ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BODY CONDITION AND DISEASE IN CATS

Objective-To determine the association between body condition and dise ase in cats. Design-Prospective study. Sample Population-Information o n 1,457 cats without major illnesses from 27 veterinary hospitals in t he northeastern United States. Procedure-Cats that had body conditions determined from 1991 to 1992, using a set of 6 body condition silhoue ttes, had their health experiences and body conditions assessed for th e subsequent 4.5 years. Cats were described by the following 6 body co nditions: cachectic, lean, optimally lean, optimal weight, heavy, and obese. Data obtained from medical records and owner interviews were co llected using standard forms. Associations between body condition and specific diseases were analyzed. Findings in cats with body conditions other than optimal were compared with findings in cats with optimal b ody condition. Results-Compared with optimal weight cats, heavy cats w ere 2.9 times as likely to be taken to veterinarians because of lamene ss not associated with cat bite abscesses. Obese cats were also 3.9 ti mes as likely to develop diabetes mellitus, 2.3 times as likely to dev elop nonallergic skin conditions, and 4.9 times as likely to develop l ameness requiring veterinary care. Cats considered thin (cachectic and lean) were 1.7 times as likely to be presented to veterinary hospital s for diarrhea. Clinical implications-Results of this study substantia te reports of health risks associated with excess body weight in cats. Efforts to reduce weight in heavy and obese cats can lead to reduced risks of diabetes mellitus, lameness (presumably related to osteoarthr itis and soft-tissue injuries), and skin problems unrelated to allergi es. Cachectic and lean cats are more likely to have diarrhea that is n ot associated with a definitive diagnosis.