The effect of habitat on hair copper, molybdenum, and selenium levels in cats

Abstract

Cu, Mo, and Se are essential trace minerals, which maintain proper activity of some animal organisms functions. The main goal of this study was the assessment of Cu, Mo and Se levels in the hair of pet cats in an urban environment. The hair samples were collected from flank region from 20 clinically healthy pet cats. Analysis of hair Cu, Mo, and Se content of pet cats kept indoors (5 males and 5 females) and outdoors (5 males and 5 females), were performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean Cu level in indoor pet cats was 19.47 mg•kg−1 for males and 10.58 mg•kg−1 for females, and in outdoor male cats was 10.33 mg•kg−1 and 14.32 mg•kg−1 for females. Generally, Mo registered lower mean levels when mean Cu levels were higher and higher levels when Cu was lower, indifferent of habitat, sex or age. The mean Se hair levels registered insignificant differences for the same habitat in pet cats below 5 years and above 5 years. In this study, the habitat statistically insignificant influenced hair Cu, Mo, and Se levels in pet cats.