Pregnancy Testing in Cats Using Urine

de Haas van Dorsser, F. J., S. Lasano, et al. (2007). "Pregnancy diagnosis in cats using a rapid, bench-top kit to detect relaxin in urine." Reprod Domest Anim 42(1): 111-2.

Relaxin is a pregnancy-specific hormone in the queen, produced by the placenta. At least one company produces a blood test for pregnancy in cats based on relaxin. This study aimed to determine if urine could be used for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy using a simple in-house kit. The kit was able to detect pregnancy using urine samples from 28 days after mating, with some samples testing positive as early as 21 days. This opens the possibility that a commercially available kit could be marketed for the easy and rapid diagnosis of pregnancy in domestic cats. Similar work has also been published for the leopard (Panthera pardus).
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:

de Haas van Dorsser, F. J., W. F. Swanson, et al. (2006). "Development, validation, and application of a urinary relaxin radioimmunoassay for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy in felids." Biol Reprod 74(6): 1090-5.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

de Haas van Dorsser, F. J., S. Lasano, et al. (2007). "Pregnancy diagnosis in cats using a rapid, bench-top kit to detect relaxin in urine." Reprod Domest Anim 42(1): 111-2.

Relaxin is a pregnancy-specific hormone in the queen, produced by the placenta. At least one company produces a blood test for pregnancy in cats based on relaxin. This study aimed to determine if urine could be used for rapid diagnosis of pregnancy using a simple in-house kit. The kit was able to detect pregnancy using urine samples from 28 days after mating, with some samples testing positive as early as 21 days. This opens the possibility that a commercially available kit could be marketed for the easy and rapid diagnosis of pregnancy in domestic cats. Similar work has also been published for the leopard (Panthera pardus).
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:

de Haas van Dorsser, F. J., W. F. Swanson, et al. (2006). "Development, validation, and application of a urinary relaxin radioimmunoassay for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy in felids." Biol Reprod 74(6): 1090-5.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Trends in Urinary Tract Stones in Cats

Cannon, A. B., J. L. Westropp, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of trends in urolith composition in cats: 5,230 cases (1985-2004)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 231(4): 570-6.

This retrospective case series looked at 5,230 urinary tract stones submitted to the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (University of California, Davis) from 1985 to 2004. Over the past 20 years, the ratio of calcium oxalate stones to struvite stones has increased significantly. However, this trend may be changing. In the last 3 years of the study period, more struvite stones were submitted than calcium oxalate stones. The most common location for both struvite and calcium oxalate stones was the bladder, but the number of calcium oxalate stones from the upper urinary tract increased significantly over time during the study period.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Picavet, P., J. Detilleux, et al. (2007). "Analysis of 4495 canine and feline uroliths in the Benelux. A retrospective study: 1994-2004." J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 91(5-6): 247-51.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Cannon, A. B., J. L. Westropp, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of trends in urolith composition in cats: 5,230 cases (1985-2004)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 231(4): 570-6.

This retrospective case series looked at 5,230 urinary tract stones submitted to the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (University of California, Davis) from 1985 to 2004. Over the past 20 years, the ratio of calcium oxalate stones to struvite stones has increased significantly. However, this trend may be changing. In the last 3 years of the study period, more struvite stones were submitted than calcium oxalate stones. The most common location for both struvite and calcium oxalate stones was the bladder, but the number of calcium oxalate stones from the upper urinary tract increased significantly over time during the study period.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Picavet, P., J. Detilleux, et al. (2007). "Analysis of 4495 canine and feline uroliths in the Benelux. A retrospective study: 1994-2004." J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 91(5-6): 247-51.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More