CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, INORGANIC-PHOSPHATE, COPPER, ZINC AND ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE IN THE PLASMA OF CATS OF DIFFERENT AGES

The concentrations of minerals and of copper and zinc were determined in the plasma of cats, whose age ranged from 1 day to 12 months. The lowest sodium concentration of 147 +/- 3.3 mmol/l was observed in kittens 1 to 3 days of age. A hypokaliemia was detected in cats aged 11 to 12 months. The calcium and magnesium concentrations were consistently within the normal physiological range. The concentrations of inorganic phosphate were relatively high during the growth period. The concentration of copper ranged from 9 +/- 2.6 mumol/l and 29 +/- 7.9 mumol/l and that of zinc between 17 +/- 3.1 and 28 +/- 7.2 mumol/l. The greatest alkaline phosphatase activity of 4.48 +/- 0.26 mukat/l was in cats 7 months of age. The reference values for these biochemical parameters are discussed with respect to the clinical chemistry of cats.