Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat body condition scores linked to survival and lifespan
By Teng, Kendy T et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2018·1 Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Australia·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Strong associations of nine-point body condition scoring with survival and lifespan in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that a cat's body condition score (BCS), which measures their weight and overall health, can significantly affect their lifespan. Cats with a BCS of 6 lived longer, while those with scores below 5 or above 9 had a higher risk of dying earlier. For example, cats with a BCS of 3 had a much shorter lifespan compared to those with a score of 6. This information can help pet owners understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for their cats to promote a longer life.
People also search for: cat body condition score · how to keep my cat healthy · cat weight management tips
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the associations of a nine-point body condition score (BCS) with survival time and lifespan in cats. METHODS: Electronic patient records from a cat-dominant primary practice in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, where the body condition of cats was regularly recorded using a nine-point BCS scale were obtained. The maximum BCS of each cat during the visits was used as the primary exposure variable. Two survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations of BCS with cats' survival and lifespan. RESULTS: In total, 2609 cats met the selection criteria from 4020 cats screened. The median of the maximum BCS was 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 5-7). Compared with cats with a maximum BCS of 6, increased hazards of death were observed in cats with a maximum BCS of 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.00-7.27), 4 (HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.95-3.49), 5 (HR 1.43, 95% CI 11.5-1.76) and 9 (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.93). Median lifespan was 15.8 (IQR 13.5-17.6) years. Compared with cats reaching a maximum BCS of 6 in the same age group, cats reaching a maximum BCS of 4 (HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.26-13.67) or 5 (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.07-2.85) between age 1 and 3 years, and a maximum BCS of 3 (HR 6.09, 95% CI 1.47-25.25) and 9 (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.27-4.04) between the age of 3 and 11 years had shorter lifespans. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: There are significant associations of nine-point body condition scoring with survival and lifespan, and BCSs <5 and of 9 were found to be negatively associated with both. The study yielded information regarding a desirable BCS for cat longevity that veterinarians could consult with.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29393723/