Lipid metabolic variability in obese cats

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the lipid profile, focusing on the lipoprotein cholesterol levels, in healthy and obese cats that visited small animal hospital. We also assessed the lipoprotein cholesterol levels in a few cats with hyperlipidemia. Based on the values obtained in healthy cats, we established a standard reference standard range for all lipid parameters and used it to assess the levels in obese cats. Interestingly, our investigations revealed no significant difference in the lipoprotein cholesterol levels in healthy and obese cats, indicating that obesity in cats might not influence the total (T-CHO) and lipoprotein cholesterol levels. We believe that this might be due to the intrinsically high HDL levels in cats. However, T-CHO levels and the ratio of low to high-density lipoprotein (L/H ratio) were high in cats with hyperlipidemia, suggesting the L/H ratio imbalance due to increased LDL in these cats. We hope that the results of this study will be helpful in the event of abnormal lipid metabolism in cats.