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Determining the cause of death in studies assessing mortality during small animal anesthesia poses challenges due to varying definitions of anesthetic death, limited information, and differences in evaluators' interpretations. This study aims to establish the interobserver agreement in classifying the cause of death in anesthetized animals. The observational, retrospective, multicenter study analyzed 432 deaths (83 cats and 349 dogs). Data were collected from a database of 55,022 anesthetized dogs and 14,962 anesthetized cats, created to investigate anesthetic-related mortality in these species. Three highly qualified veterinary anesthesiologists independently assessed whether the deaths were related to anesthesia, using their professional judgment. Data were collected from questionnaires that included the animal's signalment, reason for anesthesia, ASA status, drugs, anesthetic procedures, and comments from the submitting veterinarian. Light's Kappa and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) measured interrater agreement among the three evaluators, while Cohen's Kappa assessed interrater reliability between pairs of observers (p < 0.05). Evaluators A, B, and C classified 296/432 (68.5%), 264/432 (61.1%), and 54/432 (12.5%) of the cases as anesthesia-related deaths, respectively. Agreement among the three evaluators was 128/432 (29.6%) [Light's Kappa: 0.17, p = 0.00026; ICC: 0.06, p-value = 0.0167]. The three evaluators agreed on classifying a death as anesthetic-related in 14.1% of cases (50 out of 354 cases where at least one evaluator classified the death as anesthetic-related). Similarly, for non-anesthetic-related deaths, the three evaluators reached an agreement in 20.4% of cases (78 out of 382 cases where at least one evaluator classified the death as non-anesthetic-related). Overall, agreement between two out of three evaluators was 304/432 (70.4%). Evaluators A and B had a 65.7% agreement [Cohen's Kappa: 0.25, p < 0.00001], A and C had a 46.6% agreement [Cohen's Kappa: 0.10, p < 0.00001], and B and C had a 50.9% agreement [Cohen's Kappa: 0.16, p < 0.00001]. In conclusion, the evaluators' agreement was weak, highlighting the need for a consensus on defining anesthetic mortality in dogs and cats., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Spain (CEEA 22/07). The subjects’ owners provided informed consent. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and success of emergency obstetric care interventions for feline dystocia and to analyse the effects of therapeutic interventions on maternal mortality and stillbirth., Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 153 queens of various breeds and ages that presented to the clinic with dystocia. Anamnesis, signalment, physical examination, ultrasonography, radiography and subsequent intervention data were also collected. Differences in stillbirth rates between the treatment groups were evaluated using the χ 2 test. The mean litter size, mean duration of labour and number of stillbirths were calculated in each case. In addition, to obtain information on further breeding of dystocia patients, 51 queen owners were contacted by telephone., Results: Medical treatment was successful in 17% of patients, and 83% underwent surgical treatment for dystocia. Ovariohysterectomy (59%) was the most common surgical method, followed by conservative caesarean section (35%). En bloc resection was performed in 6% of patients. A total of four (2.4%) queens died. Of 542 kittens from 153 deliveries, 210 (39%) were stillborn. Singleton pregnancies were associated with a high risk of difficult labour. Similarly, prolonged duration of labour increased the stillbirth rate. The fertility status of queens after caesarean section was assessed by interviewing 51 owners, 27 (53%) of whom provided information. Of these, 12 were mated again and nine successfully (they became pregnant with successful natural births in five)., Conclusions and Relevance: Similar to previous studies, our data showed that medical management led to success in only a minority of cases. In addition, mortality data for emergency births under modern standardised treatment conditions were provided. Singleton pregnancy is a suspected risk factor for dystocia. Pregnancy after caesarean section is possible with natural unassisted birth., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical cardiomyopathy and cardiac mortality in a research colony of non-purebred cats, established as a model of the wider cat population in New Zealand., Methods: All apparently healthy, compliant, non-pregnant, non-neonatal cats in the colony at the Centre for Feline Nutrition (Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ) underwent physical examination and echocardiography using a 4.4-6.2-MHz probe by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Cardiac phenotype was classified following current guidelines. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype was defined as an end-diastolic left ventricular wall thickness ≥ 6 mm. Colony mortality data from February 2012 to February 2022 was reviewed to determine cardiac mortality., Results: Cats (n = 132; 65 females and 67 males) included in the study had a median age of 4.1 (IQR 3.0-8.0) years. Thirty-two (24%) cats had a heart murmur, and three (2%) cats had an arrhythmia. Echocardiography revealed heart disease in 24 (18.2%) cats, including 23 with an HCM phenotype and one with a restrictive cardiomyopathy phenotype. Of the cats with the HCM phenotype, 3/23 had systemic hypertension or hyperthyroidism or both, and these cats were excluded from the final diagnosis of HCM (20/132; 15.2 (95% CI = 9.5-22.4)%).Between 2012 and 2022, 168 colony cats died, with 132 undergoing post-mortem examination. Heart disease was considered the cause of death in 7/132 (5.3%; 95% CI = 2.2-10.6%) cats; five had HCM, one a congenital heart defect, and one myocarditis. The overall prevalence of death related to HCM in the colony during this period was 3.8% (95% CI = 1.2-8.6%). Three cats with HCM and the cat with a congenital heart defect died unexpectedly without prior clinical signs, while congestive heart failure was observed prior to death in two cats with HCM and the cat with myocarditis. Additionally, 30/132 (22.7%) cats had cardiac abnormalities but died for non-cardiac reasons., Conclusions: Subclinical cardiomyopathy, specifically HCM, was common in cats in the colony. Given that the colony originated as a convenience selection of non-purebred cats in New Zealand, the true prevalence of HCM in the wider New Zealand population is likely to fall within the 95% CI (9.5-22%). The proportion of deaths of colony cats due to HCM was lower (3.8%) supporting the conclusion that subclinical cardiomyopathy may not progress to clinical disease causing death., Clinical Relevance: Veterinarians should be aware of the high prevalence of subclinical HCM when treating cats., Abbreviations: CAM: Systolic anterior motion of the chordae tendineae; CFN: Centre for Feline Nutrition; HCM: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; LA/Ao: Left atrial to aortic ratio; LV FS: Left ventricular fractional shortening; LVIDd: Left ventricular internal diameters in end-diastole; LVIDs: Left ventricular internal diameter in end-systole; LVWT: Max Maximum left ventricular wall thickness; SAM: Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve; 2D: Two-dimensional.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between triage body temperature (BT) and outcome in cats presenting to the emergency department (ED)., Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on cats presented to the ED. BT, clinical diagnosis and outcome were recorded. BT was categorised as follows: normothermia (37.8-39.7°C); hyperthermia (⩾39.8°C); mild hypothermia (36.8-37.7°C); moderate hypothermia (35.6-36.7°C); severe hypothermia (33.1-35.5°C); and critical hypothermia (⩽33°C). Outcome in the ED was categorised as death, euthanasia, hospital admission and discharge. Outcome at hospital discharge was evaluated in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was identified in patients. No-SIRS cats were divided into three disease categories (urinary system, cardiovascular and miscellanea) and SIRS cats into four categories (urinary system, cardiovascular, trauma and miscellanea). The presence of sepsis was evaluated. Non-parametric statistics were used., Results: A total of 1440 cats were included. The hospital mortality rate was 21.9%. Hypothermia in the ED was reported in 510 (35.4%) cats, normothermia in 849 (59%) cats and hyperthermia in 81 (5.6%) cats. In the ED, the median temperature in non-survivors (35.4°C, 95% confidence interval [CI] 34.6-36.3) was significantly lower than in survivors (38.2°C, 95% CI 38.1-38.3; P <0.0001). The risk of non-survival in the ED was significantly higher in cats with a decreased BT, progressively increasing with the severity of hypothermia ( P <0.0001). Furthermore, BT was significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality in the ICU ( P <0.0001). A diagnosis of sepsis was associated with a high prevalence of hypothermia (79/124 cats, 63.7%) and a higher risk of non-survival (odds ratio [OR] 2.62, 95% CI 1.52-4.54; P  = 0.0006). The mortality risk significantly increased in SIRS cats with a cardiovascular disease (OR 8.27, 95% CI 4.09-16.68; P <0.0001)., Conclusions and Relevance: Hypothermia is common in cats at ED admission and is significantly associated with outcome. Triage hypothermia might identify patients with sepsis or SIRS complicated by comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and urinary diseases., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective:  To assess the data of high-rise syndrome (HRS) cases and determine the relationship between Animal Trauma Triage Score (ATTS), height, injury profile, and survival rate of patients., Study Design:  Retrospective study evaluating cats with HRS within a 4-year period., Results:  A logistic regression analysis which included height, ground type, and ATTS variables was performed to predict survival rate of patients. Only ATTS was significant among these variables ( p  < 0.001) and each point increase in ATTS increased the nonsurvival by 0.46 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.347-0.624). The receiver operating curve indicates that ATTS is good at predicting mortality (area under the curve: 0.857; 95% CI: 0.788-0.926; p  < 0.001)., Conclusion:  The height of the fall, injury type, or ground type do not seem to be accurate in estimating the survival rate in HRS patients. Established scoring systems such as ATTS should be used to determine survival rates in future HRS studies., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to establish the incidence of dystocia in pedigree cat breeds and investigate mortality rates in kittens up to the age of 12 weeks., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that utilised convenience sampling. Registered cat breeders from 29 countries whose cats had given birth within a single year (2019) were asked to complete an online questionnaire. This study is the third in a series over 30 years that have assessed changes in birth-related statistics in cat breeds., Results: Data were collected from 448 breeders on 853 litters, with 3560 live-born kittens from 45 pedigree breeds (as per the queens' breed). The incidence of dystocia that required veterinary intervention was 14.9% and varied by breed (range 0-22.2%). Caesarean section was required for 10.7% of litters, most commonly in Cornish Rex cats. Despite apparent breed variation, there was no statistically significant difference among breeds. Queens aged over 5 years and litters of more than six kittens were associated with a reduced risk of dystocia, whereas a longer gestation period increased the risk. Bengal cats had the highest cumulative kitten mortality up to the age of 12 weeks (23.4%). Significant breed differences ( P <0.001) were noted, with Ragdoll and Norwegian Forest Cats having lower litter mortality compared with Bengal and British Shorthair/Longhair cats., Conclusions and Relevance: The incidence of dystocia in pedigree cats was higher than the historical values for non-pedigree and pedigree cats. The age of the queen, gestation length and litter size affected the incidence of dystocia. Kitten mortality was affected by the requirement for caesarean section, presence of birth defects and breed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Primary glomerular disease resulting in protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) is an uncommon cause of chronic kidney disease in cats, yet is important to recognize because it warrants specific treatment that impacts outcome., Hypothesis/objective: Characterize clinicopathologic findings, prognostic indicators, and short- (≤30 days) and long-term survival of cats with PLN., Animals: Thirty-seven cats with naturally occurring PLN., Methods: Medical records of cats with PLN admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed., Results: Median age was 3 years (range, 1.5-11.5 years) and 17/37 (46%) were males. Short-term survival was 57%. The estimated median survival time of all cats was 424 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 0-1098 days). Common clinical signs included lethargy (57%), edema (46%) and weight loss (35%). Edema was more common in short-term survivors compared with nonsurvivors (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.86-20.4; P = .04). Serum creatinine concentration at presentation was negatively associated with long-term survival (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.03-1.52; P = .01). Administration of immunosuppressive and antiproteinuric medications was more common among short-term survivors compared with nonsurvivors (18/20 [90%] vs 9/16 [56%]; OR, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.2-40.8; P = .05 and 17/20 [85%] vs 7/16 [44%]; OR, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.5-35.2; P = .01, respectively). Partial or complete remission was documented in 11/31 (36%) cats and was associated with both short (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.7-6.5; P < .001) and long-term survival (P = .003)., Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Cats with PLN have a guarded prognosis, but achieving remission improves outcome. Cats presented with edema rather than azotemia are more likely to respond to treatment., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate and report response to treatment with a 10-week maintenance-free COP (COP-10) protocol in a cohort of 27 cats with intermediate or large cell lymphoma. Additionally, to identify any potential prognostic factors for predicting the treatment response., Materials and Methods: The medical records of cats diagnosed with intermediate or large cell lymphoma in a single institution in the period 2014 to 2023 and treated with COP-10 as first-line treatment were reviewed., Results: Twenty-seven cats were included in the study. The median age was 10 years, 67% of the cats were in stages I to II and the most common anatomical location was alimentary (37%). The overall response rate was 65%, with 38% of cats achieving complete remission and 27% partial remission. For cats achieving complete remission, the median progression-free interval and the median lymphoma-specific survival time were both 1,139 days. For cats in partial remission, the median progression-free interval and the median lymphoma-specific survival time were 53 and 210 days, respectively. Clinical stage was significantly related to treatment response and survival time., Clinical Significance: Treatment with the short protocol COP-10 resulted in remission rates and durable first remissions for cats achieving complete remission comparable to responses seen with longer-duration chemotherapy protocols. The results from this study may impact economic and logistic decisions for owners, as well as the quality of life for patients in the future., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Small Animal Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the all-cause mortality rate in cats hospitalized by the soft tissue surgery service of an academic referral hospital over a 5-year period and to identify specific risk factors for mortality. The hypotheses were that the all-cause mortality rate during hospitalization would be low, and cats undergoing emergency surgery and those with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status of 3 or more would be at increased risk for mortality., Methods: The case log of cats hospitalized by the soft tissue surgery service at the University of Georgia was searched retrospectively to identify all cats hospitalized in the years 2015-2020. Data collected about each cat included age, sex and neuter status, weight, body condition score (1-9), pre-existing heart disease, chronic kidney disease, concurrent infection or cancer, emergency status, time of surgery (daytime vs after hours, which was defined as after 4 pm), if the surgery was performed on a weekday or weekend, and general type of surgery. Univariable logistic regressions were implemented to test and estimate odds ratios for the effects of risk factors on in-hospital mortality. A multivariable logistic regression was developed that initially included all risk factors with P <0.05 on univariable analysis. Log-likelihood ratio test P values and profile-likelihood confidence intervals were reported., Results: The all-cause mortality rate was 6.1%. Analysis was limited because of low mortality, but multivariable analysis identified increasing ASA status and emergency surgery as significant risk factors for increased mortality while hospitalized., Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study confirmed that increasing ASA status and emergency procedures are significant risk factors for mortality in cats. Clinicians should be aware of these risk factors and consider how to best monitor and manage these feline patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Perianesthetic death or sedation death in companion animals is an infrequent but devastating complication. Few studies have investigated the pathology associated with these deaths., Objective: To determine clinical features and postmortem findings for submissions to multiple Canadian diagnostic laboratories from perianesthetic/sedation deaths in dogs and cats., Animals and Procedure: Laboratory Information Management Systems were retrospectively reviewed for cases of perianesthetic/sedation death in dogs and cats. Inclusion criteria were: i) whole-body submissions and ii) death within 7 d after the procedure., Results: Pathology reports determined the cause of death in 43% of dogs (73/168) and 34% of cats (50/147). Spay/neuter surgeries were the most common procedure for which animals were submitted (dogs: n = 72, 31%; cats: n = 111, 58%). The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status in these animals was low (ASA status I or II) in 94% of dogs (68/72) and 93% of cats (103/111). Clinical history was considered incomplete in 60.3% of cases (242/401)., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: These results had similar trends to those in previous studies that identified an important proportion of submissions for perianesthetic/sedation deaths lacked significant lesions to explain the cause of death. This study also identified spay/neuter procedures were involved in the largest proportion of submissions, despite their low pre-anesthetic/sedation risk., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Background: Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE) scores have not been reported in cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)., Hypothesis: In cats with DKA, APPLE scores will be significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors and these scores will predict mortality., Animals: Sixty-eight cats with DKA., Methods: Retrospective study. The APPLE scores, blood glucose concentration (BG), venous pH, and ketone concentrations were compared between survivors and non-survivors. Simple logistic regression was used to determine if these variables predict the binary variable of survival or non-survival, and if they did, an empirical optimal cut point for mortality prediction was calculated., Results: The APPLE fast and APPLE full scores were significantly higher in non-survivors (30 cats; 24.6 ± 7.4 and 45.2 ± 7.3 , respectively) compared with survivors (38 cats; 20.9 ± 6.2 and 41.7 ± 6.5 ; P = .01 and P = .02, respectively). The APPLE fast (P = .03) but not the APPLE full scores (P = .06) predicted mortality. For every 1 unit increase in the APPLE fast score, the odds of death increased by 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.006-1.17; P = .03). Median BG was significantly higher in non-survivors (431 mg/dL; range, 260-832 mg/dL) compared with survivors (343 mg/dL; range, 256-738 mg/dL; P = .01) and BG predicted mortality (P = .02). For every 1 mg/dL increase in BG, the odds of death increased by 1.004 (95% CI, 1.0006-1.008). Empirical optimal cut points for APPLE fast and BG mortality prediction were 24.5 and 358 mg/dL, respectively., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The APPLE fast score and BG predict mortality in cats with DKA and can be used to stratify populations by risk of mortality in clinical trials of DKA in cats., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: We identified the associated factors and compared the survival times of feline hyperthyroidism (FHT) between thyroidectomy and methimazole alone., Methods: The medical records of 41 cats diagnosed with new-onset hyperthyroidism were retrospectively reviewed. The cats were categorized into the thyroidectomy (n = 15) and methimazole (26) treatment groups. Survival analyses using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to compare the time to the selected outcomes., Results: Univariate analysis revealed that survival time was significantly longer with thyroidectomy than with methimazole (P < .001). Multivariate analyses revealed thyroidectomy as an independent prognostic factor for good outcomes (hazard ratio, 0.209; 95% CI, 0.073 to 0.601; P = .004). The recurrence rate was significantly lower in cats that underwent thyroidectomy than in those that received methimazole alone (P = .011)., Clinical Relevance: Compared with methimazole alone, thyroidectomy was associated with a longer survival time in FHT and can be considered an irreversible treatment modality in settings where radioisotopes are not available.

