A study of risk factors for cat mortality in adoption centres of a UK cat charity

Murray, Jane; Skillings, Elizabeth A.; Gruffydd-Jones, TJ

doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2008.01.005

Cited by 26 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The health status of each cat should be assessed objectively, preferably by a veterinarian at the time of admission. Murray et al (2008) found an increased risk of mortality in cats admitted to adoption centres in poor health. The medical records of 364 kittens taken into PAWS Chicago Adoption Centre in 2008 showed that only 104 (28.5%) had no abnormalities identified in a physical examination performed by the shelter veterinarian at the time of intake (Litster et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Our results are in agreement with the results of a study analyzing the risk of mortality in cats kept at the adoption centres of a UK cat charity. Murray et al (2008) reported that the risk of mortality decreased as the time in the adoption centre increased. The increasing risk of contracting an infection for cats staying longer in shelters found in other studies (Pedersen et al 2004;Dinnage et al 2009) did not seem to affect the mortality rate in the shelters monitored in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides poor condition at the time of admission and an inability to raise orphaned neonatal kittens it might be also due to an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases in young cats, whose immune system is not yet fully developed. Murray et al (2008) reported that not only cats aged 7 weeks or less and cats born at adoption centres, but also cats aged over 7 years are at an increased mortality risk compared to cats of other ages. In our study, the death and euthanasia of cats older than 50 months was not so frequent, however, their median LOS was significantly shorter in comparison to the LOS of both younger categories.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As several studies have indicated, the likelihood that a cat will contract an infection is significantly impacted by their length of time in a shelter (Pedersen et al 2004;Dinnage et al 2009). However, a study analyzing the risk of mortality in cats kept at the adoption centres of a UK cat charity revealed that the risk of mortality decreased as the time in the adoption centre increased (Murray et al 2008). Based on retrospective data collected for 194 cases (cats that died or were euthanized) and 320 controls (cats that did not die) an increased risk of mortality was found for cats admitted to adoption centres unneutered, in poor health, and cats born at adoption centres.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Management optimizing the health of shelter cats and minimizing the introduction of infectious diseases in the face of a constantly changing population, potential overcrowding, and limited funds, remains a major challenge in shelter medicine (Litster et al 2011). Knowledge of the risk factors can inform intervention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of cat mortality at adoption centres (Murray et al 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rates of death and euthanasia for cats in no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic

et al. 2017

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Successful reduction of death and euthanasia rates requires the determination of factors related to death and euthanasia of cats in shelters. In the period from 2011 to 2015, 474 cats died and 240 had to be euthanized for health reasons in the three cat shelters monitored in our study. Altogether, death was the ultimate outcome for 33% of the cats admitted in the shelters. Out of the cats that died, 67.3% cats died within the first month and 95.4% within 6 months of admission to the shelter. Similarly, 65.0% of all euthanized cats were euthanized within the first month and 88.3% were euthanized within 6 months of admission. Since the majority of mortalities occurred shortly after admission, they more probably resulted from the cats' poor condition at the time of admission rather than from the shelter's environment. Females and cats younger than 6 months were at an increased risk of mortality. Autumn and summer were the seasons with the majority of fatalities. In general, the number of cats that died was almost double the number of cats that were euthanized; this suggests that attempts to cure cats were favoured over euthanasia, even in cases of serious health problems. In the fields of cat welfare and veterinary healthcare, the results enable increased attention to be focused on the determined risk factors and thus are an important prerequisite for a successful solution to the problem of the high number of deaths and instances of euthanasia of cats in shelters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rates of death and euthanasia for cats in no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic

et al. 2017

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Risk factors for feline immunodeficiency virus antibody test status in Cats Protection adoption centres (2004)

Murray

Roberts²,

Skillings³

et al. 2009

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) within a population of cats entering 10 UK adoption centres run by Cats Protection. All cats entering the adoption centres during 2004 were tested for FIV using a rapid enzyme immunoassay antibody test. The overall prevalence of positive test results was 3.1% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.7-3.5%), whilst the prevalence at different adoption centres varied from 0.8% (95% CI 0.1-1.5%) to 6.7% (95% CI 4.9-8.5%). Results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male cats, stray/feral cats and cats in poor health were at a greater risk of testing positive for FIV than female cats, cats that were relinquished by an owner and cats that were in good/fair health, respectively. No evidence was found for an association between neuter status and FIV test results. This study may help to identify cats that are relinquished to rescue centres with an increased risk of FIV for routine FIV testing.

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Feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and Bartonella species in stray cats on St Kitts, West Indies

Kelly

Moura

Miller

et al. 2010

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Stray cats trapped in various areas of Basseterre, the capital of St Kitts in the West Indies, were tested for infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) using commercial kits. Of 99 (51 male and 48 female) cats trapped in 2006/7, 15% (12 males and three females) were positive for FIV while none were positive for FeLV. Of 72 (41 males and 31 females) cats trapped in 2009, 14% (nine males and one female) were positive for FIV while none were positive for FeLV. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed DNA of Bartonella species in whole blood collected from 60/95 (63%) cats trapped in 2006/7. Sequencing of the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region of a convenience sample of nine amplicons and the 11 isolates made from 43 blood samples which were cultured using Bartonella alpha Proteobacteria (BAPGM) enrichment medium revealed B henselae (14) and B clarridgeiae (six).

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A study of risk factors for cat mortality in adoption centres of a UK cat charity

Cited by 26 publications

References 8 publications

Rates of death and euthanasia for cats in no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic

Rates of death and euthanasia for cats in no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic

Risk factors for feline immunodeficiency virus antibody test status in Cats Protection adoption centres (2004)

Feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and Bartonella species in stray cats on St Kitts, West Indies

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