Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
From fat to facts: the potential of adipokine and insulin dosing in obese feline patients
- Journal:
- Frontiers in Animal Science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- L. Cernat et al.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Obesity in cats is becoming more common and is often linked to diabetes, which is why it's important to find ways to diagnose these issues early. In overweight cats, levels of leptin (a hormone that helps regulate body weight) are usually high, while levels of adiponectin (a hormone that helps with insulin sensitivity) are low. These changes can indicate that the cat is starting to have problems with how their body uses insulin. The findings suggest that measuring these hormones could help veterinarians identify cats at risk for diabetes sooner, but more research is needed to establish standard testing methods and costs. Overall, the review highlights the potential benefits of using these hormone levels to improve care for obese cats at risk of developing diabetes.
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of obesity in domestic cats is closely linked to the emergence of diabetes mellitus, highlighting the need for early diagnostic tools. Obese cats typically show elevated leptin and reduced adiponectin levels—markers associated with early insulin resistance. Leptin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia further reflect early metabolic dysfunction. These endocrine changes mirror those seen in humans and dogs, suggesting shared mechanisms across species. Incorporating these biomarkers into clinical practice could aid early risk stratification and preventive care. However, standardized reference ranges and cost-effective assays are still needed. This review assesses the predictive value of adiponectin, leptin, and insulin in identifying diabetes risk in obese cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d7cc239ce4c40e5110352cded2479a649f7dcf33