Background

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple and noninvasive method for assessing body composition utilized in human and veterinary medicine.

Aims

The purposes of this study were to compare BIA measurements in cats under different conscious conditions and to establish body fat percentage (%BF) estimation equations.

Methods

Twenty-six healthy, adult, and well-hydrated domestic short-hair cats ranging in weight from 2.00 to 7.15 kg were participated in this study. Values of BIA (Z) were measured with a tetrapolar electrical impedance device on dorsal recumbency under either conscious or anesthetized condition. The %BF was estimated by a published morphometric measurement equation: %BF ={[(Ribcage/0.7067)-LIM]/0.9156}-LIM (Ribcage: circumferences at the point of the 9th rib, LIM: distance between the patella and the calcaneal tuber of the left hindlimb). Simple linear regression analysis was used to determine correlation between estimates of %BF and the values of ZWeight/Length².

Results

The means of Z under conscious and anesthetized conditions were 285.86 ± 52.34Ω and 316.40 ± 53.15Ω respectively, and there was no significant difference between them. The mean of %BF determined by morphometric measurements was 26.94 ± 8.55%. Under conscious and anesthetized conditions, estimation equations were %BF = 42.959WZ_C/L² + 2.4474 (r²=0.36, P<0.05) and %BF = 32.54WZ_A/L² + 6.6495 (r²=0.44, P<0.001).

Conclusion

The measurement of BIA is a reliable method of estimating cats' %BF under either conscious or anesthetized condition.