Review: Impact of Ovariohysterectomy and Food Intake in Cats

Belsitio, K. R. et al. (2009). Impact of ovariohysterectomy and food intake on body composition, physical activity, and adipose gene expression in cats. J ANIM SCI, 87, 594-602. doi: 10.2527/jas.2008-0887

This article describes a study into the effects of ovariohysterectomy on body composition, activity levels, serum levels of marker substances and markers of gene expression in domestic cats. While the purpose of the article is to characterize the obese prone nature of neutered cats, the authors are also studying the expression of some genes for the first time in a post spay environment along with activity levels in the cats

In order to study the effects of OHE, the authors used a case group of 8 approximately 1.5 year old cats who were fed to maintain weight and acclimatize to the study food for four weeks prior to the OHE surgery. At the time of surgery, and every 6 weeks after blood samples were collected from the cats. Additionally adipose tissue and muscle samples and DEXA were performed at 0, 12 and 24 weeks. For the first 12 weeks cats were fed to maintain BW within 200g, 12 weeks was used as the standard time it takes to acclimate to a food/feeding regimen. They were then fed free choice for the next 12 weeks in order to study the effects of this feeding regimen. Results of activity monitoring saw significant decreases in the cat’s activity levels post spay, up to an 80% decrease in their nighttime activity levels though daytime was not as affected in the first 12 weeks once the cats began to be fed free choice their daytime activity decreased as well. Body fat percentage did not change during the maintenance feeding phase but increased following the free choice phase. Though body mass and body fat percentage did not change during the maintenance feeding phase the amount of free leptin (which is related to body fat %) in the blood decreased substantially. The researchers suggest that estrogen withdrawal and food restriction affect the expression of...