TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a nine-point body condition scoring system in physically inactive pet cats
AU - Bjørnvad, Charlotte Reinhard
AU - Nielsen, Dorte Hald
AU - Armstrong, Jane
AU - McEvoy, Fintan
AU - Hølmkjær, Kirsten Madsen
AU - Jensen, Kathrine Stenberg
AU - Pedersen, Gitte Fabricius
AU - Kristensen, Annemarie Thuri
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Objective-To compare results of body condition scoring by use of a 9-point scale with body composition determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in indoor-confined neutered domestic shorthair (DSH) pet cats. Animals-72 indoor-confined, adult neutered DSH pet cats (38 females and 34 males). Procedures-All cats underwent a physical examination including assessment of body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS; 1 = emaciated, 5 = ideal, and 9 = grossly obese), and girth. Urinalysis, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis were also performed. After the cats were confirmed healthy, they were anesthetized for body composition measurement via DEXA. Lean body mass, fat mass, and percentage body fat (%BF) were then evaluated. Results-The correlation between %BF and BCS (r = 0.87) was superior to the correlations between %BF and BW (r = 0.74) and between %BF and girth (r = 0.78). Values for %BF diffiered significantly between all pairs of BCSs except BCSs 8 and 9. Within a BCS, the %BF was similar for male and female cats. The mean %BF for cats with a BCS of 5 was 32, which exceeded the upper reference limit of %BF generally considered ideal (30). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The 9-point BCS scale appears useful for assessing %BF in DSH pet cats. Nevertheless, study findings could indicate a need for redefining the ideal BCS for inactive neutered cats to include a BCS of 4.
AB - Objective-To compare results of body condition scoring by use of a 9-point scale with body composition determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in indoor-confined neutered domestic shorthair (DSH) pet cats. Animals-72 indoor-confined, adult neutered DSH pet cats (38 females and 34 males). Procedures-All cats underwent a physical examination including assessment of body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS; 1 = emaciated, 5 = ideal, and 9 = grossly obese), and girth. Urinalysis, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis were also performed. After the cats were confirmed healthy, they were anesthetized for body composition measurement via DEXA. Lean body mass, fat mass, and percentage body fat (%BF) were then evaluated. Results-The correlation between %BF and BCS (r = 0.87) was superior to the correlations between %BF and BW (r = 0.74) and between %BF and girth (r = 0.78). Values for %BF diffiered significantly between all pairs of BCSs except BCSs 8 and 9. Within a BCS, the %BF was similar for male and female cats. The mean %BF for cats with a BCS of 5 was 32, which exceeded the upper reference limit of %BF generally considered ideal (30). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The 9-point BCS scale appears useful for assessing %BF in DSH pet cats. Nevertheless, study findings could indicate a need for redefining the ideal BCS for inactive neutered cats to include a BCS of 4.
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0002-9645
VL - 72
SP - 433
EP - 437
JO - American Journal of Veterinary Research
JF - American Journal of Veterinary Research
IS - 4
ER -