Research Communications of the 27(th) ECVIM-CA Congress: Intercontinental, Saint Julian's, Malta, 14th to 16th September 2017

After consuming test food, cats had increased (all P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of AA (36%), EPA (352%) and DHA (200%) compared with cats consuming control food. In addition, urine from cats fed test food had decreased USG (P = 0.04), decreased calcium concentration (P = 0.03; À9%), decreased struvite super saturation (P = 0.03; À51%) and enhanced titratability to added oxalate before forming calcium oxalate crystals (P = 0.06; À26%). Resistance to oxalate crystal formation was negatively correlated with blood calcium concentration (r = ?0.41; P < 0.01) and this relationship was unaffected by test food. However, feeding test food decreased USG, decreased urine calcium concentration, and increased resistance to oxalate crystal formation. These data show that there could be significant urinary tract benefit for cats, i.e., reduced urine stone formation, by increasing dietary AA, EPA and DHA.