German, Alex 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3017-7988, Salt, Carina and Butterwick, Richard
(2021)
Comparison of growth in neutered Domestic Shorthair kittens with growth in sexually-intact cats - SUPPORTING DATA.
[Data Collection]
Description
Recently, evidence-based growth standards have been developed for sexually-intact cats, but the impact of neutering on such patterns is not known. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to compare the growth patterns of healthy kittens neutered during growth with those of these growth standards. A second aim was to clarify the impact of neutering in kittens on body composition and body shape. Two analytic studies were performed. Study 1 was a retrospective observational study to compare median growth trajectories of healthy, neutered, client-owned domestic shorthair (DSH) kittens in optimal body condition with previously-created growth standards based on a similar, but sexually-intact, population. Growth trajectories of kittens neutered at different ages (using groups based on the quartiles of observed age at all such procedures performed over a 20+ year period) were compared. For all neuter groups in both sexes, the median growth trajectory inclined upwards after the procedure, with this being more marked in female than in male. The upwards inclination was less marked for kittens neutered later during growth in both sexes, with the effect being least in kittens neutered after 28-29 wks. Study 2 was an analysis of new data from a previously-published randomised study, comparing growth-related measures at four time points between pairs of sexually-intact and neutered female siblings from litters of DSH cats in a research population. Neutering was carried out at 19wks of age, and themeasurements compared included body composition and zoometric data. Before neutering, the growth pattern in neutered kittens was similar to that in sexually-intact kittens. However, by 52wks of age, neutered kittens were heavier compared with kittens that remained sexually-intact (mean difference in fold change vs. 10 wks 1.34, 95-CI: 1.07-1.72), had a greater fat mass (mean difference in fold change vs. 10 wks 1.91, 95-CI 1.09-3.21) and greater lean mass (mean difference in fold change vs. 10 wks 1.23, 95-CI: 1.03-1.48). Abdominal girth (mean difference in fold change vs. 10wks 1.20, 95-CI: 1.04-1.39) and rib cage length (mean difference in fold change vs. 10wks 1.18, 95-CI: 1.02-1.36) were also greater, but there were no differences in other zoometric measurements including height, chest depth, elbow width, forelimb length (olecranon to carpus) and hindlimb length (patella to tarsus). Our results suggest that veterinarians should be mindful of the potential impact that neutering has on gain of adipose tissue, and that early-life neutering has the most profound effect, especially in female kittens. Therefore, bodyweight should be monitored closely during growth and especially after neutering to prevent inappropriate weight gain.
| Keywords: | Obesity, infant, neonate, feline, cat, nutrition, centiles, ovariohysterectomy, castration |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Alex German |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Mar 2023 13:01 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Mar 2023 10:10 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/datacat.liverpool.ac.uk/1459 |
| Geography: | UK and USA datasets |
| URI: | https://datacat.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/1459 |
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