- 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- 2Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
- 3Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Diabetes
in cats resembles type 2 diabetes in people. The etiology is not fully
understood, but both genetic and environmental factors are believed to
contribute.
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the associations of environmental risk factors with diabetes in cats.
ANIMALS:
Cats
with a diagnosis of diabetes (n = 396) insured by a Swedish insurance
company during years 2009-2013, and a control group (n = 1,670) matched
on birth year.
METHODS:
A
web-based questionnaire was used in a case-control study. An invitation
to participate was sent to owners of 1,369 diabetic cats and 5,363
control cats. The survey contained questions related to the cat's breed,
age, sex, neutering status, body condition, housing, access to the
outdoors, activity level, diet, eating behavior, feeding routine,
general health,
stressful events, other pets in the household, medications, and
vaccination status. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS:
Response
rate was 35% for the diabetic group and 32% for the control group.
Indoor confinement, being a greedy eater, and being overweight were
associated with an increased risk of diabetes. In cats assessed by
owners as being normal weight, there was an association between eating
predominantly dry food and an increased risk of diabetes (Odds ratio
3.8; 95% confidence intervals 1.3-11.2).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE:
Dry
food is commonly fed to cats worldwide. The association found between
dry food and an increased risk of diabetes in cats assessed as normal
weight by owners warrants further attention.
Copyright
© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published
by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of
Veterinary Internal Medicine.
KEYWORDS:
Case-control study; Dry food; Logistic regression; Type 2 diabetes
