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Evaluation of factors associated with development of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats
C A Kirk1, G V Ling, C E Franti
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate dietary and environmental factors as potential risk factors for calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats.
Design:
Case-control study.
Animals:
84 cats with uroliths composed of at least 90% calcium oxalate and 258 age- and gender-matched control cats.
Procedure:
Owners of cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis and control cats were surveyed between November 1990 and August 1992. Owners completed a standard questionnaire administered during a single telephone interview. Data collected included information regarding signalment, environment, urination and defecation, diet, and medical history.
Results:
Calcium oxalate uroliths tended to develop in middle- to older-aged, domestic shorthair cats of typical weight. A gender predilection was not detected. Factors associated with an increase in the risk of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats were feeding urine-acidifying diets, feeding a single brand of cat food without providing additional foods or table scraps, maintaining cats in an indoor-only environment, and being of the Persian breed.
Clinical Implications:
Control of diet and environment may help prevent calcium oxalate urolithiasis.