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. 2025 Mar 24;12(1):70-79.
doi: 10.5455/javar.2025.l873. eCollection 2025 Mar.

Serum biochemistry, hematology, and reproductive behavior of free-roaming cats in urban and rural habitats

Fakhrul Islam  1   2 , Md Imranuzzaman  3   2 , Hemayet Hossain  4   2 , Muhammad Ali  5 , Susmita Rani Sarker  6 , Mostafizor Rahman  7 , Sadia Islam Ria  8 , Papri Rani Dey  9 , Rijon Miah  5 , Md Ashiqur Rahman  9 , Khadiza Akter Brishty  10 , Saiful Islam  1 , Aminul Islam  5 , Md Masudur Rahman  11 , Md Mahfujur Rahman  12 , Shahana Begum  1
Affiliations

Serum biochemistry, hematology, and reproductive behavior of free-roaming cats in urban and rural habitats

Fakhrul Islam et al. J Adv Vet Anim Res. .

Abstract

Objective: A cross-sectional study was conducted to reveal the hematology, serum biochemistry, and reproductive behavior of free-roaming cats in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.

Materials and methods: Overall, 130 free-roaming cats were captured, of which 52 were Tom (male), 69 were Queen (female), and 9 were kittens. Regarding their ages, the cats were divided into three groups: <1 year as kittens, 1 to 2 years as young, and adults over two years. Thirty blood samples were drawn from the cephalic or saphenous veins of the hind leg for hematological and serum biochemical analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that the average hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher in kittens than in young and adult cats (p < 0.05). In comparison to young and adult cats, kittens had considerably greater red blood cell, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, and platelet counts, whereas mature cats had much higher white blood cell counts. The number of lymphocytes and monocytes was shown to be non-significant, while other components, such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, varied considerably by age group. Rural cats showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase, whereas urban cats showed higher serum glucose (p < 0.001). The duration of the cat's estrous cycle was (5.63 ± 1.75) days, as were the inter-estrous phase's length (7 days), gestation time (66.6 days), and queening rate (65.2). There were 3.92 ± 0.55 kittens per litter. Males reached puberty at a young age of 9.3 months, while females did so at 8.3 months.

Conclusion: These findings may contribute to the growing body of research on free-roaming cat populations, which is important for understanding the ecology and behavior of these cats and constructing strategies for their conservation and welfare.

Keywords: Free-roaming cat; hematobiochemical test; reproductive behavior.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors do not have any possible conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Study area map showing different upazila, no. of captured cat (choropleth map), captured sample and location (XY coordination map). Shape file was extracted from DIVA-GIS using Geographical information system (GIS) to develop the map with ArcMap 10.8 (ArcGIS, ESRI, USA).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. A thematic flow chart of the study.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Comparative analysis of serum biochemistry between urban and rural free-roaming cat. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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