title: A real-time reporting system of causes of death or reasons for euthanasia: A model for monitoring mortality in domesticated cats in Taiwan.
abstract: A novel, real-time mortality recording system was designed to collect mortality data in companion animals from veterinary hospitals in Taiwan. This retrospective study aims to introduce the system, and to utilize the data collected for further investigation of the lifespan and mortality of the domesticated cat population stratified by demographic variables. Our data revealed that 1325 domesticated cats were acquired between 2012 and 2014. The median age of the study population was 8.0 years (IQR 3.0-13.0; range 0.0-22.7). Neutered and purebred cats lived longer. The most common causes of death were renal and urologic disorders, followed by neoplasia, infection, cardiovascular disorders, and trauma. Independent factors for common causes were surveyed. Advanced age and neutering was found to be associated with death due to renal and urologic disorders as well as with neoplasia. In contrast, younger age was found to be associated with death due to trauma and infection; being unneutered and living in the capital city were found to be associated with death due to trauma. Being male or purebred was found to be associated with death due to cardiovascular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsiang
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Albert Taiching
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, No. 542, Sec. 1, Chung-shan Rd., Changhua 50008, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Pei-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Taipei City Animal Protection Office, No. 109, Ln. 600, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei 11048, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: I-Feng
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC; National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital, No.153, Sec. 3, Keelung Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 10672, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: chhsuliu@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chen-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002415:Cats; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Euthanasia; Mortality surveillance; Neuter status; Retrospective cohort study