventional Holter electrocardiograph (C-Holter). A P-Holter can also take continuous measurements for up to 14 days without replacing the battery or SD card.Aim:To compare the performance of the P-Holter and the C-Holter in healthy cats. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether multiday recordings with the P-Holter decrease sympathetic nerve activity or improve the accuracy of arrhythmia detection.Methods:Five healthy domestic short-haired cats were used for this study. Both a P-Holter and C-Holter were used on the first day, but only the P-Holter was used on days 2–6. The evaluated variables were the analyzable time of both Holter types, heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and the number of arrhythmia occurrences.Results:For two out of the five cats, measurement of P-Holter was interrupted. Eventually, continuous recordings using the P-Holters were able to be collected from all individuals for 6 days. The 24 hours analyzable time from the P-Holter and C-Holter was almost identical (p = 0.94). The 24 hours mean HR did not differ across Holter types (p = 0.67). In addition, the timing of the occurrences of arrhythmias was almost identical to the P-Holter and C-Holter. Results of HRV suggested that sympathetic nerve activity was likely to decrease and vagal nerve activity was likely to increase after 4–5 days of measurement, compared to the second day of measurement (p < 0.05). When only the P-Holter was installed, the number of arrhythmia occurrences was similar on days 2–6.Conclusion:In this study, the P-Holter may be as useful as the C-Holter in cats with suspected intermittent arrhythmias, although the P-Holters were placed on cats without a clinical indication. However, cats may have individual differences in their adaptation to the device. P-Holter recordings taken for more than 4–5 days may allow the cat to acclimate to the device and reduce sympathetic nerve activity. The accuracy of arrhythmia detection across multiday P-Holter recordings requires further investigation using clinical cases.

Buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty in male cats with traumatic complete urethral rupture.

To evaluate the feasibility of buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for repairing complete urethral rupture in cats. 15 male domestic shorthair cats with traumatic complete urethral rupture. In each cat, a section of buccal mucosa was harvested, sutured, and formed into a tubule by use of an 8F indwelling catheter as support. This tubular graft was connected to both ruptured ends of the urethra to renew the urinary passage. The catheter was left in place until the absence of leakage was confirmed by positive contrast retrograde urethrography. After spontaneous urination was confirmed, cats were discharged from the hospital. Six months later, urethrography was repeated and owners were asked to score their cats' urinary function and quality of life. 13 cats recovered well following surgery, with no complications in the oral cavity or surgical site and no signs of difficulty or discomfort when urinating. Urethrography 2 weeks and 6 months after surgery revealed no stricture or leakage in the abdominal cavity. The 2 remaining cats developed a urethral stricture and underwent second surgery with a successful outcome. At the 6-month follow-up, 14 cats had only mild urinary signs, and 1 cat had incontinency. Owners indicated they were delighted (n = 14) or pleased (1) with their cats' quality of life. Buccal mucosa was found to be a good source of graft tissue for performance of urethroplasty in male cats, yielding satisfactory outcomes with few postoperative complications. The described technique may be suitable for severe and complicated cases of urethral rupture in male cats.

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen mimicking pancreatic insulinoma with intrapancreatic metastasis in a cat.

An 11-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair cat presented with a 3-month history of hypoglycemia, two episodes of seizure, and intermittent tick-like signs. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hypoglycemia associated with high insulin concentrations. Dynamic abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated two pancreatic masses, which were enhanced most during the late arterial phase but had different degrees and variations of attenuation. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed that one mass was an insulinoma and the other was an ectopic splenic tissue, consistent with the differences in imaging findings. When an intrapancreatic lesion with hyper-attenuation on dynamic abdominal CT is detected, not only insulinoma or metastasis of malignancies but also intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) should be considered as differential diagnoses.

Successful Nonsurgical Management of a Traumatic Dens Fracture in a Cat with Clinical and Radiographic Resolution

ABSTRACTAn adult domestic shorthair presented with obtundation, vestibular ataxia, head tilt, and visible evidence of facial injury following motor vehicle trauma. Plain radiographs and computed tomography imaging revealed a complete minimally displaced transverse fracture of the caudal aspect of the dens of the C2 vertebra and multiple minimally displaced cranial fractures. The dens fracture was managed with 8 wk of strict rest, followed by 4 wk of supervised activity at home. No external immobilization was performed. Neurological examinations at 8 days, 10 wk, and 9 mo following initial presentation were normal. Repeat radiographic and computed tomography examinations at 10 wk and 9 mo following the traumatic event demonstrated progressive and eventual complete osseous union of the fractured dens. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of successful nonsurgical management of a traumatic dens fracture in an adult cat with documented radiographic and clinical resolution. This report suggests that nonsurgical management can be considered in such cats and that complete resolution with osseous union is feasible.

Dyspnoea and large‐volume pleural effusion secondary to a cyst involving the cranial mediastinum in a cat

AbstractA 7‐year‐old female spayed domestic shorthair cat presented for dyspnoea and haemoptysis. Point‐of‐care ultrasound revealed pleural effusion. Fluid analysis noted proteinaceous fluid rich in small lymphocytes. A mediastinal mass was present on radiographs. CT revealed a fluid attenuating structure within the left thyroid gland. Right‐sided thyroid tissue was not identified. A fluid attenuating structure with associated amorphous soft tissue was present within the mediastinum. Aspirates were consistent with cystic fluid. A surgical cystectomy was performed. Histopathology of the left thyroid structure revealed a cystic thyroid follicular adenoma. The cystic structure involving the cranial mediastinum was suspected to represent an ectopic parathyroid cyst. Alternative differentials such as a branchial remnant could not be ruled out. Immunohistochemistry of the ectopic endocrine tissue associated with the cyst was negative for thyroglobulin and calcitonin. Parathyroid hormone immunohistochemistry was unavailable for confirmation. Post‐operative hypothyroidism and hypocalcemia were medically managed. Surgical cystectomy resulted in the resolution of pleural effusion.