Body Mass Index and Different Body Measurements of Turkish Angora and Van Cats in Two Different Locations

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to compare the body mass index and some other body measurements of the Turkish Angora (n = 20) and Van (n = 16) cats in two different locations (Ankara Zoo = AOC and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University = KKU) and also to determine the prevalence of overweight or obesity in this feline population. The effects of gender, age, location and eye colors were also investigated on the traits measured. The age of the cats ranged from 1-8 years old. Analyzed traits included Body Mass Index (BMI), live Body Weight (BW), Wither Height (WH), Body Length (BL), Head Circumference (HC), Body Condition Score (BCS). None of the cats in this study were found overweight or obese. The BMI of Turkish Van cats was greater than the BMI of Turkish Angora cats. The BW of Turkish Van cats tended to heavier than the Turkish Angora cats but the difference was not significant. The WH, BL and the HC values for both cats were similar. The BCS of Turkish Van cats was significantly greater than the BCS of Turkish Angora cats in KKU. Significant phenotypic correlations were found between the BW and the WH and the BL and the HC and the BMI and the BCS; between the WH and the BL and the HC; between the BL and the HC and the BCS; between the HC and the BCS; between the BMI and the BCS. The present study more clearly defines some body traits of the Turkish cats and may help to understand these invaluable cats better.