Prevalence and risk factors for gingivitis in a cohort of UK companion cats aged up to 6 years

Objectives:

Prospectively collected data were used to estimate the prevalence of gingivitis in a cohort of companion cats aged up to six years and to investigate factors affecting the risk of gingivitis in cats aged three to four years.

Methods:

Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of domestic cats (the Bristol Cats Study), using owner-completed questionnaires and veterinary surgeon-completed oral health scores. Prevalence estimates of veterinary-reported gingivitis for cats aged up to six years old (n=1534) were calculated for different age groups. Cat signalment, diet and dental care were assessed for association with gingivitis in cats aged three to four years (n=317) using univariable and multiple logistic regression.

Results:

The prevalence of gingivitis increased with age and ranged from 24.5% (< 12 months old), to 56.3% (five to six years old). Odds of gingivitis in cats aged three to four years were higher in cats fed a wet only or mixed wet/dry diet compared to dry only (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.4-5.1), cats not reported to hunt compared to reported hunters (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.2), cats reported to dribble whilst being stroked at age six months compared to reported non-dribblers (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-8.4) and cats with orange variants in their coat colour compared to non-orange cats (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0-5.3).

Clinical significance:

These results will help veterinary surgeons identify cats that may be at a greater risk of gingivitis and provide an evidence base to inform dietary and oral healthcare recommendations aimed at promoting gingival health in cats.