Do you ever read cat cortisol literature and wonder how to interpret the results? Us too! We discuss how cortisol is measured, confounding factors in the methodology, how to assess the results, as well as some results from the peer-reviewed literature. We also discuss Dr. Lockhart’s research on cortisol in cats handled for blood draws.

References:

The effects of operant training on blood collection for domestic cats (2013). Jessica Lockhart, Karri Wilson, Cindy Lanman. PDF here.

Changes in cortisol concentration in response to stress and postoperative pain in client-owned cats and correlation with objective clinical variables (1999).

Behavioral and physiological correlates of stress in laboratory cats (1993).

Cortisol levels and aggression in neutered and intact free-roaming female cats living in urban social groups (1998).

Comparison of stress exhibited by cats examined in a clinic versus a home setting (2015).

Associations of behaviour with secretory immunoglobulin A and cortisol in domestic cats during their first week in an animal shelter (2013).

Measurement of Faecal Cortisol Metabolites in Cats and Dogs: A Non-invasive Method for Evaluating Adrenocortical Function (2001).

Plasma cortisol levels of dogs at a county animal shelter (1997).

Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter? (1998).

CEUs Offered: No

Length: 43 min

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