Microbiota, body condition score and stool consistency in cats living in shelters

By 2022 there were 60 million felines in the United States, with an increasing trajectory, making domestic cats a relevant and interesting species to study in the context of the gut microbiome. Common health problems in felines, such as diabetes, irritable bowel, kidney disease, parasites, obesity, and oral disease, have been associated with alterations in the gut microbiome. Among cats housed in shelters, the most common disorder is diarrhea. The study from North Carolina State University examined fecal samples as indicators of the gut microbiome in a large population of shelter cats (n=288). Analyses consistently indicated significant diff...