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[Cortisol/creatinine ratio in urine (UCC) of healthy cats]

C Zimmer1, C E Reusch

  • 1Klinik für Kleintiermedizin, Universität Zürich.

Schweizer Archiv Fur Tierheilkunde
|August 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Veterinary visits significantly elevate feline urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (UCC) due to stress. For accurate results, collect urine samples at home, as clinic samples are unreliable indicators of a cat's baseline stress levels.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Animal Physiology
  • Endocrinology

Context:

  • Assessing physiological stress in domestic animals is crucial for welfare.
  • Hospitalization and veterinary visits are known stressors for cats.
  • The cortisol/creatinine ratio in urine (UCC) is a potential biomarker for stress.

Purpose:

  • To compare the urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (UCC) in healthy cats during hospitalization versus at home.
  • To investigate factors influencing UCC levels in cats.
  • To validate the accuracy and precision of UCC measurements.

Summary:

  • Urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (UCC) was significantly higher in cats during clinic visits compared to samples collected at home.
  • Cat age, sex, indoor/outdoor status, and visible agitation did not influence UCC.
  • Assay validation demonstrated good precision and accuracy for cortisol and creatinine measurement.

Impact:

  • Veterinary visits induce significant stress, elevating UCC and confounding results.
  • UCC should be measured from urine samples collected at home to reflect true baseline levels.
  • Laboratories must establish their own reference values due to variability in cortisol metabolite measurement across assays.

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