title: Evaluation of factors associated with development of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate dietary and environmental factors as potential risk factors for calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  84 cats with uroliths composed of at least 90% calcium oxalate and 258 age- and gender-matched control cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Owners of cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis and control cats were surveyed between November 1990 and August 1992. Owners completed a standard questionnaire administered during a single telephone interview. Data collected included information regarding signalment, environment, urination and defecation, diet, and medical history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calcium oxalate uroliths tended to develop in middle- to older-aged, domestic shorthair cats of typical weight. A gender predilection was not detected. Factors associated with an increase in the risk of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats were feeding urine-acidifying diets, feeding a single brand of cat food without providing additional foods or table scraps, maintaining cats in an indoor-only environment, and being of the Persian breed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Control of diet and environment may help prevent calcium oxalate urolithiasis.
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001947:Breeding; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D002129:Calcium Oxalate