Background: Patient safety is essential in small animal anaesthesia. This study aimed to assess anaesthesia-related deaths in cats worldwide, identify risk and protective factors and provide insights for clinical practice., Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study of 14,962 cats from 198 veterinary centres across different countries was conducted. Data on anaesthesia-related deaths, from premedication up to 48 hours postextubation, were collected. Logistic regression was used to analyse patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, procedure type and anaesthetic drugs., Results: The anaesthesia-related mortality was 0.63%, with 74.5% of deaths occurring postoperatively. Cats with cachexia, a higher ASA status or who underwent abdominal, orthopaedic/neurosurgical or thoracic procedures exhibited elevated mortality. Mechanical ventilation use was associated with increased mortality. Mortality odds were reduced by the use of alpha 2 -agonist sedatives, pure opioids in premedication and locoregional techniques., Limitations: Limitations include non-randomised sampling, potential biases, unquantified response rates, subjective death cause classification and limited variable analysis., Conclusions: Anaesthetic mortality in cats is significant, predominantly postoperative. Risk factors include cachexia, higher ASA status, specific procedures and mechanical ventilation. Protective factors include alpha 2 -agonist sedatives, pure opioids and locoregional techniques. These findings can help improve anaesthesia safety and outcomes. However, further research is required to improve protocols, enhance data quality and minimise risks., (© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

