Feline Malnutrition Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Malnutrition in cats encompasses a spectrum of disorders resulting from inadequate, unbalanced, or excessive nutrient intake. Unlike dogs, cats are obligate carnivores with unique metabolic requirements, making them particularly susceptible to specific nutritional deficiencies. On the NAVLE, feline malnutrition questions frequently focus on hepatic lipidosis, taurine deficiency, thiamine deficiency, refeeding syndrome, and protein-energy malnutrition (cachexia). Understanding these conditions is essential for successful board examination performance.

Cats have several metabolic adaptations that impact their nutritional requirements, including higher protein needs, an inability to synthesize sufficient taurine and arachidonic acid, and limited ability to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A. These unique characteristics predispose cats to malnutrition when fed inappropriate diets or during periods of anorexia.

Nutritional Assessment in Cats

Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

The WSAVA recommends a 9-point body condition scoring system to assess body fat stores. For cats, a score of 4-5 out of 9 is ideal. Scores of 1-3 indicate underweight conditions, while 6-9 indicate overweight to obese.