Causes of death and reasons for euthanasia of necropsied cats in Espírito Santo, Brazil: a five-year report

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the main causes of death and reasons for euthanasia in cats necropsied in Espírito Santo, Brazil, over five years. Necropsy protocols of domestic cats submitted to the Animal Pathology Sector of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, Campus Alegre, between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Information on sex, age, breed, and cause of death was analyzed. A total of 143 cats were included, most of which were mixed-breed males (62.2%) and adults (62.2%). The mean age was 3.86 years. Diagnoses were conclusive in 66.4% of the cases. The most frequent categories of death were infectious and parasitic diseases (25.9%), disorders caused by physical agents (14%), degenerative diseases (11.2%), neoplasms (9.1%), and other disorders (6.3%). Sporotrichosis was the most prevalent infectious disease (40.5% of the cases in this group), highlighting its importance as an emerging zoonosis in the region. Traumas of unknown origin represented the main cause among physical injuries, while hepatic lipidosis predominated among degenerative disorders. Lymphoma was the most frequent neoplasm, often associated with feline leukemia virus. In addition, euthanasia by convenience and poisoning were also observed, demonstrating the impact of sociocultural and management factors on feline mortality. Despite the limitations inherent to retrospective necropsy studies, these findings emphasize the relevance of necropsy as an epidemiological tool and reinforce the need for preventive measures, public health strategies, and responsible pet ownership to reduce avoidable feline deaths in Brazil.