The utility of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as prognostic markers in Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) infections has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate these leukocyte ratios in retrovirus-positive cats and to evaluate their prognostic value for survival. This retrospective case-control study included 142 cats, 75 FIV-Antibodies (Ab)-positive, 52 FeLV-Antigen (Ag)-positive, and 15 FIV-Ab+FeLV-Ag-positive, and a control population of 142 retrovirus-negative age-, sex-, and lifestyle-matched cats. Signalment, complete blood count at the time of serological testing, and outcome were recorded. Leukocyte ratios were compared within the same case-control population, among the three retrovirus-seropositive populations, and were related to survival time. No significant difference was found in NLR, MLR, or PLR between FIV-Ab-positive and FIV-Ab+FeLV-Ag-positive cats and their cross-matched controls. In the FeLV-Ag-positive population, MLR was significantly lower than in the control population (0.05 and 0.14, respectively, P=0.0008). No ratio discriminated among the three infectious states. No ratio was significantly different between survivors and non-survivors in the population of FIV-Ab-positive cats. MLR at diagnosis was significantly higher in FeLV-Ag-positive cats that died 1-3 years after diagnosis than in FeLV-Ag-positive cats still alive at 3 years (P=0.0284). None of the three ratios could predict retroviruses-positive cats that would survive to the end of the study. Overall the results indicate that NLR, MLR, and PLR are not significantly different among retrovirus statuses evaluated and had a very limited prognostic value for the survival time in retrovirus-positive cats., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to generate the first life tables for the UK companion cat population overall as well as broken down by sex and breed status, and to quantify associations between mortality and traits such as sex, neuter status, breed status and body weight in relation to mortality., Methods: Life table construction and modelling included data on 7936 confirmed deaths in cats under primary veterinary care at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme in 2019. The life tables were built for cats overall, female and male cats, and crossbred and purebred cats. Multivariable generalised linear regression models were generated to explore the risk factors for a shortened lifespan., Results: Life expectancy at age 0 for UK companion cats overall was 11.74 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.61-11.87). The probability of death at each year interval increased with age from year interval 3-4, with the probability value not exceeding 0.05 before year 9. Female cats (12.51 years; 95% CI 12.32-12.69) had a 1.33-year longer life expectancy than male cats (11.18 years; 95% CI 11.01-11.38) at age 0. Among the 12 breeds (including crossbred) analysed, Burmese and Birman had the longest life expectancy at year 0, showing 14.42 years (95% CI 12.91-15.93) and 14.39 years (95% CI 12.87-15.91), respectively. Sphynx had the shortest life expectancy at year 0 among the analysed breeds at 6.68 years (95% CI 4.53-8.83). Being entire, purebred and with a non-ideal body weight were significantly linked to a decreased lifespan., Conclusions and Relevance: The life tables presented here for companion cats in the UK overall, by sex, and by crossbred and purebred cats can contribute to a better understanding of the life trajectory of cats, helping with evidence-based decision-making for cat owners and the veterinary profession. We have also provided an updated life expectancy at age 0 for various cat breeds for 2019 and showed evidence of the association between non-ideal weight and a decreased lifespan., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Myeloma-related disorders (MRDs) are rare and poorly documented neoplasms of cats., Hypothesis/objectives: To describe clinical, clinicopathologic, and imaging findings, response to treatment, and survival time and to identify factors associated with shorter outcomes in cats with MRD., Animals: Fifty cats with a diagnosis of MRD., Methods: Cats with paraproteinemia confirmed by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and either intramedullary plasmacytosis >10%, marked cytonuclear atypia with intramedullary plasmacytosis that ranged between 5% and 10%, or cytologically or histologically confirmed visceral infiltration were retrospectively included from several veterinary referral centers., Results: Bone marrow plasmacytosis and splenic or hepatic involvement were present in 17/27 cats (63%), 36/42 cats (86%), and 27/38 cats (71%), respectively. Anemia was reported in 33/49 cats (67%) and thrombocytopenia in 16/47 cats (34%). Some of the treatments that the cats received included melphalan and prednisolone (n = 19), cyclophosphamide and prednisolone (n = 10), chlorambucil and prednisolone (n = 4), prednisolone (n = 4), or other (n = 4). The overall response rates to melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and chlorambucil in combination with prednisolone were 87%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Adverse events to melphalan or cyclophosphamide occurred in 65% and 23% of cats, respectively. Median survival time was 122 days (range, 0-1403) and was not significantly associated with chemotherapy protocol. Anemia (hazard ratio [HR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-9.8) and thrombocytopenia (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.0) were risk factors for shorter survival., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Our study confirmed the guarded prognosis of MRD in cats and identified risk factors for shorter survival times., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

