What Blood Work Do Vets Run on Cats?

If a stray kitten has just adopted you, or your adult cat is due for a yearly exam, or perhaps your older girl is starting to sleep a bit more, routine blood work plays an important role in your cat̵7;s health and longevity.

  1. Feline Leukemia and FIV Test

    • The combination feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) test is performed on cats of all ages, especially strays. Shelters and other adoption agencies routinely perform this test before placing a cat into their program. The test requires only a few drops of blood, and positive or negative results are seen in approximately 10 minutes. Outdoor cats have a high risk of exposure to the FeLV and FIV viruses and should be tested yearly. Vaccines against these viruses do exist; however, the antibodies in the FIV vaccine can produce a false positive on the test. Be aware also that these vaccines are not believed to be 100 percent effective.

    Full Chemistry Panel and CBC

    • Although smaller chemistry panels are available, typically a full panel consists of 24 biochemical tests, and includes a complete blood count, otherwise known as a CBC. A urinalysis is usually performed as well. Among other things, this blood work checks glucose levels, liver and kidney functions, red and white blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. If your cat is older, she should have this blood work performed yearly along with her health exam. Many vet clinics have the lab equipment to run these tests and give you results in about an hour.

    BG Curve and Fructosamine Levels

    • Cats tend to metabolize insulin differently from humans, making diabetes in a cat difficult to regulate. A blood glucose (BG) curve involves her spending the day at the vet̵7;s, where her blood sugar levels will be monitored every few hours. Taking multiple samples is important, but the stress of multiple blood draws often make glucose levels higher. The fructosamine test is more reliable, and requires one blood draw. This test gives a retrospective look at glucose levels over the past two to three weeks. Owners can also help monitor BG levels at home through the urine by using non-absorbent litter and urine testing strips.

    Thyroid and Kidney Panels

    • Hyperthyroidism and renal disease are two of the most common problems in older cats, and they have similar warning signs, such as drinking more, urinating more and weight loss. Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed with a blood draw to check T4 levels and monitored with the same. If your cat has renal disease, regular kidney panels are needed to check blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. Hyperthyroidism can be cured with surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Although renal disease cannot be cured, it can be managed with the help of medications, subcutaneous fluids and diet.