Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prescription diet lowers stress hormone in indoor cats
By Miyaji, Kazuki et al.·Published in Journal of applied animal welfare science : JAAWS·2015·a School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Experimental Verification of the Effects on Normal Domestic Cats by Feeding Prescription Diet for Decreasing Stress.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of indoor cats was fed a special diet designed to reduce stress for eight weeks. This diet included ingredients like alpha-casozepine and tryptophan, which may help calm cats. After the trial, researchers found that the cats had lower levels of cortisol in their urine, a hormone linked to stress, but their blood cortisol levels didn't change during stressful events like vet visits. While the diet showed some positive effects on stress markers, more research is needed to understand its overall impact on cat behavior and well-being.
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet on the feline stress response by measuring plasma and urinary cortisol. A study diet was developed with a unique combination of nutrients that supports the management of stressful situations. The specific formulation of the diet included alpha-casozepine, which is believed to have an anxiolytic effect, and tryptophan supplementation. Tryptophan is the precursor for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Twenty-one indoor cats were fed with the study diet (n = 10) or a control diet (n = 11) for 8 weeks, after which physiological responses were evaluated. The study diet significantly increased the ratio of plasma tryptophan to large neutral amino acids and decreased urinary cortisol concentrations after being consumed daily for 8 weeks, but there was no effect on plasma cortisol levels following a stressful event (veterinary examination and blood draw). Further studies, such as behavioral analyses, are needed to clarify the effects of the study diet.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25679747/