The importance and implications of small animal neonatology were underestimated until recent times. Despite the recent increasing interest for this branch of veterinary medicine, however, perinatal mortality rates in canine and feline species remain high, representing an important challenge for the clinician. In this perspective, the prompt identification of newborns requiring additional and tailored assistance becomes a key to reduce the perinatal losses in small animals. To achieve this goal, clinical and laboratory findings must be carefully evaluated. This paper focuses on biochemical parameters and their reported influence on neonatal survival, guiding through the evaluation of canine and feline newborn laboratory analyses, with a thorough discussion about the use of different biological material in these subjects. Beside blood, other biological material, such as urines and fetal fluids proved to be interesting for the identification of possible prognostic markers, thanks also to their easy and safe collection. However, the correct reading-through the results must consider many variables such as type of delivery, anesthesia protocol in case of Caesarean section, age of the newborn at samples collection, and for blood analysis, also the type of blood, site of collection, modality of collection and storage must be considered. Notwithstanding the recent progress in literature, for most of the parameters more research is needed to define cut-off values with certainty., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Numerous studies have described the prognostic factors of canine and feline mammary carcinomas (MCs), that is, variables that predict patient survival after diagnosis. But how does survival estimation evolve in patients that escaped early death from their cancer? In human oncology, conditional survival (CS), the probability of surviving X further years when cancer patients have already survived Y years, is used to analyse cancer outcomes in a long-term perspective. In this cohort of 344 dogs and 342 cats with surgically removed stage I to III invasive MCs, with a minimal follow-up of 2 years, we calculated the 1-year CS, that is, the probability for patients that have survived 1 year, to survive or to die from cancer during the subsequent year. The 1-year conditional specific survival probabilities were 59% and 48% at diagnosis of invasive MC respectively in dogs and cats, and 80% and 52% in 1-year surviving dogs and cats respectively, suggesting that 1-year surviving dogs were relatively protected from cancer-related death, whereas feline MCs remained life-threatening cancers for longer periods of time. Among the most significant parameters associated with CS in surviving dogs and cats were the nodal stage and lymphovascular invasion, as well as patient age, cancer stage and margin status in surviving dogs. By comparison, tumour size and the histological grade did not significantly alter CS probabilities in surviving dogs and cats. Conditional survival may be considered a very interesting tool for veterinary practitioners to estimate the likely outcome of cancer survivors., (© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Treatment of epithelial sinonasal tumours in cats is not commonly reported. In the newer reports, palliative radiation protocols have been described more often than definitive-intent protocols. In this multi-institutional retrospective study, we included 27 cats treated with single-modality radiotherapy. Cats were irradiated using 10 daily fractions of 4.2 Gy. Three cats (11.1%) experienced a complete clinical response and 17 (63%) had a partial clinical response. Stable clinical disease was noted in three cats (11.1%). Four cats (14.8%) showed progression within 3 months following treatment. The median time to progression for all cases was 269 days (95 % confidence intervals [CI]: 225; 314). The proportion of cats free of progression at 1 and 2 years was 24% (95% CI: 22%; 26%) and 5% (95% CI: 5%; 6%), respectively. None of the prognostic factors evaluated were predictive of outcome (anaemia, tumour volume at the time of staging, modified Adams stage, intracranial involvement, facial deformity, epistaxis, inappetence or weight loss). Median overall survival (OS) for all deaths was 452 days (95% CI: 334; 571). The proportion of cats alive at 1 and 2 years was 57% (95% CI: 37%; 77%) and 27% (95% CI: 25%; 29%), respectively. Surprisingly, cats with epistaxis had a longer median OS of 828 days (95% CI: 356; 1301) compared to 296 days (95% CI: 85; 508) in cats without epistaxis, (P = .04, Breslow). Radiation therapy used as a single modality for the treatment of feline sinonasal carcinoma improved clinical signs and was well tolerated but progression within a year was common., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The goals of this study were to classify the indications, risks, effects on coagulation times and outcomes of cats receiving fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions in clinical practice., Methods: This was a retrospective study of FFP transfusions administered in two referral hospitals from 2014 to 2018. Transfusion administration forms and medical records were reviewed. Information was collected on indication, underlying condition, coagulation times and signs of transfusion reactions. Seven-day outcomes after FFP administration were also evaluated when available., Results: Thirty-six cats received 54 FFP transfusions. Ninety-four percent of cats were administered FFP for treatment of a coagulopathy. Twenty cats had paired coagulation testing before and after FFP administration. Eighteen of these cats had improved coagulation times after receiving 1-3 units of FFP. Eight of the 36 cats had probable transfusion reactions (14.8% of 54 FFP transfusions). These reactions included respiratory signs (n = 4), fever (n = 2) and gastrointestinal signs (n = 2). Five of the eight cats with probable reactions had received packed red blood cells contemporaneously. Overall mortality rate during hospitalization was 29.7%, with 52.8% (n = 19/36) of cats confirmed to be alive 7 days after discharge., Conclusions and Relevance: This retrospective study shows that FFP transfusions improve coagulation times in cats. Transfusion reactions are a risk, and risk-benefit ratios must be measured prior to administration and possible reactions monitored. In the study cats, the FFP transfusions appeared to be a tolerable risk given the benefit to prolonged coagulation times.

Introduction: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) has not been well described in cats. The aim of this study was to describe the signalment, clinical findings, and outcome for cats with SVT versus cats with atrial fibrillation (AF)., Animals: Forty-four client owned cats are included in the study. 23 cats with SVT and 21 with AF., Methods: This is a retrospective study. Clinical characteristics were compared between groups using a two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to assess for impact of rhythm diagnosis, presence of ventricular arrhythmia, left atrial diameter, heart rate and congestive heart failure (CHF) status on cardiac death. Differences in survival between groups were compared using Mantel-Cox logrank comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves., Results: Cats with supraventricular arrhythmias most commonly presented with respiratory distress (10 of 44 cats). Cats with AF had a slower median heart rate (220 [range: 180-260 beats per minute (bpm)] compared with cats with SVT (300 [range: 150-380] bpm, p < 0.001). All cats with AF had structural heart disease, whereas 4 cats with SVT had no structural abnormalities. Left atrial diameter was significantly larger in cats with AF (23.7 (16.2-40.1) mm compared with 19.1 (12.8-31.4) mm in SVT cats; p = 0.02). Median survival was 58 days (1-780) in cats with AF and 259 days (2-2295) in cats with SVT (p = 0.1). Cats with signs of CHF had a shorter survival time (p = 0.001)., Conclusions: Most cats with AF or SVT have advanced structural heart disease. Some cats with SVT had structurally normal hearts, suggesting that SVT in cats is not always a consequence of atrial enlargement., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest Statement The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) causes clinical signs such as stranguria, pollakiuria, haematuria, vocalisation and periuria, and is often associated with recurring episodes. The primary objective of this study was to survey the long-term course of cats presenting with FLUTD in terms of recurrence rate and mortality., Methods: Data from cats that were presented with lower urinary tract signs from 2010 to 2013 were collected by telephone interview with cat owners, using a questionnaire. The observation period ranged from the first presentation due to FLUTD to the telephone interview or the cat's death. Data on diagnoses, recurrence of clinical signs and disease-free intervals, as well as implementation and impact of prophylactic measures (PMs), were collected and compared between groups with different aetiologies., Results: The study included 101 cats. Fifty-two cats were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis, 21 with urolithiasis and 13 with bacterial urinary tract infection; 15 had no definitive diagnosis. Of the 86 cats with a known diagnosis, the recurrence rate was 58.1%, with no significant difference between groups. Twenty-one cats had one relapse, 12 had two relapses, 10 had three and seven had four to eight relapses within a median observation period of 38 months (range 0.5-138 months). Fourteen cats suffered from different causes of FLUTD at different episodes. Mortality due to FLUTD among all 101 cats was 5.0%. The recurrence rate in cats with urolithiasis receiving at least two PMs was significantly lower than the recurrence rate in those without PMs ( P = 0.029)., Conclusions and Relevance: More than half of the cats with FLUTD presented with two or more recurrent episodes irrespective of the identified aetiology. Cats should be thoroughly investigated at each presentation as it cannot be presumed that the cause of FLUTD is the same at different episodes. The mortality due to FLUTD is lower than previously reported.

