[Causes of death and disease in cats based on 1969-1982 autopsy statistics]

Abstract

The post mortem investigation of 4561 cats during 14 years is analysed according to the diagnosis. The age of the cats necropsied ranged from 1 day to 22 years, with an average of 3,3 years. The sex distribution was about 1:1. The most common disease is feline panleucopenia (16,6%) followed by traumata (11,5%), disorders of the urinary tract (7,0%), feline infectious peritonitis (6,0%), disorders of the circulatory system (5,8%), and diseases of the digestive tract (5,3%). The majority of kittens died of virus diseases, mainly feline panleucopenia. Feline leucosis is found among all groups of age. In middle aged animals (5-10 years) feline leucosis and diseases of the urinary tract are the main causes of death. Cats older than eight years show a high rate of tumor incidence, especially those of non lymphatic origin. Among siamese cats congestive cardiomyopathy is very common. A sexual disposition is notable for the feline urologic syndrome, occurring predominantly in male individuals.