Background: The microenvironment within solid malignant tumors, including feline mammary gland carcinomas (FMGCs), is commonly hypoxic, possibly due to the lack of functional blood vessels in rapidly proliferating neoplastic tissue. Malignant cells can undergo genetic and adaptive changes that prevent them from dying due to oxygen deprivation through expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Therefore, HIF-1α and VEGF are ideal biomarkers for cancer therapy and prognostic evaluation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in feline mammary carcinomas and analyze their correlations with clinical and pathological factors, such as clinical stage, histologic grading, regional metastasis, and overall survival rate., Results: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples collected from 72 cats with FMGCs were retrospectively studied. Histologic pattern and histologic grading (Elston and Ellis grading system) of these FMGCs were determined. Our data indicated that grade II tubulopapillary carcinomas (43/72, 59.7%) prevailed in this study, and most FMCGs showed apparent necrosis, squamous metaplasia, and intratumoral stromal response. According to the results of immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings performed in tissue microarrays (TMAs), HIF-1α and VEGF overexpressions were respectively noted in 69.4% (50/72) and 77.8% (56/72) of FMGC cases. Chi-square test showed no correlation of HIF-1α overexpression with clinical and pathological factors. VEGF overexpression was significantly correlated with histologic pattern (p = 0.021), stromal response (p = 0.048), squamous metaplasia (p = 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.007). However, neither HIF-1α nor VEGF overexpression was correlated with histologic grading and metastasis. Of 38 cats with 1-year follow-up, IHC stainings of HIF-1α and VEGF were performed on whole tissue sections. The results showed that overexpression of HIF-1α was significantly correlated with the overall survival rate (p < 0.05) (log-rank test), whereas there was no significant correlation between VEGF overexpression and overall survival rate., Conclusions: This study suggests that the overexpression of HIF-1α may indicate poor prognosis/overall survival rate in cats with FMGCs. Developing compounds that inhibit HIF-1α may be a potential approach to FMGC treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe a series of cats suffering from thoracic dog bite wounds, in order to detail the clinical, radiographic and surgical findings, and evaluate outcomes and factors associated with mortality., Methods: The medical records of cats with thoracic dog bite wounds presenting to a single institution between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data relating to clinical presentation, wound depth and management, radiographic findings, surgical findings and mortality were collected. Wound depth was defined as no external wound, superficial, deep or penetrating, and wound management was defined as conservative, exploratory or thoracic exploration. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney U-test and the χ 2 test., Results: Twenty-two cats were included, of which two were euthanased on presentation. In cats where wound depth could be assessed (21/22), six had no external wounds, four had superficial wounds, three had deep wounds and eight suffered penetrating wounds. Sixteen cats also suffered wounds elsewhere, most commonly to the abdomen. Neither an abdominal wound nor abdominal surgery were associated with mortality. Pneumothorax was the most common radiographic finding (11/18). Individual radiographic lesions were not significantly associated with respiratory pattern, presence of pseudo-flail, need for thoracotomy or lung lobectomy, or survival. The presence of ⩾3 radiographic lesions was associated with the presence of a penetrating wound ( P = 0.025) and with having thoracic exploration ( P = 0.025). Local exploration was performed in 7/20 cats, while 8/20 underwent thoracic exploration. Wound management type was not significantly associated with mortality. Overall mortality rate was 27%., Conclusions and Relevance: Presence of ⩾3 radiographic lesions should raise suspicion of a penetrating injury and may be suggestive of injury requiring a greater level of intervention. The treating veterinarian should have a high index of suspicion for penetrating injury and be prepared in case thoracic exploratory surgery is necessary, particularly in the presence of pseudo-flail chest, pneumothorax or ⩾3 radiographic lesions.

Feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) are highly malignant. As the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) are short, prognostication is crucial. Copy-number variations (CNVs) analysis by next-generation sequencing serves to identify critical cancer-related genomic regions. Thirty-three female cats with FMCs were followed during two years after surgery. Tumours represented tubulopapillary and solid carcinomas encompassing six molecular subtypes. Regardless of the histopathological diagnosis, molecular subtypes showed important differences in survival. Luminal A tumours exhibited the highest DFS (p = 0.002) and cancer-specific OS (p = 0.001), and the lowest amount of CNVs (p = 0.0001). In contrast, basal-like triple-negative FMCs had the worst outcome (DFS, p < 0.0001; and OS, p < 0.00001) and were the most aberrant (p = 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, copy-number losses (CNLs) in chromosome B1 (1-23 Mb) harbouring several tumour-repressors (e.g. CSMD1, MTUS1, MSR1, DBC2, and TUSC3) negatively influenced DFS. Whereas, copy-number gains (CNGs) in B4 (1-29 Mb) and F2 (64-82.3 Mb) comprising epithelial to mesenchymal transition genes and metastasis-promoting transcription factors (e.g. GATA3, VIM, ZEB1, and MYC) negatively influenced DFS and cancer-specific OS. These data evidence an association between specific CNVs in chromosomes B1, B4 and F2, and poor prognosis in FMCs.

Objective: To evaluate the evidence published on the treatment of idiopathic chylothorax (IC) in small animals., Study Design: Systematic literature review., Sample Population: Dogs and cats with IC., Methods: A literature search was performed in three bibliographic databases in July 2018 for publications on IC in dogs and cats. Articles meeting criteria for inclusion were evaluated for treatment, survival, outcome data, and level of evidence (LoE) with a modified Oxford Level of Evidence (mOLE) and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) system., Results: Eleven of 313 identified articles met the inclusion criteria. Only one study was identified in dogs as having higher LoE by using the mOLE system, whereas no study was identified as such in either species with the GRADE system. Surgery was the primary treatment in all dogs and in 93% (68/73) of cats. Medical therapy was the primary treatment in 7% (5/73) of cats. The most common surgical treatment combined thoracic duct ligation (TDL) and subtotal pericardiectomy (SP; 40%; 34/84) in dogs and TDL in cats (51% [37/73])., Conclusion: The body of literature for IC treatment in small animals was limited to one higher LoE study in dogs and none in cats. No strong conclusion could be drawn regarding the effectiveness of any one surgical method in dogs or cats, and no evidence was found to support medical therapy as a primary treatment., Clinical Significance: The best available evidence regarding the treatment of IC is published in dogs and provides some support for surgical treatment with either TDL + cisterna chyli ablation or TDL + SP. Additional evidence is required to confirm this finding., (© 2019 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Background: Epidemiologic knowledge regarding noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in apparently healthy cats (AH) and cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (pHCM) is limited, hindering development of evidence-based healthcare guidelines., Objectives: To characterize/compare incidence rates, risk, and survival associated with noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality in AH and pHCM cats., Animals: A total of 1730 client-owned cats (722 AH, 1008 pHCM) from 21 countries., Methods: Retrospective, multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study. Long-term health data were extracted by medical record review and owner/referring veterinarian interviews., Results: Noncardiovascular death occurred in 534 (30.9%) of 1730 cats observed up to 15.2 years. Proportion of noncardiovascular death did not differ significantly between cats that at study enrollment were AH or had pHCM (P = .48). Cancer, chronic kidney disease, and conditions characterized by chronic weight-loss-vomiting-diarrhea-anorexia were the most frequently recorded noncardiovascular causes of death. Incidence rates/risk of noncardiac death increased with age in AH and pHCM. All-cause death proportions were greater in pHCM than AH (65% versus 40%, respectively; P < .001) because of higher cardiovascular mortality in pHCM cats. Comparing AH with pHCM, median survival (study entry to noncardiovascular death) did not differ (AH, 9.8 years; pHCM, 8.6 years; P = .10), but all-cause survival was significantly shorter in pHCM (P = .0001)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: All-cause mortality was significantly greater in pHCM cats due to disease burden contributed by increased cardiovascular death superimposed upon noncardiovascular death., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Persian cats are a popular cat breed worldwide, and especially in the US, Europe and Asia. This study aimed to describe the demography, common disorders and mortality in Persians under general practice veterinary care in 2013 in the UK. The study population of 285,547 cats overall included 3235 (1.1%) Persians. Mean adult Persian bodyweight was 3.9 kg (SD 0.9) and median age was 7.0 years (IQR 3.3-11.6). At least one disorder was recorded in 2099 (64.9%) Persians. The most common specific disorders were haircoat disorders (411, 12.7%), periodontal disease (365, 11.3%), overgrown nails (234, 7.2%), and ocular discharge (188, 5.8%). The most common disorder groups were dermatological (578, 17.9%), ophthalmological (496, 15.3%) and dental (397, 12.3%). Median longevity was 13.5 years (IQR 9.9-16.0). The most common grouped causes of death were renal disease (102, 23.4%), neoplasia (37, 8.5%) and mass-associated disorder (35, 8.0%). This is the first study to use general practice data to examine the overall health of Persian cats. With haircoat, ocular and dental disorders being the predominant disorders identified, this study highlights the need for increased owner awareness to manage and prevent the typical health problems associated with this breed's phenotype.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever caused by the SFTS phlebovirus (SFTSV). SFTS patients were first reported in China, followed by Japan and South Korea. In 2017, cats were diagnosed with SFTS for the first time, suggesting that these animals are susceptible to SFTSV. To confirm whether or not cats were indeed susceptible to SFTSV, animal subjects were experimentally infected with SFTSV. Four of the six cats infected with the SPL010 strain of SFTSV died, all showing similar or more severe symptoms than human SFTS patients, such as a fever, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, weight loss, anorexia, jaundice and depression. High levels of SFTSV RNA loads were detected in the serum, eye swab, saliva, rectal swab and urine, indicating a risk of direct human infection from SFTS-infected animals. Histopathologically, acute necrotizing lymphadenitis and hemophagocytosis were prominent in the lymph nodes and spleen. Severe hemorrhaging was observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. B cell lineage cells with MUM-1 and CD20, but not Pax-5 in the lesions were predominantly infected with SFTSV. The present study demonstrated that cats were highly susceptible to SFTSV. The risk of direct infection from SFTS-infected cats to humans should therefore be considered.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of cats with intracranial tumours presenting with neurological signs treated with radiation therapy., Methods: This study comprised a retrospective multicentre case series. Medical records of a total of 22 cats with intracranial space-occupying lesions, presenting with neurological signs and/or epileptic seizures and treated with external beam radiation therapy, were reviewed. In the treated cats, patient-, tumour- and treatment-related variables were investigated, including age, sex, tumour location, tumour volume, total radiation dose, equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD 2 ), corticosteroid dose, overall treatment time and institution for influence on local tumour control and survival., Results: Based on advanced imaging characteristics, the 22 treated cats presented with meningioma (n = 11), pituitary tumour (n = 8), choroid plexus tumour (n = 2) or glioma (n = 1). Allocated to the neuraxis, 11 lesions were extra-axial, three were intra-axial and eight were located in the pituitary region. At diagnosis, 21 cats exhibited altered neurological status. One cat presented with epileptic seizures and another cat had both seizures and altered neurological status. The mean total physical dose of radiation was 41.63 Gy (± 4.33), range 24-45 Gy. In all but one cat (95.5%), neurological signs improved after radiation therapy. The median progression-free survival was 510 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 51-969). The proportion free of progression at 1 year was 55.7% (95% CI: 33-78). Fourteen cats died (only in five cases was death related to the intracranial tumour) and eight cats were still alive or lost to follow-up. The median overall survival time was 515 days (95% CI: 66-964). None of the tested variables influenced outcome., Conclusions and Relevance: Radiation therapy seems to represent a viable treatment option in cats with intracranial tumours, relieving neurological signs and improving local tumour control. Radiation therapy may be considered for cats with tumours in complicated/inoperable localisations or for cases with a high peri- and postoperative risk.

Although oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common in cats there are currently few prognostic markers for these cancers. This study used 52 feline oral SCCs to determine if prognosis can be predicted by the age or sex of the cat, the presence of bone within the diagnostic sample, or the anatomic location of the SCC. Additionally, as p16 CDKN2A protein (p16) and p53 are prognostic for human oral SCCs, p16 and p53 immunostaining was evaluated. Only SCC location and p16 immunostaining were prognostic. Cats with oropharyngeal SCCs had an estimated median survival time (MST) of 151 days which was significantly longer than cats with maxillary (51 days P = 0.017), sublingual (33 days P = 0.011) and mandibular (34 days P = 0.029) SCCs. Overall, 19% of oral SCCs were p16-positive with intense nuclear and cytoplasmic immunostaining within most neoplastic cells, 69% had cytoplasmic immunostaining that was confined to the periphery of nests of neoplastic cells, and 12% had no p16 immunostaining. Cats with p16-positive SCCs had a MST of 87 days, which was significantly longer than cats with p16-peripheral SCCs (MST 37 days, P = 0.03), but not longer than cats with p16-negative SCCs (MST 51 days, P = 0.72). No papillomaviral DNA was amplified from the p16-positive SCCs. Twenty (39%) SCCs contained immunostaining for p53, but this was not prognostic (P = 0.31). These results suggest that feline oral SCCs develop by cellular mechanisms that result in one of three patterns of p16 immunostaining. Cancers which develop due to these mechanisms appear to have different clinical behaviors and p16 immunostaining predicts the behavior of these common feline cancers., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The current study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in cats with sepsis., Methods: Cats hospitalised in the intensive care unit of a veterinary university hospital with a diagnosis of sepsis were prospectively enrolled and divided according to disease severity and outcome (survivors; non-survivors). The feline acute patient physiological and laboratory evaluation (APPLE) scores were calculated upon admission, as previously described. Specific criteria to identify selected organ dysfunction (hepatic, renal, respiratory, cardiocirculatory, haemostatic) were adapted from the available human and veterinary literature, and evaluated at baseline and at the end of hospital stay. MODS was defined as the presence of at least two dysfunctional organs simultaneously. Non-parametric statistics were used for comparisons. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses to evaluate significant risk factors for death were carried out. Correlations between variables were assessed by the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Significance was set at P <0.05., Results: A total of 43 cats with heterogeneous sources of sepsis were included. MODS was identified in 25/43 cats upon admission and in 32/43 cats at the end of hospital stay. Regression analyses showed a significantly elevated odds ratio for mortality for the presence of MODS, renal and cardiovascular dysfunction upon admission, as well as for the number of dysfunctional organs. The latter was the only variable retained by the model from the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. Significant correlations were documented between the number of dysfunctional organs and the APPLE scores., Conclusions and Relevance: MODS is a frequent complication of feline sepsis, and is associated with worse outcomes. In particular, renal and cardiovascular dysfunction significantly increase the odds for death. Hence, systematic screening for organ dysfunction is advocated in cats with sepsis.

Objectives: Feline intracranial abscessation or empyema is infrequently reported in the veterinary literature. To date, the largest study is based on a population of 19 cats with otogenic infection. The aim of this study was to review a larger population of cats with intracranial empyema from multiple aetiologies and document their signalment, imaging findings, treatment protocols (including medical and/or surgical management) and to compare outcomes., Methods: Cases presenting to a single referral centre over a 10 year period with compatible history, neurological signs and imaging findings consistent with intracranial abscessation and empyema were reviewed retrospectively., Results: Twenty-three cats met the inclusion criteria. Advanced imaging (CT and/or MRI) was performed in 22/23 cats; one case was diagnosed via ultrasound. Ten cases underwent medical and surgical management combined, 10 underwent solely medical management and three were euthanased at the time of diagnosis. Short-term outcome showed that 90% of surgically managed and 80% of medically managed cats were alive at 48 h post-diagnosis. Long-term survival showed that surgically managed cases and medically managed cases had a median survival time of 730 days (range 1-3802 days) and 183 days (range 1-1216 days), respectively. No statistical significance in short- or long-term survival ( P >0.05) was found between medically and surgically managed groups., Conclusions and Relevance: Feline intracranial abscessation and empyema are uncommon conditions that have historically been treated with combined surgical and medical management. This study documents that, in some cases, intracranial abscessation and empyema can also be successfully treated with medical management alone.

Objectives: The main aim of the study was to establish response, disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival of cats with nasal planum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with Sr90 plesiotherapy. A secondary aim was to determine whether a fractionated protocol is more effective than a single-dose protocol in terms of response, DFI and overall survival. The third aim was to evaluate whether we can identify prognostic factors that influence overall survival., Methods: This was a retrospective study that included cats with a diagnosis of nasal planum SCC treated with Sr90 plesiotherapy at a single institution., Results: Seventy-four cats were included in the study. Thirty-two were treated with a fractionated protocol and 42 with a single-dose treatment. Sr90 plesiotherapy was able to induce complete response in 74% of cats with nasal planum SCC. The median DFI was 780 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 383-1177), with 17% of cats experiencing local recurrence. The overall survival for all cats was 1039 days (95% CI 55-1528). The DFI of cats treated with the fractionated Sr90 was significantly longer compared with the single-dose treatment, whereas response and overall survival were not statistically different. Other prognostic factors that influenced the overall survival were early-stage disease, absence of concurrent problems and complete response to the treatment. Acute and long-term toxicity associated with the treatment were minimal and the aesthetic outcome was pleasing in almost all cases., Conclusions and Relevance: Strontium plesiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment of nasal planum SCC in cats.

Case Series Summary: Salivary gland carcinoma is uncommon in cats. We report the outcome of radiation therapy in six cases (four salivary gland adenocarcinomas, one tubulopapillary adenocarcinoma, one carcinoma). Five were treated after surgical excision of the primary tumour, but four had gross disease (primary or metastatic) at the time of starting radiotherapy. Exact progression-free interval from the start of radiotherapy in the two cats where this was known was 120 and 144 days, respectively. One cat was signed off at 766 days with no evidence of recurrence. Another cat was in remission at 202 days (when last seen by the referring practice) but subsequently developed recurrence (date uncertain). Survival time was known for three cats (55 days, 258 days and 570 days from initiation of radiotherapy, respectively). In two cases, locoregional progressive disease (PD) was confirmed, and the other presumed as the cause of death. Two cats, known to have developed PD, were alive at the time of writing (at 206 and 549 days, respectively). No cat died as a result of distant metastatic disease., Relevance and Novel Information: There is a paucity of information on the treatment of salivary gland tumours. In humans, as in cats, there is no optimised standard of care for malignant tumours. It is accepted that, for surgical candidates (even with large tumours), surgery and radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone. However, the benefits of postoperative radiotherapy compared with surgery alone are only clear in patients with high-risk tumours (ie, those with large and invasive primary tumours, close or incomplete margins, high histopathological grade, histological evidence of neural or vascular invasion, or positive lymph nodes). This population is analogous to the population reported here, and likely to most cats presented in practice. Thus, radiation therapy may help improve locoregional control and survival in cats.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective, bi-institutional study was to evaluate the progression-free interval in a cohort of cats with postoperative microscopic injection-site sarcoma (ISS) treated with two different radiotherapy protocols., Methods: Included in the study were cats with ISSs undergoing macroscopic surgical removal and subsequent electron beam radiotherapy treatment with either a finely fractionated protocol (48 or 52.8 Gy over 4 weeks delivered in 12 or 16 fractions) or a coarsely fractionated protocol (36 Gy over 3 weeks administered in six fractions). Medical records were reviewed and follow-up information was collected. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the progression-free interval (PFI) between the two protocols and to test the influence of many clinical variables., Results: Fifty-nine cats were included; 38 underwent a finely fractionated protocol and 21 a coarsely fractionated protocol. PFI was not significantly different between the two groups. Overall PFI was 2000 days (2000 vs 540 days; P = 0.449). When only first-occurrence cases were included, median PFI was significantly longer in the finely fractionated group compared with the coarsely fractionated group (1430 vs 540 days; P = 0.007). In cats that underwent multiple surgeries PFI was not different between protocols (233 vs 395 days; P = 0.353)., Conclusions and Relevance: Cats with first-occurrence ISSs appear to benefit from postoperative finely fractionated radiotherapy. The same benefit was not evident in cats that underwent multiple surgeries and we think a coarsely fractionated protocol would be indicated in these cases.

The purpose of this study was to assess survival to discharge of animals with surgical or postmortem confirmation of a lung lobe torsion (LLT) as well as to evaluate pre-operative effusion, lung lobe affected, and patient size as prognostic indicators. Medical records search identified 35 dogs and 4 cats with a confirmed diagnosis including 17 small-breed dogs, 18 large-breed dogs, 3 domestic shorthair cats, and 1 minskin cat. Lobes affected included right middle ( n = 18), left cranial ( n = 18), right cranial ( n = 2), left caudal ( n = 1), and accessory ( n = 1). Two animals died before surgery; the remaining 37 animals underwent thoracotomy. All treated small-breed dogs and cats survived; 12/18 large-breed dogs survived, with an overall survival to discharge of 87%. Pre-operative pleural effusion and affected lung lobe did not affect survival to discharge in this population. Small dogs and cats with LLT appear to have an excellent survival to discharge following thoracotomy and the survival is good in larger dogs.

Objectives: Escherichia coli strains producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), especially CTX-M-type, have been largely described in companion animals; however, genomic data are lacking to clarify the clinical impact of ESBL-producing isolates in these hosts. The aim of this study was to present the genomic features of a highly virulent, ceftiofur-resistant, CTX-M-8-producing E. coli isolate from a case of pneumonia in a domestic cat with fatal outcome., Methods: Genomic DNA was sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq 500 platform and was assembled using CLC Genomic Workbench. Genomic data were analysed using online bioinformatics tools., Results: The genome size was evaluated at 5.1Mb, with 5334 protein-coding sequences. The strain was assigned to sequence type 224 (ST224) and presented genes conferring resistance to β-lactams (bla CTX-M-8 ), sulphonamides (sul2), tetracycline (tetA) and trimethoprim (dfrA14) as well as chromosomal point mutations in ParC (S80I), GyrA (S83L) and GyrB (D87N). In addition, the presence of the virulence genes cba, gad, ipfA, iroN, iss, mchF and tsh was detected., Conclusion: This draft genome sequence might provide important data for a better understanding of genomic aspects regarding the dissemination of CTX-M-8-producing E. coli in the human-animal-environment interface., (Copyright © 2018 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Electrolyte disorders have been individually associated with mortality in small populations of cats with specific conditions, but the associations and interactions between electrolyte disturbances and outcome have not been evaluated in a large, heterogeneous population. It was hypothesized that abnormalities of sodium, chloride, potassium and calcium concentrations would be independently and proportionately associated with death from natural causes and with all-cause mortality in cats., Methods: An electronic database containing 7064 electrolyte profiles was constructed to assess the association between disorders of sodium, potassium, corrected-chloride and ionized calcium concentrations with non-survival by multivariable modelling. A second database containing 2388 records was used to validate the models constructed from the first database., Results: All four electrolytes assessed had non-linear U-shaped associations with case fatality rates, wherein concentrations clustered around the reference interval had the lowest case fatality rates, while progressively abnormal concentrations were associated with proportionately increased risk of non-survival (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.689) or death (AUROC 0.750)., Conclusions and Relevance: Multivariable modelling suggested that these electrolyte disturbances were associated with non-survival and with death from natural causes independent of each other. The present study suggests that measurement of electrolyte concentrations is an important component of the assessment of cats in emergency rooms or intensive care units. Future studies should focus on confirming these associations in a prospective manner accounting for disease severity.

The biological behaviour and prognostic factors of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in 20 cats were studied. The tumours were surgically removed and histopathologically examined. The animals were 8 to 20 years old (median age: 14 years), and the tumours were predominantly located in the neck and head. Follow-up data were available in 17 cases, and 12 cats died within a year of surgery. The overall median survival time after resection was 243 days (range 16-360 days). Recurrence occurred in 11 cases, although 6 of them (55%) were found to be margin-negative. Possible metastasis occurred after the surgery in 10 cases, although 6 of them (60%) were found to be margin-negative. The histopathological features of MCC included tumour necrosis in 16 cases (80%), vascular invasion in 6 cases (38%) and high mitotic counts (median: 28.5 per high-power field). Irregular acanthosis was noted adjacent to the tumours in 9 cases (60%). Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were positive for cytokeratin (CK) 20 and p63 in all cases, synaptophysin in 19 (95%) cases, and CK18 in 16 cases (80%). The study shows that feline MCC is associated with a poor prognosis and exhibited a strong tendency towards local recurrence, regional lymph node metastasis and distant spread., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Large studies focusing on restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) in the cat are scarce. The aims of this retrospective study were to describe epidemiological characteristics and to analyse prognostic factors affecting survival in cats with RCM., Methods: The clinical archives of the Gran Sasso Veterinary Clinic (Milan, Italy) and of the cardiology unit of the Department of Veterinary Medicine (University of Milan, Italy) from 1997-2015 were reviewed for all cats diagnosed with RCM based on an echocardiographic examination (left atrial/biatrial enlargement, normal left ventricle wall thickness, normal or mildly decreased systolic function and restrictive left ventricle filling pattern with pulsed Doppler echocardiography)., Results: The study population comprised 90 cats (53 male, 37 female) with an echocardiographic diagnosis of RCM. Most were domestic shorthairs (n = 60) with a mean ± SD age of 10.0 ± 4.3 years and a median weight of 3.8 kg (interquartile range 3.2-5 kg). Most cats were symptomatic (n = 87). The most common clinical sign was respiratory distress (n = 75). Follow-up was available for 60 cats and the median survival time (MST) was 69 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-175 days). Cardiac-related death occurred in 50 cats. In the multivariate Cox analysis only respiratory distress showed a statistically significant effect on survival. The cats without respiratory distress showed an MST of 466 days (95% CI 0-1208); cats with respiratory distress showing an MST of 64 days (95% CI 8-120; P = 0.011)., Conclusions and Relevance: RCM can be considered an end-stage condition associated with a poor prognosis, with few cats not showing clinical signs and surviving >1 year. Most cats died of cardiac disease within a very short time.

Hyperfibrinolysis (HFL) is a pathophysiological mechanism that has not been described in dogs or cats extensively. The aim of this study was to describe rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters and underlying diagnosis in dogs and cats with HFL and evaluate association with bleeding diathesis. The ROTEM database was retrospectively searched for EXTEM (ROTEM activated with proprietary tissue factor) tracings with maximum lysis at 60min ≥15%. Concurrent ROTEM and plasma coagulation tests, thrombocyte number, diagnosis and survival to hospital discharge were extracted from medical records. Analysis of differences between dogs and cats and of factors associated with bleeding, fulminant HFL (clot breakdown within 30min) and survival to hospital discharge were performed. Hyperfibrinolysis was detected in eight cats presenting with haemoabdomen or haemothorax (n=4/8, 50%) and trauma (n=3/8, 38%) and in 36 dogs with angiostrongylosis (n=12, 33%), neoplasia (n=7, 19%), liver disease (n=4, 11%) and others including apparently healthy dogs (n=3, 8%). Hyperfibrinolysis was associated with prolonged EXTEM and APTEM (EXTEM with added apoprotein for inhibition of HFL) clotting time and decreased FIBTEM (EXTEM with added cytochalasin D for inhibition of thrombocytes) maximum clot firmness (MCF) in dogs and cats and with decreased EXTEM MCF in dogs. Bleeding dogs had significantly hypocoagulable EXTEM tracings. Fulminant HFL was associated with severe hypofibrinogenaemia in dogs (P=0.005) and was not associated with survival to hospital discharge. Evidence of HFL was demonstrated in dogs and cats with bleeding, trauma, parasitic and neoplastic disease. HFL is associated with late and weak clot formation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hypertension is common in older cats. There is limited evidence for predictors of survival after diagnosis., Hypothesis/objectives: Investigate blood pressure assessment (BPA) and hypertension diagnosis in cats attending UK primary care practices (PCPs) and factors that influence survival., Animals: Cats (347 889) attending 244 UK PCPs enrolled in the VetCompass program between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013. Cats identified as hypertensive (282) were included in descriptive and survival analyses., Methods: All electronic patient records (EPRs) were searched to identify cats that potentially had received BPA. EPRs were read in detail to identify those that had BPA. The proportion that received BPA was evaluated using a stratified analysis and the incidence of hypertension estimated. A retrospective cohort study was used to investigate survival after diagnosis (Cox proportional hazard model)., Results: Estimated incidence risk was 19.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.5-21.6) from the estimated 1.34% (1.30%-1.38%) of cats that received BPA. Few cats had BPA more than once after diagnosis (median, 1; interquartile range [IQR], 0-3), with only 9.9% of diagnosed hypertensive cats having urine protein:creatinine ratio determined. Cats diagnosed as a result of monitoring of pre-existing disease had improved survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37-0.89; P = .01) compared to cats diagnosed after clinical signs were recognized. Cats that had an amlodipine dose change had improved survival (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36-0.87; P = .01) compared to those with no dose change., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: These data suggest improved blood pressure monitoring in clinical practice may decrease the morbidity associated with hypertension., (© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To describe the signalment, etiology, and short-term outcome of dogs and cats presenting in a coma or stupor., Design: Retrospective study conducted between May 2012 and February 2015., Setting: Multicenter out-of-hours emergency service provider., Animals: Three hundred eighty-six patients presenting in a coma or stupor to a multicenter out-of-hours emergency care provider., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Records were reviewed to determine the most likely etiology of coma or stupor. Short-term outcomes were defined as deceased (died or euthanized) or transferred (case handed over to a daytime clinic or discharged). There were 168 dogs (coma n = 112, stupor n = 56) and 218 cats (coma n = 148, stupor n = 70) identified. Coma and stupor were more prevalent in cats compared to dogs, and Chihuahuas were over represented. Blood glucose concentrations were frequently outside established reference intervals. Excluding undetermined causes, the most common causes in dogs included traumatic brain injury (TBI) 16.0% (n = 27, deceased n = 22), hypoglycemia 10.7% (n = 18, deceased n = 8), shock 10.1% (n = 17, deceased n = 16), seizure 9.5% (n = 16, deceased n = 13), and renal or hepatic dysfunction 5.3% (n = 9, deceased n = 7). For cats, the most common causes included TBI 21.6% (n = 47, deceased n = 38), renal or hepatic dysfunction 13.3% (n = 29, deceased n = 25), intoxication 10.1% (n = 22, deceased n = 18), hypoglycemia 6.0% (n = 13, deceased n = 4), and shock 5.0% (n = 11, deceased n = 8). When treatment was attempted, 46.0% of dogs (n = 44/96) and 41.2% of cats (n = 35/85) survived to be transferred. Compared to all other etiologies, death was less likely when coma or stupor was attributed to hypoglycemia., Conclusion: In cases where a cause was determined, TBI was the predominant etiology of coma and stupor for both species. With the exception of coma and stupor attributed to hypoglycemia, the overall short-term prognosis was poor., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2018.)

Objectives The goals of this retrospective study were to evaluate the use of mechlorethamine, vincristine, melphalan and prednisolone (MOMP) chemotherapy for rescue of feline lymphoma, to describe the protocol's toxicity and to determine prognostic indicators for progression-free survival. Methods The medical records of 12 cats treated with MOMP chemotherapy at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center between 2007 and 2017 were evaluated. Parameters assessed included lymphoma cell size, anatomical location, number of previous chemotherapy drugs and number of previous rescue protocols received. Chemotherapy-related toxicity was also described. Results Seven of 12 cats responded to this rescue protocol. Three cats experienced complete response and four cats achieved partial response for a median duration of 39 days (range 14-345 days). Cats that achieved complete response had a significantly longer median progression-free survival than cats that did not respond to treatment. Five of 12 cats developed hematologic toxicity (neutropenia) and one cat developed gastrointestinal toxicity. Toxicity was mild in most cases; no cats needed to be hospitalized. Neutropenia was associated with increased progression-free survival. Conclusions and relevance MOMP is a safe and effective rescue chemotherapy protocol for cats with relapsing and refractory lymphoma.

Objectives The aim of this study was to retrospectively identify candidate prognostic indicators in cats with histoplasmosis treated with antifungal therapy. Methods Medical records of cats diagnosed with histoplasmosis were reviewed. Candidate prognostic indicators were assessed for an association with survival to hospital discharge and survival to 1 and 6 months after diagnosis. Potential indicators included easily obtained data at the time of the initial hospital visit derived from cat signalment, historical information, physical examination, laboratory data, form of disease and initial treatment. Results Approximately 88% of cats survived to discharge, with 77% and 67% surviving to 1 and 6 months, respectively. Clinical variables significantly associated with death at more than one outcome time point included the presence of dyspnea, adventitial lung sounds, fungemia, neurologic disease, neutropenia, lymphopenia, multiple cytopenias (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia), hyperbilirubinemia and increased creatinine kinase activity. Cats that did not survive were more likely to have received corticosteroids, oxygen supplementation and required hospitalization. In addition, cats that did not survive required significantly longer hospitalization. There was no significant difference between initial antifungal drug and survival. Conclusions and relevance Potential prognostic indicators were associated with more severe respiratory, hepatic, hematologic or neurologic disease. Prospective investigation concerning clinical indicators of disease severity of these body systems is indicated.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of chyloabdomen diagnosis in cats and dogs and characterize and compare between species the corresponding clinical signs, clinicopathologic test results, and outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 36 cats and 17 dogs in which chyloabdomen was diagnosed at a veterinary teaching hospital between 1984 and 2014. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed, and data retrieved included patient signalment; clinical signs at initial evaluation; results of physical examination, diagnostic tests, and imaging studies; and outcomes. Survival analyses, descriptive statistics, and comparisons between species were completed. RESULTS The incidence of chyloabdomen at the veterinary teaching hospital during the study period was 2.0 cases/100,000 admissions for cats and 2.8 cases/100,000 admissions for dogs. The mean age at diagnosis of chyloabdomen in cats was 11.3 years, compared with 6.9 years in dogs. The most common clinical signs in dogs and cats combined were lethargy (39/51 [76%]) and anorexia (37/51 [73%]), but fewer (23/53 [43%]) had abdominal distention. Chylothorax was a common comorbidity (25/53 [47%]), with malignant neoplasia being the most common underlying diagnosis (24/53 [45%]). Survival analyses included 44 patients; median survival time from diagnosis of chyloabdomen was 31 days overall, 8 days for patients with malignant neoplasia, and 73 days for patients without neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE There were multiple causes of chyloabdomen in dogs and cats of the study, and outcome depended on underlying cause. Because of this and the rarity of chyloabdomen, a multicenter prospective study of disease progression, treatment response, and clinical outcome for dogs and cats with chyloabdomen is needed.

OBJECTIVE To identify seizure etiologic classification for cats that developed seizures at < 12 months of age and describe the long-term outcome of affected cats. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 15 client-owned cats with seizures that began at < 12 months of age. PROCEDURES Information on each cat was obtained from the medical records, veterinarians, and owners. Inclusion required an onset of seizures before 12 months of age and a complete medical record, including a final diagnosis. RESULTS 7 of the 15 cats had structural epilepsy, 4 had idiopathic epilepsy, and 4 had reactive seizures. Median age at seizure onset was 27 weeks (range, 0.4 to 41 weeks). Cluster seizures were reported in 6 cats, and status epilepticus was reported in 2. Age at the onset of seizures, presence of cluster seizures, and seizure semiology (ie, generalized vs focal seizures) were not significantly associated with seizure etiologic classification. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that cats that developed seizures at < 12 months of age were more likely to have structural epilepsy than idiopathic epilepsy or reactive seizures. Therefore, advanced diagnostic imaging is recommended in cats with juvenile-onset seizures if metabolic and toxic causes are excluded.